“The Thin Skin of the Earth - Our Soils”

18. June 2024

Press conference on the new exhibition

“The Thin Skin of the Earth - Our Soils”

Tuesday, 18 June 2024, at 10.30 a.m. in the lecture hall and in room 21 of the NHM Vienna

“Our entire culture emanates from the soil, which is why agriculture is so aptly named. But we are losing fertile soil every day. This is a timely opportunity for the Natural History Museum Vienna to create a special exhibition to draw public attention to the topic of soil. The soil beneath our feet is alive! But very few people are aware that there are living creatures under the earth and that there are so many of them. The soil underpins life and, like water and air, is an indispensable resource. The topics covered in the exhibition range from soil formation, soil diversity and soil research to the destruction of fertile soils. The goal of this exhibition is to raise awareness among all visitors ages three and older to the importance of appreciating, protecting and researching our soil. By destroying soil, we are depriving ourselves and future generations of an essential basis for life. Once the soil is sealed airtight and watertight, it is usually lost forever,” says NHM Vienna Director General Dr. Katrin Vohland.
 

Press conference programme:

 
Welcome and Introduction:
Dr. Katrin Vohland, Director General and Scientific Director, NHM Vienna
 

“The Thin Skin of the Earth - Our Soils”

Content, structure and mission of an international touring exhibition on soil Prof. Dr. Willi Xylander, former director of the Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, project manager of the traveling exhibition)
 

Soils, how they function and the threats they face: The situation in Austria

Prof. DI. Dr. Martin Gerzabek (BOKU Vienna), Deputy Director of the Institute of Soil Research
 
 

The exhibition “The Thin Skin of the Earth - Our Soils” curatorial additions, framework programme, World Soil Day

Dr. Andreas Hantschk, Department of Science Communication, NHM Vienna
 
 
Projections from the microscope, soil organisms
 
Followed by a tour of the new exhibition in room 21 (and 22)
 
The ground beneath our feet is alive!
Title Motif Senckenberg
© Bernd Poeppelmann
Follow the ant trail into the exhibition
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Soil use in Austria
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Soil organisms in Austria
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Follow the ant trail into the exhibition
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Our soil, mole
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Predatory mite preying on a springtail
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Our soil, NHM Vienna
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Chamber of Life
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Station “How many organisms are you standing on?”
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Soil profile with mammals
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Model of a tardigrade
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Our soil - models of soil organisms
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Research pillars in room 22
© NHM Wien, C. Potter
Dr. Katrin Vohland and Prof. Dr. Willi Xylander
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Dr. Katrin Vohland and Prof. Dr. Willi Xylander
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Dr. Andreas Hantschk und Prof. Dr. Willi Xylander
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Univ.-Prof. DI. Dr. Martin Gerzabek, Dr. Katrin Vohland, Dr. Andreas Hantschk and Prof. Dr. Willi Xylander
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Dr. Katrin Vohland
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Prof. Dr. Willi Xylander
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Univ.-Prof. DI. Dr. Martin Gerzabek
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Dr. Andreas Hantschk
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Mag. Irina Kubadinow
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Guided tour through the exhibition
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Guided tour through the exhibition
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Guided tour through the exhibition
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Guided tour through the exhibition
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
Station “How many organisms are you standing on?”
© NHM Wien, W. Bauer
  
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