The Natural History Museum’s new permanent gallery, Fixing Our Broken Planet, opens tomorrow, Thursday 3 April
Visitors will explore the biggest challenges facing the planet and discover science-backed solutions to create a more sustainable world
The gallery includes over 200 objects from the natural world, research findings from over 30 Museum scientists and the chance for audiences to have their say on the planetary emergency
Fixing Our Broken Planet is the first gallery to open as part of NHM150, the Museum’s campaign to raise £150m ahead of its 150th anniversary
From tomorrow, a new free-to-visit gallery that looks at our relationship with the natural world will open to the public. Fixing Our Broken Planet, the first new gallery to open at the Museum in almost a decade, will explore the biggest challenges to the health of the planet, as well as to our own health, and reveal science-backed solutions from nature that will help us to create a more sustainable world.
Visitors to the gallery will journey through four zones – energy, health, materials and food – getting up close to objects from across the Museum’s collection chosen by scientists to tell the story of our impact on the natural world and how we can play a part in protecting its future.
Each object reveals an important story on our relationship with nature; like the bird nest entwined with discarded plastic showing how our behaviour is impacting bird populations, to the fauna found 5,000m below the Pacific Ocean in an area targeted for deep-sea mining and the parasitic worms that impact the health of 1.5 billion people – a figure thought to be on the rise due to climate change.
Alex Burch, Director of Public Programmes, at the Natural History Museum, says: "We’re incredibly proud that our collections and research are providing solutions to the planetary emergency. This gallery is designed to spark hope and action. We want visitors to leave inspired, understanding that solutions exist and that each of us has a role to play in restoring our planet."
The gallery has been made with community at its heart. Throughout, visitors will come across scientifically backed stats designed to be shared, like the fact that making dark chocolate produces more greenhouse gas emissions than cheese and chicken combined, and that 80% of all plastic ever made still exists in our environment – and has even found its way to Mount Everest.
Conversations between scientists and environmentalists on topics such as the UK biodiversity decline play in film booths offering different viewpoints and lived experiences while the conversation space encourages visitors to share their views on the planetary emergency and see how their responses compare with other visitors.
For audiences at home, the gallery’s complementary online tool, Find Your Climate Action, creates personalised ways to contribute to a healthier planet that also benefits the individual and their community.
The stunning original architecture is visible throughout, owing to the Museum’s commitment to use the “build light and build wise” when reimagining the space.
The Fixing Our Broken Planet gallery is in the original 1881 Waterhouse building and required full restoration. The transformation revived its original Victorian features while using sustainable materials and methods to bring the space back into public use. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund (PBIF) awarded the Museum with significant funding to rebuild the gallery whilst retaining its heritage and charm.
A wide variety of trusts, foundations, companies and individuals are supporting the Fixing Our Broken Planet gallery and programme including Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation, Wellcome, GSK and Ørsted.
Alan Dangour, Director of Climate and Health at Wellcome, says:
"As our climate changes we are seeing increasing evidence of how these changes are affecting our health and wellbeing. Innovative partnerships between scientific researchers, affected communities and creatives are emerging around the world to respond to this challenge and protect both people and planet.
“This exciting partnership brings together scientists researching the unique collections in the Natural History Museum with creative storytelling, raising awareness of this urgent issue and providing inspiration for action.
We hope Fixing Our Broken Planet will be a powerful space that will spark a passion in each visitor for a healthier future for everyone."
Visitors should book a free ticket in advance online for guaranteed entry to the Museum. Members, Patrons and Corporate Supporters have priority access and do not need to book general admission or exhibition tickets.
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Notes to editors
Images are available in the press pack here.
Press contact
Natural History Museum Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151
Email: press@nhm.ac.uk
The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research centre and one of the world’s most visited museums. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet – people who act for nature.
Our 400 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency - from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the green economy.
We are seeking an additional £150 million to transform our South Kensington building: placing our groundbreaking research at its heart, revitalising four existing galleries, opening two new magnificent galleries and delighting 1 million more visitors a year with the wonders of the natural world.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund
DCMS's Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund supports the Department's arts and cultural public bodies in addressing urgent and critical estates maintenance challenges.
Natural Environment Research CouncilNERC is the custodian of the UK’s environmental science. It ensures the UK has the diverse talent and skills, the facilities, and the infrastructure needed for world-leading research. NERC researchers diagnose environmental issues, mitigate risk, and support solutions to major challenges such as air quality and climate change for the UK and beyond.
Wellcome
Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
GSK
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com/company.
Ørsted
Ørsted are one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies that takes tangible action to create a world that runs entirely on green energy.