Photo courtesy of Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

In the field of engineering, human achievements receive the most recognition, but Eco Engineers, the new temporary exhibit at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, shifts the spotlight to the flora and fauna that shape ecosystems with their own engineering feats.

Director of museum experience Ashley Waite came up with the exhibit’s concept while reflecting on ways to explore engineering from different perspectives. “2023 is our year of engineering, which is the narrative theme for the exhibitions,” she says. “My background is in marine biology, and I’m always thinking of how to incorporate the environment and natural world into the museum.” Inspired by creatures like the gopher tortoise, which dig extensive burrows that house a myraid of other animals, Waite and her team researched other similar species. “The more we started to think about it, we realized that Florida is home to a lot of eco engineers that modify the environment with profound effects, then narrowed it down to 9 native species,” she adds. The exhibit pays homage not only to furry friends like beavers, but also to plants like red mangroves and live oaks that leave an indelible mark on the landscape. “Plants can be considered engineers too, and I liked incorporating them since sometimes they are overlooked because they are not as dymanic as animals.” 

The exhibit is divided into three zones, including the land, water’s edge, and sea sections. Giant photos of the featured species fill the space, creating an immersive environment for guests. A selection of beautiful photos bring each species to life, with the largest photos measuring about 3 by 6 feet. According to Waite, the coral photos, lent to the Bishop by the Coral Restoration Foundation, will stun visitors. 3D elements, like corals and a beaver skull from the museum’s collections complement the photos and text. Waite and her team kept the tone of the information presented appealing to all visitors. “Our goal was to make it fun and lighthearted,” she says. “We wanted David Attenborough with a bit of Steve Irwin.” The accessible text and photos hung at children’s eye level means that visitors of any age can connect to the content. Kids can complete a scavenger hunt of the exhibit, which can be found at the Bishop’s front desk. The exhibit, sponsored by The Mosaic Company, is also bilingual in English and Spanish, representing the museum’s efforts to make all of its new in-house exhibits available in both languages.

“I want people to really be in awe of our local ecosystem, how beautiful it is and how the animals that make it up are so vitally important in ways that aren’t always obvious to us,” she says. “I hope that people walk away with an appreciation for our local environment.”

Eco Engineers runs from April 7 through Sept. 3 and is included in regular museum admissions. Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, bishopscience.org.

Photo courtesy of Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

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