The exhibition explores how humans influence the various ecosystems of the planet. The (interactive) presentation illustrates the natural and global context with local examples of Switzerland and the City of Basel and its surroundings. After an acoustic introduction of nature without human interference, the visitor visit rooms with different themes and beautiful illustrations and installations. The salt and fresh water supplies of the earth, flora and fauna on land, the industrialization, chemical industry, pesticides, air pollution, the enormous use of water by consumers and industry, the use of land, lakes, rivers, and seas, the disappearance of the woods in Europe and elsewhere, climate change and other topics are presented.
The museum offers a wide range of accompanying activities, such as guided tours, excursions, meetings with scientists and experts and a guided tour for children and their families, allowing visitors to broaden their knowledge and see it from different perspectives.
Around fifteen experts give their point of view by short written statements at the beginning of the show. It ends at the Anthropocene (Anthropozän in German), the geological epoch from the beginning of considerable human impact on Earth geology and ecosystems.
A timeline indicates the developments from ancient (Roman and Greek times) to the present time and the many developments and changes since the sixteenth century onwards. It also expresses the pleasant, informative, almost philosophical set-up: not moralistic and panicking, but a dialogue, discussion, scientific explanation and looking for possibilities and changes or in the words of the organisers:
“Change needs diversity – without diversity there is no change. That’s something we learn from nature, but also applies to our society” (Wandel braucht Vielfalt – ohne Vielfalt kein Wandel. Das lernen wir von der Natur, gilt aber auch für unsere Gesellschaft).