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Connect to the Charles River and explore the ties between engineering and nature. Get your hands wet with engineering challenges, listen to the soundscape of the river, and connect with the animals that inhabit this ecosystem.
Humans can make engineering decisions that change the river’s flow and landscape to meet our needs, but we need to account for the naturally changing river system and consider the impact those decisions have on plants and animals. Explore the unique challenges that arise when a city is situated within a diverse river ecosystem.
Connect to the Charles River and explore the ties between engineering and nature. Get your hands wet with engineering challenges, listen to the soundscape of the river, and connect with the animals that inhabit this ecosystem.
Humans can make engineering decisions that change the river’s flow and landscape to meet our needs, but we need to account for the naturally changing river system and consider the impact those decisions have on plants and animals. Explore the unique challenges that arise when a city is situated within a diverse river ecosystem.
Included with Exhibit Halls admission
Lower Level - Lobby, Museum Map
All Ages
Our Museum Exhibits team has thoroughly reviewed every exhibit component throughout the entire Museum to assess its safety and risk for transmission. As a result, some exhibits and venues, like the Yawkey Gallery, have been modified for your safety.
Make your own engineering decisions at this digitally simulated river, and observe how your choices affect the river system. As you make decisions—like whether to use pesticides on crops growing near the river—you will be challenged to balance the needs of humans with the health of the ecosystem.
Enjoy the peaceful motion of the River Loom as hundreds of suspended cords create a moving canopy. This elegant, slow-moving sculpture is inspired by the way waves form in the Charles River Basin as water bounces off of the engineered riverbanks.
Take a peek at the diversity of life found under water and along the banks of the Charles River while exploring our re-created habitats. See native fish in our large aquatic tank. Explore our smaller habitats which are home to both amphibians and reptiles common to the region.
Need more information for an upcoming field trip? Want to see how this exhibit can complement your curriculum? Check out our additional resources to help plan your visit.
