Are you in Geneva this week, during the October school holiday? Looking for an indoor activity, just in case rain/La Bise Noire is in the forecast? Then consider checking out three temporary exhibits at Geneva’s Natural History Museum. Especially with children in tow, spending a couple of hours here will be time well-spent!

If you feel like the exhibits at the Natural History Museum are often a little humdrum, ignore that feeling and give these a go. And for CHF 10/ticket, it’s a steal by Geneva standards. For a few extra francs, pick up a child’s activity book in either French or English to keep youngsters engaged as they tour the exhibits.

The first is the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2019) exhibit. For more than 55 years, this competition has accepted entries from all over the world. A panel of judges whittles the (almost 50,000) entries down to just 100 or so, organised by category (Photojournalism, Habitats, Rising Stars, People’s Choice, etc.)

Below is the image that took the Grand Prize in 2019:

These stunning images evoke feelings of wonder, drama, and humor. And yes, guilt at the consequences of human activity on Earth’s wildlife.

As you leave the photo exhibit, you’ll see the entrance for Bottled Ocean 2120. This art installation, created by Māori artist George Nuku, uses tens of thousands of plastic bottles to create an underwater scene of coral and sea creatures. Set in the year 2120, the installation asks us to contemplate a world where the ice caps have melted, the land is covered by oceans, and new plastic-based life forms have appeared.

In addition to the sea life, the exhibit includes an impressive double-hulled waka (traditional boat), also rendered in recycled plastic. The exhibit serves as both artistic inspiration and a warning as plastic pollution increases in our oceans.

The final temporary exhibit is a curated collection of the museum’s treasures, fittingly called, Trésors.

This small room is filled with some very interesting specimens of animals, insects, rocks/crystals, artwork and more. Each has a label describing how it was acquired, its history, and how it earned pride of place in this exhibit.

Last, don’t forget to stop by the museum’s newly-revamped gift shop, where you can find beautiful jewellery, educational gifts for children, and (for now) books on how to reuse and reinvent your plastic bottles. For more details about the museum and how to visit, click here.

We are a group of international women living in Geneva, Switzerland. If you would like to learn more about our activities and excursions, visit our website at  http://www.aiwcgeneva.org/