Module 8: Knowledge of our environment

The message
Conservation begins with knowledge of our environment and its resources.

The experience
Visitors encounter an array of maps: the hand-drawn territory map created by the Maijuna, “memory maps” created with other indigenous groups, social asset maps from the Chicagoland area, and perhaps swell maps from the South Pacific and early surveyor maps of Chicago. At individual touch screen kiosks or a multi-user touchtable, visitors can explore Google Earth to find out where Field Museum scientists are involved in conservation efforts around the world. They can also view rapid color guides, identification keys, and other field materials created for a specific region. Visitors might also have the opportunity to contribute to this or other maps.

The story
This section would help convey very basic concepts that underscore the work of our scientists:
From the perspective of the anthropology staff, something all human communities share is knowledge of their environment and its natural resources for survival. As John Terrell points out, when urbanites shop at Trader Joe’s they’re really foraging for food in a location they know to be successful for finding sustenance. It’s just a matter of how we make choices with this knowledge—that’s conservation.

For biological scientists, it’s important to convey that we can’t protect something if we don’t know what’s there. The Museum has a long-standing relationship with regions around the world to help answer this question. Museum scientists work with local officials and train the next generation of scientists in these countries to share knowledge of the environment and the foundations for conservation. This can be demonstrated in part through the guides we produce, making knowledge of place more accessible.