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06/11/2018

A seven-metre diameter glowing planet Earth will go on show at the Natural History Museum this month, as part of an event exploring our relationship with our environment.

The Earth art installation

Created by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram, the work, titled Earth, was commissioned in partnership with UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot Festival and The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres.

Earth will be on show in the museum’s Hintze Hall next to the huge skeleton of an ancient whale (which famously replaced Dippy the Dinosaur earlier this year), as part of the museum's Lates events.

The illuminated surface of Earth was created using detailed NASA images taken from space. The installation will be accompanied by the sounds of BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones.

“I wanted to attempt to give the public the opportunity to see the Earth as a sphere, floating in the darkness of space,” says Jerram. “I hope to convey the fragility and beauty of our planet - our only home. It’s a great pleasure to be working with NERC to help realise this project.”

The event, titled Your Planet Needs You, is one of the Natural History Museum’s (NHM’s) monthly Lates events, which provide a chance for adults to explore the museum after hours, with food and bar drinks.

The event includes interactive activities and talks from some of the UK’s top NERC-funded environmental scientists, several of whom are shortlisted for a prestigious NERC Impact Award. Their research ranges from protecting biodiversity in the face of worldwide deforestation for agriculture, including for palm oil, to the science behind a never-seen-before satellite to monitor climate change from space, and uncovering the impacts of microplastics on the world’s oceans.

London-based interactive theatre makers, Coney, will challenge visitors to grapple with some of the barriers to engaging with environmental issues such as climate change through creative games and interactive experiences. 

The event will take place at the NHM on November 30, at 6pm and is open to all and free to enter.

Find out more about NERC's Impact Awards here.