Experience biodiversity: ETH Zurich shows off its treasures
Insects and plants collected over the course of more than 200 years highlight the importance of wildlife conservation – the first exhibition at extract, the new exhibition space in the ETH main building.
The exhibition “Biodiversity: a fragile treasure” at extract showcases a wide variety of insects and plants from collections held by ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich. Some of its specimens are truly spectacular. The exhibits tell fascinating stories about biodiversity on our planet.
They are also an urgent warning about the tragic destruction of habitats. More than half of all animal and plant species are endangered today. The exhibition shows what changes lead to the loss of species in Switzerland. Visitors can learn about measures taken to protect diversity from the many threats facing it.
The magnificent exhibition space is full of insects and plants, collected over the course of more than 200 years. A walk-in research station transports you to the jungle of Madagascar and to the Central African savannah. Expert tour guides are also on hand to show visitors around the exhibits.
The exhibition showcases rare specimens such as the Queen Alexandra’s birdwing butterfly, with a wingspan of up to 28 cm – the widest of all butterflies. Pressed plants from Swiss botanist Hans Ernst Hess’s collection are also on display. He collected them in Angola during the 1950s, all the while contending with rhinoceroses, lions and rebellious off-road vehicles.
The exhibition “Biodiversity: a fragile treasure” is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. every day. It will run from 25 August 2023 to 14 July 2024.
The following events will take place in connection with the exhibition:
- Biodiversity show with DJ Dominik Eulberg: 31 August 2023
- external page Zurich’s Long Night of Museums: 02 September 2023
- external page Scientifica – What holds the world together: 02 to 03 September 2023
Further details about events connected to the exhibition at extract, the new exhibition space in the ETH main building.
extract – big topics in a small space
extract brings you a compact exploration of major topics relating to the interplay between society and the research conducted at ETH Zurich. The exhibitions and events programme provide a showcase of the different fields of research and plenty of food for thought. This enables you to experience the Collections and Archives in a curated, concentrated form, as a carefully prepared distillation – in short, an extract.