"Nature Unleashed"

The first sight visitors encounter in “Nature Unleashed,” a new exhibit at the Liberty Science Center, is a tree trunk. This isn’t any old stump—it’s bent at a 90-degree angle, courtesy of Hurricane Hugo, which ravaged the East Coast in 1989. Nearby, twisted street signs, photos of devastated streetscapes and other artifacts of natural disasters—specifically volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes—foster a chilling vibe. The objects are intended to convey the power of catastrophes; signs elucidate the science that causes them to occur.

But another goal of the exhibition is to calm fears about violent weather. Mounted panels remind visitors that major disasters are rarities, occurring only under certain conditions and in specific areas of the world. “There’s such media saturation of these events now that kids can have a skewed perception of what’s going on,” says Wayne LaBar, VP of exhibitions and featured experiences at LSC.

The Jersey City museum is known for its hands-on attractions, and “Unleashed” highlights a number that are sure to draw young museumgoers’ attention. At a volcano station, kids can choose the amount of pressure and type of lava they want before watching a computer-generated eruption spew forth on a video monitor. In another area, they can construct mini high-rises and then subject them to earthquakes to see how they hold up. “Tornado-in-the-Round” allows visitors to stand in the path of an oncoming twister; footage of a cyclone, filmed from five different angles, is beamed onto screens for an immersive experience.

Video commentaries from survivors of Hurricane Katrina describe the effects of extreme weather on human life, from death tolls and property damage to the restructuring of communities. True to LaBar’s aim, they are informative without being exploitative. Your kids may not notice the lack of sensationalism, but we’re confident you’ll appreciate it.

"Nature Unleashed" is on view at the Liberty Science Center through Jan 3, 2010.

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