Life in One Cubic Foot
On view July 1–September 24, 2023
From Central Park to South African shrubland to a coral reef in the South Pacific, Life in One Cubic Foot reveals the diversity of nature that can be found using “biocubes”—one-cubic-foot frames used to survey the animals and plants living in an ecosystem. The exhibition features the research of Smithsonian scientists and photographer David Liittschwager as they discover what a cubic foot of land or water—a biocube—reveals about the diversity of life on the planet. In addition to exploring life through the exhibition, visitors are also invited to participate in citizen science and uncover the biodiversity in their backyard by creating and monitoring their own biocube. The exhibition is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
A biocube in place at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica. © David Liittschwager
A biocube in place at the Hallett Nature Sanctuary in Central Park, New York City. © David Liittschwager
DNA Learning Center students exploring one cubic foot of Cold Springs Harbor in New York. © David Liittschwager
A biocube placed on the Tamae Reef off the Pacific island of Mo’orea. © David Liittschwager
Activities & Special Programming
Grab a biocube at new hands-on gallery cart to discover what a cubic foot reveals about the Bell Museum’s Learning Landscape.
Life in One Cubic Foot is an exhibition organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
This exhibition is generously supported by:
