Stop by the “I Heart Carbon” exhibit at Britannia Mine Museum to explore carbon – an element that’s all around us and all through us.
A part of Canada150, a national celebration of Canada’s anniversary, the exhibit focuses on how carbon impacts our daily lives and current innovations.
“We have a section looking at carbon in its different forms. From graphite – the softest material – to diamonds – the hardest – both are pure carbon,” said Diane Mitchell, curator of education and collections at the museum. “Did you know that there are millions of nano-diamonds formed in a single candle flame?”
The Carbon Machine, a part of the exhibit, explores carbon in our bodies – how we consume it, how long it forms a basis for our cells and how it is essential to the energy our bodies burn. Another section of the exhibit deals with the carbon cycle, including carbon sources such as volcanoes and humans, as well as “carbon sinks,” which could include the ocean.
“Or is the ocean a carbon source? Research is suggesting that it may be, so we have included research into the exhibit to bring us up to date with current thinking – showing that we still have a lot to learn,” Mitchell explained.
Canadian companies using carbon technology are highlighted, including Squamish-based Carbon Engineering, which is piloting its technology to capture carbon dioxide and turn it into clean fuel.
“I Heart Carbon” is part of Canada150’s Innovation150, a national, yearlong program delivered by five science organizations that celebrates Canada’s innovative past and has a goal of sparking ideas for the future.
“We wanted to explore a theme that relates to natural resources, was topical and relevant to us all. Carbon fit the bill well,” Mitchell said. “But we didn’t want to just explore innovations around carbon. We wanted to demystify the science of it.
“Too often we hear about carbon is a negative light, often associated with excess carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. We wanted to look at how essential and useful carbon is to all life, and to our modern society.”
Although the exhibit isn’t about climate change, visitors will learn how we can mimic nature by completing natural cycles in order to rebalance a carbon cycle that has been knocked out of sync by post-industrial society. The District of Squamish, for example, is taking steps toward becoming carbon neutral.
“By demystifying carbon and giving the visitor a better appreciation of its different facets – good and bad – we hope that the visitor will feel better informed the next time they come across carbon in an online article or in the media, for example,” Mitchell said.
‘I Heart Carbon’ is on until the end of September.
