Expedition

Seneca Lake Fracking Infrastructure Tour

Seneca Lake is the largest body of fresh water wholly contained within the New York State. Its beauty is breathtaking, its water resource invaluable. But it has one other fairly unique physical feature. Under the lake are salt caverns, huge underground hollow expanses. A company called Crestwood is eyeing the caverns as a storage facility and transport hub for fracked gas. On this expedition we are joined by scientists familiar with the region’s unique geology and local activists who are fighting the proposed infrastructure project.

Toxic Risk, Climate Change and Human Health

Scientist Linda S. Birnbaum, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) joined this expedition along Brooklyn’s waterfront with interest in assessing contamination exposure risks to human health, and threats from extreme weather events such as Hurricane Sandy. The Sunset Park neighborhood an environmentally overburdened area within NYC’s storm surge zone.

Big Cypress National Preserve Expedition

Expedition leaders initiated political discourse and conversation concerning the origin of Big Cypress National Preserve and its designation as a public commons after first being ravaged by the effects of capitalism. The Natural History Museum partnered with the park service to better understand the environmental and political factors influencing the ecological conditions of Big Cypress National Preserve and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, focusing on oil wells and drilling in the Everglades and Big Cypress.

Kentucky Mountaintop Removal Expedition

The Natural History Museum coordinated with local ecologists to enhance understandings of environmental issues in Kentucky, specifically in Whitesburg, Benham, and Berea. The expedition included tours of mountaintop removal sites, underground mines, and nature preserves.

Petro Coke Mountain Range Expedition

This expedition takes explorers to Detroit on The Natural History Museum’s bus. From there, we will travel by boat up the Calumet River to the Petro Coke mountain range. The visit will examine the mountain area as a habitat by speaking to locals about their experience of living in the region. Additionally, we will engage local scientists about the area as a natural environment.