Inside You

A long hallway is decorated with colorful graphics and text with cutouts shaped like humans © AMNH/M. Shanley
A secret world lives on, in, and all around you. Meet the human microbiome.

Adapted from the traveling exhibition The Secret World Inside You

Your body is home to trillions of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. Many of us think of microorganisms as the “germs” that cause illness, yet only a fraction of them make us sick. Why do we have so many microbes? Where do they come from? What makes them so important to our health?

This 2D panel exhibition introduces visitors to the human microbiome. Vibrant graphics, large physical cutouts, and colorful vinyl wallpapers present scientific concepts in a way that is accessible and engaging for visitors of all ages.

A colorful graphic featuring a clipart cutout of a person introduces visitors to concept of the human microbiome
Inside You introduces visitors to the human microbiome and how it impacts our health and well-being. 
A long hallway is decorated with colorful graphics
The effects of the microbiome on humans could play an important role in common health problems like allergies, asthma, obesity, and even anxiety and depression.
© AMNH/M. Shanley
A woman and two children stand and look at a colorful wall graphic
In any human, microbial genes outnumber the genes in human DNA by more than 100 to one. This new perspective leads us to look at our bodies not just as individuals, but as entire ecosystems. 
© AMNH/R. Mickens
A cut-out graphic of a person rollerblading is positioned against colorful wall graphics and text about microbes
How do your interactions with microbes—from what you wear to the pets you keep—influence your health? Learn how our microbiome is influenced by the foods we eat and the environment we live in.
© AMNH/M. Shanley
An infographic shows a map of the world and examples of different microbes found in different regions
Your gut is home to your most diverse microbes—about 100 trillion bacteria. No two people have exactly the same gut microbes. The make-up of your microbiome depends on many factors, like who you are, where you live, and what you eat. 

Key Themes

  • An Unseen World: Understand what microbes are, where they come from, and why they matter.
  • You Are an Ecosystem: Discover the role that microbes play in digestion, immunity, and reproduction.
  • Microbe Diversity: Examine factors that can influence your microbiome such as where you live and what you eat.
  • Cause or Effect?: Explore potential links between microbes and health conditions.
  • Scientific Frontier: Find out how scientists research the human microbiome.

 

Specifications

Our 2D panel exhibitions are delivered digitally and are designed to be flexible for display in spaces of various sizes and layouts.

  • Flexible size (225 linear feet)
  • Digital delivery
  • Package includes vinyl wallpapers, images and caption panels, and six physical cutouts
  • Optional educational theater videos, An Unseen World and Germ Theory – Antibiotics to enhance the experience
    • An Unseen World: Explore the complex and astonishingly diverse world of microbes, and their role in our world and our health
    • Germ Theory – Antibiotics: Leading experts in health and genome sciences break down the concept of germ theory and how the invention of antibiotics impacts our microbiome

 

Request More Information

The American Museum of Natural History's 2D panel exhibitions are ideal for displaying in museums, science centers, libraries, and other public or private spaces. 

Contact us to learn more about renting this exhibition for your venue. 

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