What would happen if a science fair came to life?

With three days of science activities, the Unearth Science festival celebrates science and nature in ways that will encourage you to explore. Participate in drop-in programs, timed demonstrations, free programs, and special events.

Get into the Environment

Peek into hanging terrariums interactive, life-size terraria representing a bog, ravine, and woodland created by Seattle artist Vaughn Bell and Garden scientist Pati Vitt (free and open to the public). Visit April 20–22 in Burnstein Hall and get an ant’s-eye view of nature with artist Vaughn Bell’s biospheres in Local Homes: Nature in Your Backyard. Discuss the works with the artist and scientist Pati Vitt on Saturday, April 21.

Get outside

Explore spring beauty and the universe with experts from the Garden and Adler Planetarium. Gather in the Nature Play Garden to look through a telescope at the moon and evening sky—and possibly the bright planet, Venus.

Dig Deeper

Go in-depth with Garden staff and scientists and explore topics from forensics to the fossil record. Discover the birds and the bees (and bats and butterflies as pollinators). Contribute to a crowd-sourced poem about science. Find out how to grow plants on Mars. Measure a plant’s breath. Help their scientists tag a bee. Use soil science forensics to solve a crime.

The weekend programming includes interactive science-based drop in activities and registered workshops that are all free and open to the public.

Detail Science Festival Chicago Botanic Garden