Humans are now altering the life-support systems of the entire planet, marking a unique moment in Earth’s 4.56-billion-year history. It is essential that we understand how global systems change over time and develop sustain-able strategies for the management of natural systems. The Museum has the largest fossil collection in the world with 40 million specimens and a team of expert scientists studying the evolution of the Earth and its biological communities over time. However, our Paleobiology exhibitions are outdated and in urgent need of a complete overhaul, and our online resources dedicated to this critical topic are limited. At a time when the public is increasingly aware of the impact of climate change on our planet and our own livelihoods, we want to encourage society to learn from the past and how humans are changing the future. We aim to establish the Smithsonian as the world leader in understanding global change over time.
