Dust – Mirror of the Environment
Dust flies through the air and can also stick to vertical surfaces. Gravity plays hardly any role in the life of a dust particle; it is the surface forces that are decisive in its biography.
The exhibition covers everything from extraterrestrial dust to pollen, gold dust and the multitude of industrial and commercial dusts, reports on standardized dust that is used as test dust for product tests, tells of criminological dust investigations and of dust on people, the so-called "personal cloud".
The unusual properties of dust have been used by humans since ancient times: they used dust for painting, as a drawing medium or as make-up. At the same time, dust is also a danger. Because it floats in the air, it can be inhaled and penetrates deep into the organism.
Technological developments are constantly creating new types of dust whose harmful effects have been proven. Against the background of discussions about fine dust and nanoscale materials, the exhibition aims to provide information about dust as an environmental factor in an understandable and entertaining way.
Scientific team: Dr. Jens Soentgen, Prof. Dr. Armin Reller, Knut Völzke
Quiet design team: Knut Völzke, Kaca Mihajlovic
Client: WZU – Environmental Science Center of the University of Augsburg
Year of creation: 2004
Exhibition station at the Bavarian State Office for the Environment in Hof an der Saale.
Exhibition station at the Entsorga-Enteco trade fair in Cologne.
The diverse forms of dust are revealed when viewed through a microscope.
A row of display cases encircling the exhibition area shows 56 dust samples and tells the stories from meteorite dust to baby powder.
Probably the smallest puzzle in the world; it consists of 100 pieces, covering an area of 5 sq mm.
exhibition stations from 2004 to 2013
Environmental Science Center, University of Augsburg
Federal Environment Agency Dessau
Bonn Science Center
Bavarian State Office for the Environment Hof
Museum at Schölerberg Osnabrück
Koelnmesse Entsorga-Enteco
Natureum Niederelbe
BMBF Pavilion in Shenyang (individual exhibits)
Lindenstraße Environmental Day, Marienplatz Munich
Museum of Natural History Chemnitz
Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden
Natural History Museum Leipzig
House of Science Bremen
In July 2013, large parts of the exhibition became the permanent property of the Bavarian State Office for the Environment in Augsburg.
Hands-on exhibits such as the “dust whirler” bring the fascinating aspects of dust to life.
Hands-on exhibits such as the “dust whirler” bring the fascinating aspects of dust to life.