Coming May 10, 2024!
A surprising exhibition that will take visitors on an unexpected journey into the environmental and social issues surrounding human waste.
Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste invites visitors to reflect beyond their preconceptions and discover every facet of one of the world’s most misunderstood, limitless resources – human waste. With its audacious, fun, and engaging approach to an important topic with global impacts, the exhibition begs the question, “Does human waste have to be wasted?”, and invites museum-goers to gain new insight on the importance of this universal organic matter.
The exhibition has learning opportunities for all ages offering interactive experiences and discovery that raises awareness and sparks conversations on our individual and collective relationship with human waste.
Exhibition Highlights
- Discover innovative ways in which human waste is being re-used as a sustainable resource.
- Gain insight into waste management and sanitation issues both at home and around the world.
- Explore Planet Toilets, and discover toilets spanning from ancient Rome to modern Japan.
- Learn about your gut health with the Bristol Stool Chart.
- Test your skills in the CACArcade - an arcade designed with poop in mind!
- See over 200 unusual objects, collector’s pieces, ancient archives and contemporary items.
- Leave a souvenir of your visit in the fart room, gas analysis included!
Explore the Exhibition
Image gallery
Transcript
Audio transcript:
(Text on screen: Is Ottawa flush with knowledge?)
(Count down: 5,4,3, 2,1)
(Text on screen: What material are some artists using to make new kinds of art?)
Adult: I don't know.
Adult: Oh, what is it called, what is it called?
Child: Paint!
Child: Sticks?
Child: Glue?
Adult: Organic material?
Child: Garbage?
Adult: "Human teeth" popped into my head.
Adult: I have no idea!
(Text on screen: What are engineers starting to use to make houses?)
Group of 2 children: Uh…
Child: Um...
Child: Wood?
Adult: Hemp.
Child: Clay?
Child: Some houses are made out of bricks.
Group of 2 children: Concrete.
Group of 2 children: Um... Henry!
(Text on screen: Henry with an arrow pointing to one of the children)
(Text on screen: What renewable energy can be used to make some cars run?)
Adult: Uh, could be...
Adult with baby: Um...
Child: Vegetables?
Adult with child: Hydrogen?
Child: I don't know, like, lava or something?
Child: Insects.
Adult: Algae?
Adult: Grass.
Adult: Do I get to call someone?
(Text on screen: Poop.)
Child: Huh?
Child: Weird.
Adult: Poop?
Adult: Wow! Poop. Okay.
Adult: Poop?
Child: Wait, cut that out, wait--
Adult: Poop?
Group of 2 children: Wait-- but why poop?
(Text on screen: Oh crap! Rethinking human waste)
(Text on screen: At the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa)
(Developed by: Musée de la civilisation de Québec)
(Ingenium logo)
Oh Crap! App
Introducing our new app, Oh Crap! On the Trail of the Golden Poops - a scavenger hunt in the heart of downtown Ottawa. Take a short walking tour in the city while learning about the fascinating, yet taboo subject of human waste. Answer questions and enjoy fun augmented reality experiences for a chance to win tickets to the Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste exhibition.
Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste exhibition was curated and developed by the Musée de la civilisation du Québec.