This coming fall and winter, FCMoD is excited to present two special exhibitions that explore a wide array of biological, historical and cultural perspectives.  

Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity

October 12, 2024 – January 26, 2025

The Bias Inside Us

November 27, 2024 – December 31, 2024 

Tuesday Night Live!

FCMoD will offer a series of Tuesday Night Live events throughout the run of Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity and The Bias Inside Us this fall. From poetry workshops to panel discussions, we’ll explore the many fascinating topics that tie into our two special exhibitions.  

This series will be offered as part of our Pay-What-You Can program to create access for all.  

See below for a full list of TNL events! 

Join us for Nighttime Creatures, a program that dives into the fascinating world of nocturnal animals, featuring unique species like the black-footed ferret. This program is designed for animal enthusiasts, families, and anyone curious about the remarkable adaptations that allow these creatures to thrive in the darkness. After exploring Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity, join Bird Conservancy of the Rockies on an Owl Walk to try and find nocturnal birds near the museum.

A panel of neurodiverse individuals talk through what it’s like to have an invisible disability and the biases that surround them, followed by low sensory walkthough of exhibits. This session is geared towards youth.

Hi there! This program is still in development. Please check back closer to the event date for more details. 

Hear from Odia-Wood Kreuger, Smithsonian Program Outreach Coordinator, about the goals of the Bias Inside Us Project, the research behind the exhibit, and the implementation of this nation wide project. Then get a first look at The Bias Inside Us exhibit that will open to the public the next day.

A panel of neurodiverse individuals talk through what it’s like to have an invisible disability and the biases that surround them, followed by low sensory walkthough of exhibits. This session is geared towards adults.

Join us for a poetry reading inspired by the exhibits Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity and The Bias Inside Us. Participants from The Sun is a Witness, the Moon is an Open Door Workshops will connect with others during a stellar display of talent and human connection in FCMoD’s OtterBox Digital Dome Theater! Learn more about the workshops here.
There will be two poetry sessions in the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater and time to experience the exhibits Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity and The Bias Inside Us.

During this panel, the Managing Director at CSU’s Center for Public Deliberation (CPD) will have a discussion with current and former CPD student associates to ask how they’ve applied the skills learned in our program to their interpersonal conversations, especially about political topics. They’ll provide tips on how to foster spaces of belonging, how to disagree with curiosity, and how to validate the experiences and emotions of others in conversation. After the panel, there will be time for a brief Q&A.

Hi there! This program is still in development. Please check back closer to the event date for more details. 

Hi there! This program is still in development. Please check back closer to the event date for more details. 

Hi there! This program is still in development. Please check back closer to the event date for more details. 

Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity

October 12, 2024 – January 26, 2025

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery’s upcoming special exhibit, Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity, aims to inspire wonder and curiosity about this uniquely complex organ. The exhibit features dozens of scientific specimens that showcase the incredibly adaptive properties of skin in animals – including its ability to support and regenerate keratin-based structures like armored scales, aerodynamic feathers, and insulating fur.

Skin dives even deeper to explore how evolution has shaped diversity in human skin – and how much we have yet to discover about the underlying genetics of skin color. The exhibit presents the topics of racism, prejudice, and discrimination through the lenses of history and science. Visitors can explore the layers of meaning humans have associated with skin color throughout history and how our ever-evolving social and political climate has influenced shifting ideas of race and culture. FCMoD hopes you’ll take home a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and recognize that we – as humans – are more alike than we are different.

Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity was created by the California Academy of Sciences and modified for travel and distributed by the Science Museum of Minnesota.  This installation is presented in English and Spanish.

The Bias Inside Us  

November 27, 2024 – December 31, 2024 

The Bias Inside Us is a Smithsonian traveling exhibition and community-engagement project that raises awareness about the social science and impact of implicit bias. The Bias Inside Us is an opportunity for people to learn about implicit bias and reflect on their own biases and how they impact their actions. Projects like this can expose us to other ideas and groups outside our own. This exposure can lead to meaningful dialogue, positive change, greater empathy, and increased inclusivity.  

The goals of the exhibition are:   

  • to help people understand and recognize their implicit biases,   
  • to support communities in convening dialogue that will increase awareness,   
  • and to inspire more inclusive schools, communities, and workplaces.    

This exhibit is brought to you in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES).

Thank you to our sponsors:

Fiona’s Deli, Bakery and Catering