Where Have the Fish Gone in Warming Oceans... How Climate Change Is Transforming Fruit, Animals, and Plants

National Gwacheon Science Museum and Seven National Institutes
Special Climate Change Program for Elementary School Students

How is climate change transforming everything from the fruits and vegetables we eat to tree frogs, snakes, and the fish living in the oceans? Researchers from key national research institutions will directly share with children how nature and daily life are changing due to climate change.

The National Gwacheon Science Museum announced on September 29 that it will host the “2026 Joint Special Program on Climate Change for Research-Oriented State-Run Institutions” for elementary school students, to be held at its Natural History Hall Exploration Classroom on October 3.

Program poster. Provided by the Gwacheon National Science Museum

Seven national research institutions are participating in this program, including the National Institute of Fisheries Science, National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Korea National Arboretum, National Institute of Biological Resources, National Institute of Animal Science, and National Fire Research Institute. Researchers will explain, at a level appropriate for children, how climate change affects nature and daily life, drawing on real-life research cases.

The first session will focus on culture and plants, discussing topics such as how to protect national heritage from climate change, how fruit, vegetables, and plants are changing as a result of the climate crisis, and the signals that plants send regarding climate change.

From Tree Frogs and Pit Vipers to Warming Oceans

The next session focuses on animals, introducing topics such as South Korea's tree frogs and pit vipers, research into the impacts of climate change on livestock, and how rising seawater temperatures are affecting fish populations. At the National Institute of Biological Resources, researcher Minseok Do—known on YouTube as “Snake Frog Mister”—will give a talk explaining the relationship between living creatures and environmental change, using tree frog and pit viper case studies.

The final session, led by the National Fire Research Institute, will cover “School Chemical Safety with 119,” teaching children what they need to know about chemical safety.

This event will serve as expert training for the National Gwacheon Science Museum’s urban nature exploration program, “NORIAN.” It is open to students in grades 1 to 6, with 25 participants per session and a total capacity of 75. Participation is free of charge. Advance registration is available on the National Gwacheon Science Museum’s website from September 29 to October 2. If there are remaining spaces, it will also be possible to join on-site on the day of the event.

Chungwon Lee, Director General of the National Gwacheon Science Museum, stated, “Climate change is connected to many aspects of our lives, from the fruit and vegetables we eat to local plants and animals, the oceans, and national heritage. I hope this event will be an opportunity for children to observe and reflect on the changes happening around us.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.