About

The "Anthropocene" was a proposed new geological era under consideration by the International Commission on Stratigraphy. Meaning the “Age of Humans,” it made a bold claim that humans have become a geologically significant  force in earth's history. In March 2024, the ICS voted not to approve the designation. This has diminished its relevance in stratigraphy, but the implications of this designation extend far beyond the limited confines of academic geology into the life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. The Anthropocene concept exposes the profound degree to which people have affected the earth system, whether in terms of the composition of its atmosphere, its species diversity, or even the elemental cycles of nitrogen and phosphorus.

The humanistic implications of these changes are equally significant and a variety of disciplines have begun exploring their social, cultural, and ethical implications. History, in particular environmental history, has taken a leading role in examining the meaning and significance of the Anthropocene and public history projects have begun to explore new ways of presenting and interpreting these findings. The project “Omaha in the Anthropocene” combines these two historical approaches to explore the meaning and relevance of the Anthropocene idea in the context of Omaha and the history of Nebraska.

Further Reading: Trajectories of the Earth System in the Anthropocene, What is Global Environmental History?

Other anthropocene exhibits: Welcome to the Anthropocene: The Earth in Our Hands, Anthropocene Slam