You may know that coral reefs are incredible habitats today, but did you know reefs have an over 540-million-year evolutionary history? Dive into the history of Earth's reefs at our interactive exhibit and discover how these biodiversity hotspots have been shaped by a diverse cast of "ecosystem engineers" - from ancient microbes and sponges to modern corals - all adapting to climate over hundreds of millions of years.

At this exhibit, you'll experience:
- Fossils that tell a story: Touch and examine real fossils of ancient reef-builders and learn how these organisms have evolved to shape the marine biosphere.
- The climate connection: See the fossils arranged through time and rising and falling ocean temperatures to uncover how climate change influences reefs.
- Interactive exploration: Use our touch-screen app to dive into the climate and fossil record of different time periods. Explore where, when, and how reefs formed throughout Earth's history.

Our expert palaeontologists from the University of Southampton's School of Ocean and Earth Science will guide you through this journey of reef evolution. Whether you're a budding palaeontologist, nature enthusiast, or simply curious, this exhibit will leave you amazed at the importance, diversity, and resiliency of reef-building organisms throughout Earth's history.