Life on the Edge

Special Exhibition

January 24 - May 10, 2026
This exhibit is not yet on display. Check out other things to do at the EcoCenter!

Child playing with rover in exhibit display

About the Exhibition

Explore extreme environments on Earth and how they help us understand possibilities for life in our Solar System and beyond. In this hands-on exhibition, visitors will discover that life is hidden in plain sight by exploring a colorful microbial colony, learning about the importance of missions to Mars by coding a rover, investigating rover tests in the Atacama Desert, using spectroscopy to detect what light reveals in faraway places, and investigating research taking place right here in Utah’s extreme environments.

This exhibition does not contain any live animals.

Life on the Edge is produced by the Sciencenter in partnership with SPIF, and was made possible with generous support from NASA, under award No NNX16AM22G.

Hours & Pricing

The EcoCenter is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Ages 3-64: $7
Ages 65+ or those with a valid military ID: $6
Ages 0-2: Free
Swaner members: Free (membership must be current; family-level members may bring the two adults listed on the membership and children living in household)

School Groups

We love hosting school groups! Please note that field trips can be scheduled Wednesday through Friday from 10 am to 3 pm, which may affect your experience. If you would like to check if a field trip is scheduled when you plan to visit the exhibit please call the main line at (435) 649-1767. For more information about booking a field trip, please visit our school programs page.

If you are interested in booking a self-guided field trip for your organized group (school group, scout troop, etc), please go to the self-guided field trip web page to learn more and complete the request form. Self-guided field trips are available for groups of 20 or fewer youth participants.

Birthday Parties

$300 for a group of up to 20 children and adults, including birthday child and adult guardian(s). Minimum of 2 adults are required per party. Swaner members receive a 10% discount.

Birthday Party Request Form

What does the party package include?

Admission for 20 guests to the Life on the Edge exhibit.
2 hour private use of Naturalist Room. This is the time to enjoy refreshments, food, and activities of your choice (such as gift opening). You may arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your start time to set up. Parties must be fully packed up and out of the Naturalist Room by 12:00 PM so staff can reopen the space to the public.
Tables & chairs provided.
Swaner does not provide food or drink. Please do not bring ANY items that contain nuts of any kind.
Modest nature-themed table covers and decorations provided.

When can a party be scheduled?

Saturdays from 10 AM - 12 PM
Bookings are subject to staff and Naturalist Room availability.

Contact Info:
Name: Bri Cencak
Position: Visitor Experience Coordinator
Email: brianna.cencak@usu.edu
Phone: 435-797-8952

Free Ticket Request Form

We don’t want admission fees to be a barrier to community members interested in attending this exhibit! Do you know a group, individual, family, or organization that could benefit from tickets? Reach out to brianna.cencak@usu.edu so we can arrange for tickets to be provided.

Do you need free tickets? Fill out the free ticket request form below or join us for a free admission day. While admission fees are an important part of funding these exhibits, generous sponsors have enabled us to provide these free tickets to our community.

Free Ticket Request Form

Exhibition Programming

Opening Day: Member Sneak Peek + Free Admission Day

Saturday, January 24

9 - 10 AM: The EcoCenter will open early just for Swaner Members to get a sneak peek of Life on the Edge on its opening day! Join us to experience the exhibit, get a sweet treat, and participate in special opening day activities. Memberships will be checked at the front desk.

10 AM - 4 PM: Let's kick off the start of this exhibit with a free Family Day for all ages! Explore the brand-new exhibit, dive into hands-on activities, and get creative with a craft inspired by Earth’s most extreme environments. Free and open to everyone!

Wonder in Nature & Art: Family Day with Kimball Art Center + Free Admission Day

Sunday, February 22

10 AM - 1 PM: Enjoy hands-on art activities brought to you in partnership with the Kimball Art Center!

10 AM - 4 PM: Visit the exhibit for free thanks to the Promontory Foundation, Park City Community Foundation, Deer Valley Resort, and Larry & Judy Brownstein!