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IQALUIT - With animal skulls, muskox hair and a polar bear weigh station, a trip to Iqaluit's new arena has gotten a little bit wilder.

Until Nov. 7, its spacious lobby plays host to Science North's Arctic Adventure, an interactive museum installation geared to get young people into science.

Udlu Pishuktie and nine-month-old granddaughter Ooloota Kolola check out the iceberg station at the Arctic Adventure exhibit, currently on display at the Arctic Winter Games arena in Iqaluit. - Karen Mackenzie/NNSL photo

"There are some beautiful backdrops and stations on topics like whales, life in the Arctic, icebergs and a polar bear lab, so people can explore all the different aspects of science," said Mary Ellen Thomas, executive director of the Nunavut Research Institute. "It's meant to be as interactive as possible. Even some of the 70- and 80-year-old 'youth' will want to step on a scale, play with displays, press some buttons and learn."

While the exhibit is open to everyone, the group they're really reaching out to is children aged eight to 12, according to Thomas.

"All the research will tell you that that's the age when children will make their choices on what their career path will be," she said. "We want to encourage children to interact with science and scientists and hopefully that will be a career choice for them someday. Until we get more Inuit involved in science, we will continue to have southern eyes looking at us in the North."

As they browse, visitors are encouraged to take hold of the child-friendly installations, get up close with bear skulls and weigh themselves at a polar bear weigh station.

After trying out some of the displays with his infant granddaughter in his arms, Udlu Pishuktie said he thinks the hands-on elements of the displays are great for kids.

"It's just the right amount of information - not too little, not too much," he said.

Cultural activities are also featured prominently in one display, with videos depicting traditional scenes of skin preparation and kayaking.

All the presentations are available in Inuktitut, English and French.

A Science North project, its stint in Iqaluit was funded in part by International Polar Year and supported by agencies including Indian and Northern Affairs, according to Thomas.

"It's a real partnership," she said.

The exhibit will be staffed by Nunavut Research Institute as well as employees from the Government of Nunavut Department of the Environment.