Guest post by NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Our universe is expanding: 24-hour grand opening of the Nature Research Center, the new wing of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
- When: Friday, April 20, 5pm—Saturday, April 21, 5pm
- Where: Museum of Natural Sciences – NRC, Main Museum & Bicentennial Plaza
- Fee: FREE!
Nature never sleeps, so the Nature Research Center will open its doors to the public for the first time with a 24-hour celebration rich in activities and entertainment for everyone. Exploring how we know what we know, the public will discover science in new ways, unlocking the Citizen Scientist within.
Visitors can answer the question “How do we know” through a wide choice of activities offering something for everyone. Science is the star of the entire event with presenters and exhibitors across two city blocks, and of course tours of the Nature Research Center.
Inside the new wing, visitors will be immersed in interactive science and technology exhibits. They will have the opportunity to try science activities in our investigate labs, explore our research collections in our high-tech Naturalist Center or view the SECU Daily Planet, a state of the art, three story presentation space.
Key features of the Nature Research Center
Exhibits, Research Labs, and Investigate Labs
The Nature Research Center will house four state-of-the-art research laboratories in which scientific staff from the NRC, the Museum, UNC System and visiting scientists from many other academic and corporate partners will engage in research while visitors can observe “science in action” through floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Adjacent public Investigate Labs will allow visitors to participate in real scientific research and other hands-on activities. Interactive, multimedia exhibits will engage visitors in a wide variety of cutting edge research from Dinosaurs to DNA, to Weather, to Meteorites to Biodiversity to Nanotechnology to Space and Deep Sea Explorations.
Download maps [PDF] and get information about transportation, parking, strollers, and water at the event.
Entertainment and program venues
- SECU Daily Planet (NRC)
- SECU Daily Planet Stage (NRC)
- Science Café (NRC)
- Environmental Conference Center (NRC)
- Bicentennial Plaza Stage (in front of the main building)
- Museum Auditorium (main building)
- Windows on the World (third floor, main building)
- Administration Plaza (in front of the Administration Building)
The event landscape will stretch along two blocks of Jones Street adjacent to the main building and in front of the Nature Research Center. Salisbury Street from Edenton to Lane Street will complete the venue. Visitors can enjoy activities, presentations, exhibitors and vendors during the 24 hours. The SECU Daily Planet Stage will be set adjacent to the SECU Daily Planet with the Bicentennial Plaza Stage situated next to the Main Building.
Special event partners include NASA, the NC Science Festival, and Burt’s Bees.