Press Releases & Statements 2005


Discover What You’re Made of When Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies Opens at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Denver, December 14, 2005—Uncover the incredible beauty and complexities beneath your skin when one of the most popular touring exhibitions in the world, Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, comes to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science from March 10–July 23, 2006. Created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens, a licensed physician and anesthesiologist, Body Worlds and Body Worlds 2 have drawn nearly 18 million viewers worldwide. Visitors to the exhibition learn about anatomy, physiology and most importantly the influence of lifestyle choices, like diet and exercise, on personal health by viewing real human bodies permanently preserved through an innovative method called Plastination. The exhibition is presented in Denver by Centura Health, Colorado’s largest family of not-for-profit hospitals and health services.

“BODY WORLDS 2 is a compelling, memorable experience that will give all who view it a new perspective on the inner workings of the human body and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices,” said Dr. Bridget Coughlin, curator of human health at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. “The exhibition features more than 200 real human specimens. These specimens give visitors access to a deeper understanding of disease and pathology formerly only available to surgeons. Through examples such as arthritis in the aging process, the effects of tobacco consumption and the complexity of the nervous system, the exhibition has given me an incredible respect for what it means to be human.”

The plastination process was invented by Gunther von Hagens at the University of Heidelberg in 1977. The process replaces the natural fluids in the body with reactive fluid plastics that harden after vacuum-forced impregnation. Plastination provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve specimens in realistic forms, without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde. Dr. Gunther von Hagens founded the Institute for Plastination in 1993, in order to offer plastinated specimens for educational use and for the BODY WORLDS exhibitions. All anatomical specimens on display in the BODY WORLDS exhibitions are authentic. The bodies were donated for plastination purposes through a declaration of will directly from the individuals involved.

“BODY WORLDS allows people from all backgrounds to better understand the body and how it functions,” said Dr. Gunther von Hagens. “As event anatomy, BODY WORLDS juxtaposes healthy and diseased organs and features whole body specimens in dynamic lifelike poses. Plastinated anatomy is beauty beneath the skin, frozen in time between death and decay. It opens the heart to our inner self and makes us fall in love with our own body.”

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is consulting with community leaders in the fields of public health, medicine, ethics, religion and education to receive advice on the best ways to relate BODY WORLDS 2 to the culturally and socially diverse communities in Colorado. The advisory committee includes representatives from the Archdiocese of Denver, the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Colorado Science Education Network, the Colorado Anatomical Board, Colorado Muslim Society, the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, Denver City Council, Denver Public Health, Denver Indian Health and Family Services, Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council and medical professionals.

The Museum is recommending the exhibition for schoolchildren in grades 5 and above. There may be displays in the exhibition that adults will wish to explain to children in their care. An Educator’s Guide and Family Guide with helpful tips and more information for visiting the exhibition with children will be available.

“We are very pleased to help bring this one-of-a-kind exhibition to Colorado,” said Jay Picerno, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Centura Health. “Centura Health is dedicated to helping people make healthy lifestyle choices, and BODY WORLDS 2 will be an important effort to help nurture the health of the people in our community.”

An exhibition surcharge applies. The Museum will offer extended hours during the run of the show to meet popular demand. Advance online ticket sales (for members and the general public) will begin on January 15 at www.dmns.org. Visitors will be able to purchase a BODY WORLDS 2 ticket, including general admission to the Museum during regular hours between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $20 for adults, $14 for children (3-18) and $16.50 for seniors (65+). During extended evening hours, a ticket to see BODY WORLDS 2 on its own will cost $15 for adults, $11 for children and $13.50 for seniors. Members will pay $10 for adults, $6 for children and $8 for seniors during regular and extended hours. Visitors will also have the option of adding an audio tour and the sports-related IMAX® film Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France to the experience. For complete information, visit www.dmns.org and www.bodyworlds.com or call (303) 322-7009.

To support the upcoming exhibition as a volunteer, call (303) 370-6419 or e-mail volunteers@dmns.org.

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Science Museum of Minnesota to host upper midwest debut of internationally acclaimed BODY WORLDS exhibit in St. Paul—First-of-its-kind exhibit featuring real human bodies will open May 5, 2006

St. Paul marks the fifth stop on the U.S. tour, following highly successful visits to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia

St. Paul, December 8, 2005 - This summer, visitors to the Science Museum of Minnesota will experience the human body in all its elegance and complexity. The museum announced today that it will host the Upper Midwest debut of Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies from May 5 through September 4, 2006. This world-renowned exhibit of real human bodies will give Science Museum of Minnesota visitors an unprecedented opportunity to learn about anatomy, physiology, and health by viewing real human bodies that have been preserved through a remarkable process called Plastination.

Conceived and developed by German anatomist and inventor Dr. Gunther von Hagens, BODY WORLDS is the first exhibition of its kind in the world. It features approximately 200 individual specimens that compare healthy and diseased organs (a healthy lung with that of a smoker, a disease-free liver and one showing cirrhosis, for example), detail the body's complex anatomy and numerous systems—including the locomotive, digestive, nervous, and vascular systems— and even chronicle the development of life in the womb. Up to twenty-five full-body plastinates reveal the true-to-life spatial relationships among organs. Others are authentically posed playing soccer or basketball, pondering a chess move, swimming or running. These dramatic poses inspire wonder and awe in visitors of all ages, allowing them to better understand the interconnectedness of the muscle, organ, and vascular systems.

"BODY WORLDS resonates with people and instills a heightened awareness and consciousness of the body, and a resolve to take care of oneself," says Dr. von Hagens.

Invented by Dr. von Hagens in 1977, the Plastination process replaces the natural fluids in the specimen with liquid reactive plastics that are hardened and cured with gas, light, or heat. Before hardening the plastic in the specimens, the plastinates are fixed into extraordinary, lifelike poses, illustrating how our bodies internally respond to everyday movements and activities. Plastination provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve the specimens in their true-to-life form, without the use of glass barriers or formaldehyde.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring BODY WORLDS to Minnesota," remarks Science Museum president Dr. Eric J. Jolly. "At the Science Museum, we know that real, authentic experiences provide the most meaningful learning opportunities, and BODY WORLDS affords us a very memorable and powerful chance to help our visitors build awareness of how our bodies function and how our lifestyle choices affect our good health and well-being.

Adds Mike Day, the Science Museum's Senior Vice President of Museum Enterprises, "Almost 18 million people have seen BODY WORLDS in its travels throughout the world. It's the largest traveling exhibit the Science Museum of Minnesota has ever hosted, and it gives visitors access to the human body that, until now, only medical students and health professionals have had. It's an unparalleled opportunity for visitors to see the body's individual systems and get a better understanding of diseases and illnesses that may affect them or someone they know."

BODY WORLDS is the only anatomical exhibition that relies on the generosity of body donors, individuals who bequeathed that, upon their death, their bodies could be used for educational purposes in the exhibition. The full-body plastinate on display stem from the BODY WORLDS donation program that was established in 1977 at the Institute for Plastination and currently has more than 6,500 registered donors.

Tickets for BODY WORLDS will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, February 1, 2006, and may be purchased via phone (651-221-9444), online at www.smm.org, or in person at the Science Museum's Box Office. Admission into the Science Museum and BODY WORLDS is $22 for adults; $12.50 for kids ages 4 to 12; $16 for youth ages 13 to 18, students and seniors. Discounts are available for Science Museum members, groups of 15 or more, and individuals with limited incomes.

A BODY WORLDS audio guide will be available for rental at the entrance to the exhibit. Rental is $4 per adult and $3 for children and seniors.

During the run of the exhibit, the Science Museum will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. BODY WORLDS tickets will be timed, so before making a purchase, visitors must select the date and time they plan to visit.

The Science Museum of Minnesota serves more than one million visitors each year with its hands-on exhibits, breathtaking giant screen films, special events, and unparalleled education programs. It is located at 120 West Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul. For specific directions, parking information, hours, show times and ticket information, call (651) 221-9444 or visit www.smm.org.

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100,000 "BODIES" SEE BODY WORLDS AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE—Holiday Weekend Attendance Helps Push Exhibit Over 100,000 Visitors Since Opening on October 7

Philadelphia, November 29, 2005—During the rush of the Thanksgiving weekend, The Franklin Institute Science Museum welcomed the 100,000th visitor to see Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies.

"Since opening October 7, we have heard positive responses from visitors who experience BODY WORLDS. We are proud to offer this educational opportunity, and invite people who have not seen it to come to The Franklin Institute for a truly fascinating experience about the human body," said Dennis Wint, president and CEO of The Franklin Institute.

It took 51 days to reach 100,000 visitors to Dr. Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies at The Franklin Institute, the exhibit's first stop on the East Coast. Body Worlds is at The Franklin Institute through April 23, 2006.

BODY WORLDS teaches visitors about anatomy, physiology and health with real human bodies, preserved through the remarkable process of Plastination. Invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, the plastination process replaces the natural fluids in each specimen with liquid reactive plastics that are hardened and cured with gas, light or heat depending on the polymer used. Before hardening the plastic in the specimens, the plastinates are fixed into lifelike poses, illustrating how our bodies internally respond to everyday movements and activities. This unique process also provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve the plastinates in their true-to-life form, without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde.

More than 200 individual specimens compare healthy and diseased organs (a healthy lung with that of a smoker), detail the body's complex anatomy, numerous systems, and chronicle the development of life in the womb. Approximately 25 whole body plastinates reveal the true-to-life spatial relationships among organs. Some plastinates are authentically posed playing soccer or basketball, pondering a chess move, swimming and running, allowing visitors to comprehend the interconnectedness of the muscle, organ and vascular systems and view them in various positions.

All anatomical specimens on display in the exhibitions of BODY WORLDS are authentic. They belonged to people who declared during their lifetime that their bodies should be made available after their deaths for the qualification of physicians and the instruction of laypersons. "BODY WORLDS is most of all a collaboration between the donors and myself, and all those who view the exhibit," said Dr. von Hagens. "There is a mass introspection that takes place when people go to BODY WORLDS. They see themselves in the plastinates and recognize their shared humanity, and their joint inescapable fate," von Hagens continued. Many decide to become body donors after viewing the exhibit. "All of humanity owes the donors a great deal, for without them, there would be no BODY WORLDS," said Dr. von Hagens.

BODY WORLDS will be open to the public until April 23, 2006. Daytime and evening timed admission tickets are available. From 9:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m, tickets (ages 12 & up) are $24.75; seniors (62+), and students and military personnel with identification are $21.50; children (4-11) are $16.75. Advance reservations are strongly advised. Daytime tickets include admission to the museum exhibits. Audio guides are $4 per adult and $3 per child. The Human Body IMAX is an additional $5 for daytime and evening admissions.

Timed BODY WORLDS tickets are also available from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, and are (ages 12 & up) $14.75; seniors (62+), and students and military personnel with identification are $12.75; children (4-11) are $10.50. Audio guides are $4 per adult and $3 per child. Evening tickets include admission to BODY WORLDS only, and if purchased, admission to the IMAX. The last timeslot for admission is 8:00 pm.

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The Ontario Science Centre introduces a speaker series as BODY WORLDS 2 exceeds 100,000 visitors

Toronto, November 18, 2005—BODY WORLDS 2 is an unquestionable success for the Ontario Science Centre as attendance to the exhibition alone exceeds 100, 000 visitors to date. The public’s response has been very positive and interest and curiosity continues to spread across the country. The Science Centre is now attracting a broader audience base, including a large group with a desire to learn more about the exhibition and the human body. The Body Lecture Series has been developed by the Science Centre to satisfy this public interest.The Body Lecture Series will take place on November 30th, December 1st and 3rd at 7:30 pm and will feature Dr. Gunther von Hagens, the inventor of the plastination process. These lectures will enhance the BODY WORLDS 2 experience with discussions focusing on the history, inspiration and ethics surrounding this provocative exhibition. Juliette Powell will be moderating this event as several guests are prepared to engage in lively, unscripted and even controversial conversations.The Body Lecture Series will run as follows:


Wednesday, November 30, 7:30 pm
The Ethics of Exhibiting Human Remains

Panelists include:

  • Dr. Gunther von Hagens – Creator of the BODY WORLDS exhibitions

  • Professor Kathryn Denning – Dept. of Anthropology, York University

  • Rabbi Dow Marmur, Rabbi Emeritus – Holy Blossom Temple

  • Imam Abdul Hai Patel – Coordinator of the Council of Imams-Canada

  • Professor Dennis Patrick O’Hara – St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto

  • Richard David – Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

Thursday, December 1, 7:30 pm
The Anatomical Body: Art or Science?

A short lecture and discussion featuring Dr. von Hagens and filmmaker Chris Landreth, including a viewing of Oscar-winning film Ryan, which was inspired by BODY WORLDS.

Saturday, December 3, 7:30 pm

The Trafficking of Dead Bodies

Juliette Powell will conduct a discussion with author, curator and medical historian Michael Sappol about the beautiful and grotesque history of anatomical imagery.

The lecture series is a ticketed event, $25 per lecture or $65 per 3-lecture series. The lectures are not included in the admission price for BODY WORLDS 2 or the Science Centre.

The Ontario Science Centre’s mission is to delight, inform and challenge visitors through engaging and thought-provoking experiences in science and technology. It transforms the way in which people see and think about the world around them through interactive exhibitions, programs, science demonstrations and IMAX films. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

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East coast premiere of Dr. Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies at The Franklin Institute

Unprecedented exhibit lets guests see inside the human body to learn about anatomy, physiology and health

Philadelphia, October 6, 2005—On October 7, 2005, The Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia opens Dr. Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, an exhibition that has awed more than 17 million people worldwide. In this 22,000 square foot exhibition, guests learn about anatomy, physiology and health by viewing real human bodies that have been preserved through the remarkable process of plastination. After presentations in Los Angeles and Chicago, Philadelphia will be BODY WORLDS first stop on the East Coast. BODY WORLDS is open to the public through April 23, 2006.

Invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, the plastination process replaces the natural fluids in the specimen with liquid reactive plastics that are hardened and cured with gas, light or heat depending on the polymer used. Before hardening the plastic in the specimens, the plastinates are fixed into lifelike poses, illustrating how our bodies internally respond to everyday movements and activities. This unique process also provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve the specimens in their true-to-life form, without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde.

“BODY WORLDS allows people of all backgrounds to get to better understand the body and how it functions,” said von Hagens. “They get a view of themselves, and of their bodies, that they have never had before. This exhibit is a remarkable teaching tool.”

“BODY WORLDS provides an educational opportunity that has been only available to the medical community,” said Dennis Wint, president and CEO of The Franklin Institute. “The Institute is pleased to be able to offer this exhibit and invites people to come and learn about the human body in a way that has not been available to visitors before. It's a very impressive exhibit that has traveled all over the world, fascinating visitors and revealing how the systems in our bodies work together to move, breathe and live.”

More than 200 individual specimens compare healthy and diseased organs (a healthy lung with that of a smoker), detail the body's complex anatomy and numerous systems - including the locomotive, digestive, nervous and vascular systems - and chronicle the development of life in the womb. Approximately 25 whole bodies, referred to in the exhibit as “plastinates,” reveal the true-to-life spatial relationships among organs. Some plastinates are authentically posed playing soccer or basketball, pondering a chess move, swimming and running, allowing visitors to comprehend the interconnectedness of the muscle, organ and vascular systems and view them in various positions.

Plastinates on display include:

  • "The Teacher": Here, the nervous system is shown in precise detail. Most of the muscles have been removed, and a number of “windows” have been cut into the bones, particularly in the skull, in order to display a multitude of nerve pathways.o The Smoker. The skeletal system is revealed on the left side of the body and on the right, so that guests can view the muscular system. Combined, these two systems form the locomotive system. The smoker's blackened lungs can be seen through the spaces between the ribs.o Rearing Horse with Rider. Although there are major differences in proportion, guests can discover the similar anatomical arrangement between horse and man in the form, position and microscopic structures of their organs and muscles.

  • "Organ Man": The gastrointestinal tract and liver are shifted so that visitors can clearly see all the organs. The lower part of the liver displays several cancerous growths, and the gallbladder is filled with gallstones. At back, the vertebral column and the spinal cord are visible along the plastinate's middle axis.

  • "The Jumping Dancer": While jumping up with all extremities stretched in front of the body, the back of the trunk has been opened downwards. Lowest is the brain, which in turn rests on the occipital bone. This arrangement enables us to view the inner side of the neck, thorax, abdomen and pelvis upside down on the back of the specimen.

During the run of BODY WORLDS, The Human Body will be showing at The Franklin Institute's Tuttleman IMAX Theater. Combining innovative filmmaking techniques with advanced scientific imaging, The Human Body lets us look in microscopic detail at the daily biological processes that go on without our control and often without our knowledge. Viewers can follow a tomato on its journey to the stomach, paddle underwater with infants whose mysterious diving reflex allows them to comfortably “swim,” and accompany a red blood cell into the pumping chamber of the body's engine room - the heart. BODY WORLDS will be open to the public from October 7, 2005 to April 23, 2006. Daytime and evening timed admission tickets are available. From 9:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m, tickets (ages 12 & up) are $24.75; seniors (62+), and students and military personnel with identification are $21.50; children (4-11) are $16.75. Advance reservations are strongly advised. Daytime tickets include admission to the museum exhibits. Audio guides are $4 per adult and $3 per child. The Human Body IMAX is an additional $5 for daytime and evening admissions.

Timed BODY WORLDS tickets are also available from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, and are (ages 12 & up) $14.75; seniors (62+), and students and military personnel with identification are $12.75; children (4-11) are $10.50. Audio guides are $4 per adult and $3 per child. Evening tickets include admission to BODY WORLDS only, and if purchased, admission to the IMAX. The last timeslot for admission is 8:00 pm.

  • For Individual Tickets call: 1-877-801-BODY

  • For Group Tickets call: 215-389-9543

  • For School Group Tickets call -1-800-285-0684

  • For Member Tickets: 215-448-1231

  • Or visit: www.fi.edu/BodyWorlds

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Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies is unveiled at the Ontario Science Centre

Media Preview: September 29, 2005 at 1:00pm

Toronto, September 28, 2005—BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies will officially open at the Ontario Science Centre on September 30, 2005. Through exploration of this first-of-its-kind exhibition, visitors will learn about anatomy, physiology and health by viewing human bodies preserved through an extraordinary method called plastination. The Science Centre will be the first venue in Canada to host this exhibition that over 17 million visitors around the world have experienced first-hand.

BODY WORLDS 2 features more than 200 authentic preserved human body specimens, including individual organs, body slices and 25 esthetically-posed whole-body plastinates. A variety of specimens are used to show the difference between healthy and diseased organs, illustrating the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The plastinates are strategically displayed to allow visitors to examine the body's role in everyday activities.

"BODY WORLDS 2 is a compelling experience that will give all of our visitors a new perspective on their body and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices," said Lesley Lewis, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. "It will provide Torontonians, and visiting tourists, with the opportunity to explore the wonder of the human body in a dramatic new way. We are excited to be able to bring BODY WORLDS 2 to the Ontario Science Centre and to Canada for the first time since the premiere of BODY WORLDS in 1995."

Invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, the plastination process replaces the natural fluids in the body with reactive plastics that are initially fluid, but then harden after impregnation. Before hardening the plastic in the specimens, the plastinates are fixed into lifelike poses, illustrating how our bodies internally respond to everyday movements and activities. This unique process also provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve the specimens in their true-to-life form, without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde.

The Ontario Science Centre initiated dialogue with community leaders in the fields of public health, medicine, ethics, religion and education on the best ways to relate BODY WORLDS 2 to the culturally and socially diverse community of Greater Toronto. Valuable suggestions emerged from these consultations.

The following comments were made by two community leaders involved in this process:

"Exploring topics such as health, anatomy and physiology through the study of human bodies is a truly unique way of educating the general public. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of this exhibit, which has already attracted 17 million visitors around the globe as it toured through other cities throughout the globe. What a true gift the donors have left the world."

Dr. Sheela Basrur, Chief Medical Officer of Health and Assistant Deputy Minister

"The exhibit seeks to inform the public of the value of healthy lifestyles and the physical consequences of harmful habits. The exhibit also demonstrates the wonders of the human anatomy. The assumption is that the more we understand our bodies and the impact that our lifestyles can have and the more we value our spectacularly complex bodies, then the more likely it is that we will have the motivation and information that will assist us to act in more healthy ways."

Dennis O'Hara, Director, Elliott Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology, Assistant Professor, Ethics, University of St. Michael's College

While BODY WORLDS 2 is on display, the Ontario Science Centre will continue to explore the secrets and systems of the body through the Human Body exhibit hall and the IMAX(R) film, The Human Body. In microscopic detail, this giant screen film presents a look at the daily biological processes that go on without our control and often without our notice.

The BODY WORLDS 2 exhibition is separated from other Ontario Science Centre exhibition spaces. Visitors can continue to visit only the Science Centre. Visitors to BODY WORLDS 2 must purchase a timed ticket for entry to the exhibition. Admission to BODY WORLDS 2 during the day is $25 for adults, $15 for children and $21 for youths and seniors with valid ID, this also includes entry into the Science Centre. BODY WORLDS 2 will be available Friday and Saturday evenings in October and Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings starting in November. Admission for Body Worlds 2 during the evenings will be $20 for adults, $12 for children and $17 for youth and seniors with valid ID.

The Science Centre also offers special discounted pricing for members.

The Ontario Science Centre's mission is to delight, inform and challenge visitors through engaging and thought-provoking experiences in science and technology. It transforms the way in which people see and think about the world around them through interactive exhibitions, programs, science demonstrations and IMAX films. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

Note to Editors: Images are available to download from the BODY WORLDS press picture database at www.bodyworlds.com. A user agreement form located at: http://www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca/calendar/bodyworlds2/assets/agreement-images.en.pdf must be completed and faxed to 416-696-3161 in order to receive a username and password for access to the database.

For further information: Alicia Stanton, Media Relations Officer, Ontario Science Centre, Ph: (416) 696-3191, alicia.stanton@osc.on.ca; Joanne Fong, Communications Manager, Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2, Ph: (416) 696-4630, Cell: (416) 834-1860, j.fong@plastination.com

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On Der Spiegel Article Allegations of February 28, 2005

July 25, 2006—Since 2005, several legitimate American media have published unverified statements about Dr. Gunther von Hagens’ 90-year-old father, Mr. Gerhard Liebchen. Rather than presenting primary research and verified evidence, reporters have frequently referenced a sensational 2005 article in a German publication about Mr. Liebchen’s purported role and activities in the SS during his youth.

The allegations were first made by German news magazine, Der Spiegel, in its February 28, 2005 issue, and later circulated by Rzeczpospolita, a Polish publication. Violating fundamental principles of reporting and lacking journalistic rigor, the Der Spiegel article was replete with unverified statements, references to unidentified files and documents, unsourced allegations, insinuations, and false assumptions. Der Spiegel stated that Gerhard Liebchen was a member of Hitler´s NSDAP party and served in the SS. The article stated that until March 1940, Liebchen was supposedly a chief of Self-Protection--a German minority group, which committed acts of terror in Polish territory. Der Spiegel speculated that Liebchen, as a member of the SS, had committed war crimes against Poles in April 1940.

Though the article did not allege any wrongdoing by Dr. Gunther von Hagens -- who was not born until 1945, five years after the alleged conduct of his father -- Dr. von Hagens responded to the article soon after its publication.  He appointed attorneys in Poland who scrutinized all public records and testimonies, and found none that supported the allegations.

On July 27, 2005 the Polish Press Agency Stock Corporation (PAP SA) reported that the Institute of National Memory in Lodz -- the most prominent and definitive authority on Nazi war crime investigations in Poland -- investigated the case of Gerhard Liebchen, whose grandmother was Polish. “A search of the documents concerning his person in the archives of Institute of National Memory as well as the documents of closed investigations was performed and no material was found confirming the reasonability of the accusation against Liebchen regarding the participation in genocide,” said Anna Ga_kiewicz, prosecuting attorney for the Institute."

“An in-depth analysis of collected material showed, that there is no reason for definite refusal or acceptance of the version with co-participation of Liebchen concerning the admission of the Polish to concentration camps in April and May 1940 as fully credible" Ga_kiewicz told PAPSA.

Under media scrutiny in 2005 (at the age of 89), and upon questioning in 2006 (at the age of 90) Gerhard Liebchen did not waiver or contradict his original testimony. He maintained that he was part of a German minority living in Poland, formerly a German-occupied territory, when Germany invaded in 1939.  He was drafted into the German Army in December 1939 when he was 24 years old, discharged in March 1940, drafted again in March 1942, and deserted the army in January 1945.  He held the rank of gefreiter or private, and served as a cook and in food distribution. He stated his personal views about this dark period in German history, and  talked about his experiences as a cook and unarmed soldier in the German Army. He also spoke candidly about his initial perception of the German invasion as an act of liberation, his growing realization about the futility of war and his own role in it as cannon fodder, and his solidarity with the Jewish and Polish people.

For more information on this briefing, contact:

Gail Vida Hamburg
Director of Communications
Institute for Plastination
Rathausstrasse 11
69126 Heidelberg, Germany

&

Media and Public Liaison
for Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS
Phone: 312 602 5369
E-mail: g.hamburg(at)plastination.com

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No investigation by the Institute of National Memory (IPN) concerning Gerhard Liebchen

Lodz, July 27, 2005 / PAP SA (Polish Press Agency Stock Cooperation) - Lodz Institute of National Memory refused the beginning of an investigation concerning war crimes committed during the Second World War by the former member of (German) SS, Gerhard Liebchen - informed the speaker of Institute of National Memory, the prosecuting attorney, Anna Galkiewicz to PAP SA (PPA SC) on Wednesday.

The name Liebchen became public this year, when he wanted to establish a subsidiary of Institute for body preparing in Sieniawa Zarska, together with his son, the German scientist Guenther von Hagens.

An examination proceeding was performed due to the publication in "Rzeczpospolitej" (Polish superior daily press), in which the journalists in co-operation with their colleagues of the German "Der Spiegel" (German superior weekly press) discovered that during the war Liebchen hunted the Polish.

The Department Commission for Persecuting of Crimes against the Polish Nation in Lodzi investigated if "reasonable suspicion is arises of co-participation by Liebchen concerning the admission of the inhabitants of Skalmierzyce Nowe as well as of the surrounding to the concentration camps and consequently if sufficient reason is given for the beginning of the investigation against him concerning war crimes” said Galkiewicz.

As she added, during the examination proceeding, none of the persons investigated by the Institute of National Memory disposed of truthful information about the co-participation of Liebchen concerning the admission of Polish into concentration camps.

A search of the documents concerning his person in the archives of Institute of National Memory as well as the documents of closed investigations was performed and no material was found confirming the reasonability of the accusation against Liebchen regarding the participation in genocide

"An in-depth analysis of collected material showed, that there is no reason for definite refusal or acceptance of the version with co-participation of Liebchen concerning the admission of the Polish to concentration camps in April and May 1940 as fully credible" -said Galkiewicz

She pointed out, that this decision does not mean: that no revision of this investigation is possible; if new information regarding this matter arises.

Guenther von Hagens, the German scientist performing the body preparation informed in March, that his father, accused of membership in the German SS and of exercising repression against the Polish will not represent him in the polish subsidiary of institute for body preparing in Sieniawa Zarska.

According to "Rzeczpospolita" and German weekly press "Der Spiegel", the father of Hagens, the 88 year old Gerhard Liebchen, was a member of Hitler´s NSDAP party (National socialistic labor party) and served in the SS. Until March 1940 he was supposedly a chief of Self-protection (an organization of German minority which was acting the terror in the Polish territory - PAP SA (PPA SC) in Zbaszyn.

Hagens said, that his father assured him: to never have prepared a list of Polish functionaries, who were deported to the concentration camps and to never have actively participated in hunting of the Polish population; he did not take part in pogroms or other form of repressions and he did not escort the prisoners transportations.

The controversial scientist bought one hectare of property as well as buildings remaining after the closing of the States own Centre for Machines in Sieniawa Zarska last year. He is going to establish the institute for body preparing subject to scientific and artificial goals in Poland.

The information mentioned above is generated by the service of PAP SA (PPA SC).

http://serwis.pap.com.pl

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Couples making BODY WORLDS a “date night” destination

More than 500,000 guests experience Museum of Science and Industry exhibit

Chicago, July 26, 2005—Couples are coming to BODY WORLDS to discover what they are made of. Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies recently received its 500,000 visitor at the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Museum has found that many guests are incorporating this unique and eye-opening experience into their date-night plans.

The exhibit, which features evening hours until 9:00 p.m. every night, has proved popular with couples of all ages. In a survey of 100 couples visiting the exhibit during the evening, 94 percent said that they would recommend BODY WORLDS as a date activity. The top reasons cited for bringing a date to this exhibit of authentic human anatomy included: it is something new and different to do on a date (93 percent), the exhibit inspires interesting conversation (69 percent), it makes for a memorable date (67 percent), it is educational (67 percent) and it helps you learn more about the opposite sex (39 percent).

“It allows for great conversation and insightful discussion,” said one 25-year-old man. A 23-year-old woman stated that it helped her to “see the opposite sex in a whole new way.”

Women were more likely than their male counterparts to have suggested BODY WORLDS as a date activity: 48 percent of woman suggested the destination as opposed to 30 percent of men. Twenty-two percent of couples said that they had both suggested seeing the exhibit.

BODY WORLDS allows the general public to see and appreciate the human anatomy as never before by viewing more than 25 full-body plastinates and 200 authentic human specimens, preserved through the ground-breaking process of plastination. Guests are able to view in vivid detail the many complex systems and layers within the body, as well as see the startling difference between healthy and diseased organs.

Last Chance to See! Closing Sept. 5, 2005

BODY WORLDS will close at the Museum of Science and Industry on Sept. 5, 2005 to travel to the The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, where it will open in October. Don't miss your chance to see the exhibit that has awed half a million people in Chicago with the intricacy and elegance of the human body! Special evening hours-9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week.-are being offered for BODY WORLDS until Sept. 5. Ordering tickets in advance is strongly recommended, please visit www.msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414.

As an added compliment to the exhibit, the Omnimax® film The Human Body is being shown of the Museum's five-story domed wrap-around theater. In microscopic detail, this giant-screen film presents a look at the daily biological processes that go on without our control and often without our notice. Evening shows for this film are offered at 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Combination admission into the Museum and BODY WORLDS during the day is $21 for adults; $11 for kids 3-11; $17 for seniors. City of Chicago residents receive a discount on general admission. Admission for BODY WORLDS during the evenings is $16 for adults; $9 children and $15 for seniors. To ensure an enriching experience for all, children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, parent, guardian or school chaperone.

The Museum of Science and Industry's mission is to inspire the inventive genius in everyone by presenting captivating and compelling experiences that are real and educational. Located at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, the Museum is open every day of the year except December 25. Regular Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Extended hours-9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays- will be offered from March 21 to April 3 and from May 28 to September 5. The Museum offers indoor parking and is accessible by CTA and Metra. The Museum is supported in part through the generosity of the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District. For more information, visit the Museum's Web site at www.msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414 or (800) GO-TO-MSI outside of the Chicago area.

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Great Lakes Science Center welcomes one hundred thousandth visitor to BODY WORLDS 2

Cleveland July 18, 2005—Last Friday the Great Lakes Science Center reached a significant attendance milestone when it welcomed the 100,000th visitor to Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2: the Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies. Bob Chandler of Twinsburg was the lucky guest who received free admission into the exhibit along with a gift package that included an exhibition catalog, DVD, posters and t-shirts. Chandler was visiting with his wife Ginny Gontero and young daughters Maddie and Natalie Chandler.BODY WORLDS 2 features more than 200 authentic human specimens, including entire bodies, individual organs and transparent body slices that have been preserved through the process of plastination, a technique invented by Dr. von Hagens that replaces bodily fluids and fat with reactive polymers. BODY WORLDS 2 offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see and understand our own physiology and health and to gain new appreciation and respect for what it means to be human. Visitors have been awed and moved by their experience as evidenced by comments written in the visitor books at the exhibit's exit. A Broadview Heights visitor shared “My mouth was open the entire time walking through. How wonderful and educational this is!” “I came reluctantly and left wanting to know more,” wrote a teacher from Connecticut. “A must-see for all humans,” she concluded.The exhibit opened at the Great Lakes Science Center, only the second museum in the United States to host it, on April 9 and will conclude its run on September 18. The Science Center is open seven days a week from 9:30am until 9:00pm to accommodate visitors to this extraordinary exhibition. Visit www.GreatScience.com or www.bodyworlds.com for more information.

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Ontario Science Centre to bring Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies to Canada

Toronto, June 24, 2005—The Ontario Science Centre will be the first location in Canada to host the internationally-renowned exhibition BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens which will open at the Centre on September 30, 2005 and run until February 26, 2006. Gunther von Hagens’ unique exhibitions, BODY WORLDS and BODY WORLDS 2, have attracted 17 million visitors around the world. BODY WORLDS 2 explores topics such as health, anatomy and physiology through the study of real human bodies that have been preserved through a revolutionary technique called plastination.

BODY WORLDS 2 is a 16,000 square-foot (1,500 square-metre) exhibition that features more than 200 authentic preserved human body specimens, including individual organs, transparent vertical and horizontal body slices and 25 esthetically-posed whole-body plastinates. A variety of specimens are used to show the difference between healthy and diseased organs, illustrating the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The plastinates are strategically displayed to allow visitors to examine the body’s role in everyday activities.

“BODY WORLDS 2 is a compelling experience that will give all of our visitors a new perspective on their body and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices,” said Lesley Lewis, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. “We had the opportunity to see the exhibition in Los Angeles last July and concluded that it was important to bring BODY WORLDS 2 to Toronto. It will provide Torontonians, and visiting tourists, with the opportunity to explore the wonder of the human body in a dramatic new way that is incredibly informative and will transform the way they think of their own bodies. We are excited to be able to bring BODY WORLDS 2 to the Ontario Science Centre and to Canada for the first time since the premiere of Body Worlds in 1995.”

Dr. Gunther von Hagens invented the plastination technique in 1977 at the University of Heidelberg to preserve specimens for medical education. The plastination process replaces the natural fluids in the body with reactive fluid plastics that harden after vacuum-forced impregnation. Plastination provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve specimens in realistic forms, without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde. Gunther von Hagens founded the Institute for Plastination in 1993, with the aim to offer plastinated specimens for educational use and for the BODY WORLDS exhibitions. All anatomical specimens on display in the BODY WORLDS exhibitions are authentic. The bodies were donated for plastination purposes through a declaration of will directly from the individuals involved.

"BODY WORLDS allows people from all backgrounds to get to better understand the body and how it functions," said von Hagens. "As event anatomy, BODY WORLDS features real healthy and diseased organs in comparison along with whole body specimens in life-like poses. The plastinates on display change the way we see and treat our body. Plastinated anatomy is beauty beneath the skin, frozen in time between death and decay. It opens the heart to our inner self and makes us fall in love with our own body."

The Ontario Science Centre is consulting with community leaders in the fields of public health, medicine, ethics, religion and education to seek advice on the best ways to relate BODY WORLDS to the culturally and socially diverse community of Greater Toronto.

"BODY WORLDS 2 is an innovative juxtaposition of science and culture – one that gives its audience an imaginative new way to consider the wonders of the human body. It's a wonderful representation of what the Toronto brand, at its core, is all about: imagination, creativity, humanity and looking at the world from a different perspective,” said Bruce MacMillan, president and CEO of Tourism Toronto – the Toronto Convention and Visitors Association. “And the Ontario Science Centre is the perfect venue to play host to a Canadian premiere of this nature and scope. As a major Toronto attraction, the Science Centre has provided visitors with unique tourism experiences for many years. The addition of this groundbreaking international exhibition to Toronto's 2005-2006 cultural offerings will stimulate visitor interest even further and capture imaginations around the world."

The potential for the exhibition to draw a national audience has also been recognized by The Globe and Mail's early interest in BODY WORLDS. As part of a larger two-year commitment, The Globe and Mail will become the national media partner for the exhibition's Canadian premiere.

The California Science Center was the first venue in North America to host BODY WORLDS; the exhibition opened January 29, 2005 and wrapped up with a 62 hour marathon on March 28, 2005. The combined total of guests for BODY WORLDS and BODY WORLDS 2 exceeded 930,000, the most successful traveling exhibitions ever displayed at the California Science Center. BODY WORLDS is currently on display in Chicago at the Museum of Science and Industry until September 5, 2005 while BODY WORLDS 2 is in Cleveland at The Great Lakes Science Center until September 18, 2005.

Advance on-line and telephone ticket sales to see BODY WORLDS 2 at the Ontario Science Centre will begin in September while group bookings are now available by calling 416-696-1000. Visitors will be able to purchase a BODY WORLDS 2 ticket that includes entrance to the Centre during regular Science Centre hours or a ticket to see BODY WORLDS 2 on its own during extended evening hours. Visitors will also be able to add an IMAX® film to their experience.

While BODY WORLDS 2 is on display, the Ontario Science Centre will continue to explore the secrets and systems of the body through the Human Body exhibit hall and the IMAX® film, The Human Body. In microscopic detail, this giant screen film presents a look at the daily biological processes that go on without our control and often without our notice.

The Ontario Science Centre’s mission is to delight, inform and challenge visitors through engaging and thought-provoking experiences in science and technology. It transforms the way in which people see and think about the world around them through interactive exhibitions, programs, science demonstrations and IMAX films. The Centre welcomes one million visitors a year, including over 220,000 students who visit the Centre for curriculum-linked school programs. The Centre is also a leading developer of interactive exhibitions for science centres around the world. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

Note to Editors: Images are available to download from the BODY WORLDS press picture database at www.bodyworlds.com. A user agreement form must be completed and faxed to 416-696-3161 in order to receive a user name and password for access to the database.

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Police conducts raid against copycat exhibition “BODY EXPLORATION” in Taiwan

Intellectual property of Gunther von Hagens, inventor of plastination and creator of the original Body Worlds exhibition, successfully defended.

Heidelberg, May 27, 2005—In recent years, the worldwide enthusiasm for BODY WORLDS has lead to numerous copycat exhibitions. In Taichung, Taiwan, a police raid took place at the anatomical exhibition “Body Exploration” on Friday, May 27, and ended with the confiscation of six copycat plastinates, notably imitations of the specimens on display in Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibitions. By taking this action, the Taiwanese authorities have confirmed that Gunther von Hagens’ works are broadly protected under the copyrights laws. By merely imitating the specimens on display at the BODY WORLDS exhibitions the organizers of the copycat exhibition infringe the intellectual and creative work of its inventor. The authorities have decided to fight against copycat exhibitions.

In close cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Police Brigade of the National Police Agency, the Taichung Prosecutor’s Office and the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, BODY WORLDS prepared extensive documentation and background information about the original and copycat works. Under Taiwan’s Copyright Law, three-dimensional scientific works such as Dr. von Hagens’ plastinates, enjoy projection of their many creative features.

Taiwan, which was upgraded last fall from the Special 301 “priority watch” list to the less-serious “watch” list, has made much progress in its efforts to improve intellectual-property protections. The Taiwan Copyright Law, revised in the special summer session last year, has both criminal and civil provisions for dealing with infringement situations.

“The readiness of the Taiwan intellectual-property authorities to work with us to ensure the success of this raid action has been a very welcome development,” said Dr. Angelina Whalley, Director of the Exhibition BODY WORLDS. “It takes great effort to create such an unique educational exhibitions, but it takes almost no effort for them to copy what we do.”

Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibits are the first public anatomical exhibitions of real human bodies. They have been on display worldwide for almost ten years. The exhibits focus on approx. 200 authentic specimens of human anatomy - individual organs, transparent vertical and horizontal slices of the body, as well as artistically posed, whole-body plastinates. The exhibitions are structured in such a way that visitors experience it much as they would a three-dimensional textbook: anatomy as the foundation of the body is laid out in an educational and elucidating fashion. So far, more than 17 million visitors have experienced these exhibits in 27 cities in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

To a great extent, BODY WORLDS’ exceptional success is based on its educational value. Visitors learn about bodily functions, but also realize how highly sophisticated and beautifully the body is made up and at the same time how fragile it is. However, when creating BODY WORLDS, Dr. Gunther von Hagens clearly understood that the most crucial moment of the exhibition experience would be the visitor’s initial impression of the authentic full body specimens. Revealing the complete body interior while the natural human outer shape is kept intact in a life-like pose, whole body plastinates may gain further momentum that reaches far beyond their anatomical message. They open up an emotional dimension that no plastic model of the human body could ever evoke: “This is what I am made of - this could be me!” Esthetic appeal and the lifelike pose of the plastinate is an indispensable factor in this process of intuition, because only this can narrow the gap between the living and the dead.

Gunther von Hagens states: “To accomplish utmost didactical value and esthetic appeal in a whole body plastinate it is mandatory that the anatomical dissections applied harmonize with the specimen’s pose. Thus, a whole body plastinate is an intricate symbiosis of both anatomical expertise and artistic performance. To achieve a reasonable result in a new type of specimen it usually takes several weeks and in single cases even months to only finalize its pose and to correctly position all anatomical structures before the specimen is irreversibly cured.“

Aside from “Body Exploration” in Taichung, there are other copycat exhibits as well. For instance, the exhibition “Bodies Revealed” currently on display in Seoul, “Mysteries of the Human Body” on display in South Korea, “Jintai Plastomic - Mysteries of the Human Body” touring in Japan and “The Universe Within” currently on display in San Francisco. The specimens on display at these copycat exhibitions have also been produced with the help of earlier plastination techniques revealed by Dr. Gunther von Hagens to the public. However, specimen preservation and display techniques at those copycat exhibits differ noticeably from the high standards of quality used in Gunther von Hagens BODY WORLDS’ exhibitions. Many of the specimens are mere and poor copies of the originals produced by Dr. Gunther von Hagens back in the mid-nineties. The copycat plastinates are not only posed in the same way but also show exactly the same kind of anatomical dissections as the plastinates created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens.

Comparison BODY WORLDS plastinates - Copycat plagiates

Finally, it is important to note that the specimens on display in Dr. Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS exhibitions stem from a unique Body Donation Program established at the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg. Documents of all donated bodies received from this program have been scrutinized and approved by two ethical committees only recently, set up by the California Science Center in Los Angeles and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Currently, there are more than 6,000 potential donors.

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BODY WORLDS 2’s Final Farewell to Los AngelesScience Center Opens Around The Clock, 62 Hours During Entire Final Weekend!

LOS ANGELES—BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies will be open around the clock for the final weekend. Extended hours have been put in place in order to accommodate crowds of visitors wishing to see the exhibit before it leaves Los Angeles. The 62-hour marathon begins Friday, March 25 at 10:00 a.m. and will continue until midnight on Sunday, March 27, when the exhibit will close.

The last, first and only other time the California Science Center ever remained open around the clock was for 41 hours at the closing of the original BODY WORLDS exhibit this past January. During that weekend alone over 45,000 visitors came to the exhibit. “It has been extremely gratifying to see that so many people appreciate the opportunity this exhibit offers to learn more about the complexity of our bodies. With these extended hours we want to make every effort to ensure that everyone who is planning to see it will have a chance to get in,” remarked Science Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rudolph.

To ease congestion and allow a better viewing of BODY WORLDS 2, organizers recommend visitors take advantage of the late to early morning hours. Another suggestion is to purchase timed tickets available over the Internet to avoid likely long ticket lines. To facilitate easy access, more tickets will be available over the Internet than on site. Most IMAX shows are selling out for the weekend and to accommodate the demand, additional showings of The Human Body IMAX film have been added to the schedule. Please visit www.californiasciencecenter.org for more info.

Creator of BODY WORLDS 2 and inventor of Plastination, Dr. Gunther von Hagens noted, “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the California Science Center and the Los Angeles visitors which have made the American debut of BODY WORLDS’ and BODY WORLDS 2 such a success. It was my great pleasure to bring these exhibits, which I created for the democratization of anatomy, to the United States.”

For the final week of BODY WORLDS 2 the opening hours are as follows:

Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (last admission at 8 p.m.)

Friday, March 25: 10 a.m. - OPEN ALL NIGHT

Saturday, March 26: OPEN ALL DAY AND NIGHT

Sunday, March 27: OPEN - 12:01 a.m. (last admission 10:30 pm)

BODY WORLDS 2 at the California Science Center will close its doors at midnight on March 27 and move to the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, OH where it will open April 9 through September 2005.

For general information, call 323.SCIENCE (323.724-3623) or visit our website at www.californiasciencecenter.org

COMPLETE ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT AVAILABLE AT: http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/GenInfo/MediaRoom/MediaRoom.php

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BODY WORLDS hours extended at the Museum of Science and Industry—More than 100,000 guests experience exhibit in first seven weeks

CHICAGO, March 18, 2005—Beginning Monday, March 21, the Museum of Science and Industry will offer evening hours, seven days a week for BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies. The new hours will be 9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily from March 21 through September 5, 2005. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

“Visitors to BODY WORLDS have been struck by what an amazing machine the human body truly is,” said Museum President and CEO, David Mosena. “For many, this exhibit has a profound effect. They are able to discover how powerful, and yet how vulnerable, they are. They see how hard their heart has to work to pump blood to thousands of blood vessels, and they see how easily the lungs can blacken from smoking. It makes people want to take care of the gift they have been given.”

In this eye-opening exhibition, guests learn about anatomy, physiology and health by viewing real human bodies that have been preserved with special plastics through the process of “plastination.” The exhibit’s 200 authentic human specimens—including entire bodies, individual healthy and diseased organs, and transparent body slices—give the general public an inspiring, rare view of the many layers and systems under the skin, and make clear the relationship between healthy lifestyles and healthy bodies.

The exhibit includes specimens that detail the body’s diverse anatomy and numerous systems, including the locomotive, digestive, nervous and vascular systems, and even the development of life in the womb. Approximately 25 whole bodies, referred to in the exhibit as “plastinates,” reveal the true-to-life spatial relationships among organs, and the complex beauty of the human body. Some plastinates are authentically posed playing soccer or basketball, pondering a chess move, swimming and running, allowing visitors to comprehend the intricate inter-connectedness of the muscle, organ and vascular systems and view them in various positions.

During the run of BODY WORLDS, the Museum is also showing the Omnimax® film, The Human Body, on its five-story domed wrap-around theater. In microscopic detail, this giant screen film presents a look at the daily biological processes that go on without our control and often without our notice. Evening shows for The Human Body are offered at 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Important Tips for visiting BODY WORLDS

  • To avoid lines, it is strongly recommended that guests purchase advance tickets via the Museum’s Web site at www.msichicago.org/tickets.

  • Check the Web site for possible changes to the exhibit’s schedule.

  • After regular Museum hours, ONLY the BODY WORLDS exhibit and the Omnimax Theater, showing The Human Body only, will be accessible.

  • If guests are interested in also seeing an Omnimax film, they should schedule to see the film before going to BODY WORLDS. This will allow guests to not have to rush through the exhibit in order to meet their film time.

  • The last entry time for BODY WORLDS is 8 p.m.; the exhibit closes at 9 p.m.

  • Audio guides are available in English and Spanish for an additional fee.

  • Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, parent, guardian or school chaperone.

Visitor Reactions

Guests continue to be very enthusiastic about the exhibit and have filled multiple comment books about their experiences. Comments include:

  • “Thank you. I will quit smoking.”

  • “This was a fascinating exhibit. Thank you to all the people that donated their bodies.”

  • “Absolutely fantastic. I have MS and now I understand the nervous system and a whole lot about the body. Thank you!”

  • “I loved this exhibit; I am going to tell my teacher about it!”

Combination admission into the Museum and BODY WORLDS during the day is $21 for adults; $11 for kids 3-11; $17 for seniors and college students with a valid school I.D. card. City of Chicago residents receive a discount on general admission. Admission for BODY WORLDS during the evenings and on the Museum’s free days is $16 for adults; $9 children and $15 for seniors and college students with a valid school I.D. card. Audio guides in English and Spanish are also available at $4 for adults; $3 for children, seniors and members; and $2 for school groups. Discounted group tickets are also available for organized parties of 20 or more by calling 773-684-1414.

The Museum of Science and Industry's mission is to inspire the inventive genius in everyone by presenting captivating and compelling experiences that are real and educational. Located at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, the Museum is open every day of the year except December 25. Regular Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Extended hours—9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays— will be offered from March 21 to April 3 and from May 28 to September 5. The Museum offers indoor parking and is accessible by CTA and Metra. The Museum is supported in part through the generosity of the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District. For more information, visit the Museum's Web site at www.msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414 or (800) GO-TO-MSI outside of the Chicago area.

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Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies at the Great Lakes Science Center, April 9 to September 18, 2005

CLEVELAND, OHIO, February 23, 2005—Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies invites visitors to learn about anatomy, physiology and health by viewing real human bodies preserved through a unique method called plastination. Cleveland is only the third US city to host this profound and awe-inspiring exhibition.Plastination is a technique invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977 at the University of Heidelberg to preserve specimens for medical education. The process replaces the body’s water tissue with fluid plastics that harden after vacuum-forced impregnation.The preservation process provides the flexibility and strength needed to have freestanding bodies-in-motion, as well as the preservation of organs, tissues, circulatory and nervous systems in their true-to-life form without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde.BODY WORLDS 2 features more than 200 real human body specimens, including 20 whole body specimens, which effectively demonstrate the relationship between healthy lifestyles and healthy bodies. Guests can compare smokers’ and non-smokers’ lungs as well as healthy and diseased hearts. Close-up studies of health ailments, depicted in the exhibition, provide viewers an opportunity to reevaluate their lifestyles and consider more healthful habits.All plastinates on display were created under the direction of Dr. Gunther von Hagens, the Inventor of Plastination and Scientific Director of the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany. His exhibitions BODY WORLDS and BODY WORLDS 2 have drawn more than 16 million people worldwide and have become the most successful touring exhibits in the world.

“When I saw BODY WORLDS in Los Angeles, I knew that I wanted to bring it to Cleveland,” said Great Lakes Science Center President and Executive Director Linda Abraham-Silver. “The support we have received from the Cleveland community has been overwhelming. We are especially excited with the opportunities for collaboration with healthcare, academic and cultural institutions made possible by this amazing exhibit. BODY WORLDS 2 will benefit not only the Science Center, but our city as well.”

Visitors to both BODY WORLDS and BODY WORLDS 2 have expressed a newfound and deeper appreciation for the body. One visitor commented, “I have been studying anatomy and looking at books for four years, and this exhibit gave me an understanding of the human body that I didn't have before.” Another visitor called the exhibits ”a beautiful way to honor those who literally gave of themselves so we may all see and know human beings are indeed perfectly engineered and are the most artistically executed creature on this planet.”

As part of its goal to reach out to the community, the Science Center has assembled an advisory committee composed of leaders in the fields of public health, medicine, ethics and religion to provide advice on how to best relate the exhibit to the public.

During the run of BODY WORLDS 2, the Science Center is showing the film The Human Body on its giant OMNIMAX® screen. The film looks in microscopic detail at the biological processes that occur within our bodies daily without our control and often without our notice. Follow a tomato on its journey to the stomach, paddle underwater with infants whose mysterious diving reflex allows them to swim on first contact with water, and accompany a red blood cell into the pumping chamber of the heart.

The Science Center will offer day and evening hours for BODY WORLDS 2. From April 9 – May 25, hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. From May 26 - September 18, 2005, BODY WORLDS 2 will be open 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week. After regular Science Center hours have ended, only the BODY WORLDS 2 exhibit and Omnimax Theater will be accessible.

Combination admission into the Science Center and BODY WORLDS 2 during the day is $21 for adults, $11 for youths 3-17, $17 for seniors and for students (18+) with a valid ID. Admission for BODY WORLDS 2 after 5.30 p.m. will be $16 for adults, $9 for youths and $15 for seniors and students (18+) with a valid ID. To ensure an enriching experience for all, we recommend that children under the age of 13 are accompanied by a responsible adult.

The Great Lakes Science Center, now in its ninth year, is one of the nation’s leading science and technology centers, featuring more than 400 hands-on exhibits, themed traveling exhibits, daily demonstrations and the awe-inspiring OMNIMAX Theater. With attendance approaching 5 million visitors, the Science Center has gained a presence and a reputation as an informal science education engine for northern Ohio and a dynamic place where people of all ages can come again and again to learn while having fun. The Science Center is open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm with discounted parking for guests in the attached 500-car garage. For more information, contact the Science Center at 216.694.2000 or visit www.GreatScience.com. The Great Lakes Science Center is located at Northcoast Harbor, between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

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The Franklin Institute to host Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies—Exhibit's fist Stop on the East Coast

Philadelphia, February 10, 2005—BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, a first-of-its-kind exhibit in which guests learn about anatomy, physiology and health by viewing human bodies preserved through an extraordinary method called “plastination,” will open at The Franklin Institute in October 2005. It will be BODY WORLDS first stop on the East Coast. Nearly 16 million visitors around the world have experienced the exhibit first-hand.

Until BODY WORLDS made its North American debut at the California Science Center in July 2004, the intricacies of the human body had long been viewable only by the medical community in the United States. Anatomy classes, autopsies and dissections were typically reserved for medical students and professionals. BODY WORLDS creates an opportunity to see up close the relationship between healthy lifestyles and healthy bodies.

“BODY WORLDS is a fascinating exhibit, and we believe it will present an extraordinarily important educational opportunity for the people of the Philadelphia area and the entire region,” said Dennis M. Wint, president and CEO of The Franklin Institute. “After experiencing great success with Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, we are again looking forward to welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors from up and down the East Coast for BODY WORLDS.”

Invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, the plastination process replaces the natural fluids in the body with reactive plastics that are initially fluid, but then harden after impregnation. Before hardening the plastic in the specimens, the plastinates are fixed into lifelike poses, illustrating how our bodies internally respond to everyday movements and activities. This unique process also provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve the specimens in their true-to-life form, without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde.

BODY WORLDS features a human skeleton, as commonly seen in anatomy classes, and is followed by exhibitry on the locomotive system, the digestive system, and nervous and vascular systems.

Guests are provided with precise insights into the structure of their bodies' interior. Approximately 25 whole bodies, referred to in the exhibit as “plastinates,” reveal the true-to-life spatial relationships among organs. Infections and cancers are also displayed, as well as a lung blackened by tar to illustrate the effect of tobacco consumption, keynoting the relationship between healthy lifestyle and a healthy body.

Ticket prices for BODY WORLDS will be announced in the coming months. Currently undergoing a major renaissance, the all-new Franklin Institute initiated a capital campaign in 1998 and successfully raised $62 million to launch eight new, interactive, theme-based, state-of-the-art exhibits through 2006, as well as to renovate its museum theaters, retail store, and public areas. New and renovated exhibits include The Franklin Air Show, Sports Challenge, Space Command, The Train Factory, Fels Planetarium, and The Giant Heart.

Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a nationally respected pioneer in the development of interactive science exhibits. The Franklin Institute is Pennsylvania's most visited museum. In 2004, The Franklin Institute experienced its second best attendance year in history, with a total of 933,779 visitors. For more information, visit www.fi.edu.


Midwest Premiere of BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies at the Museum of Science and Industry—Unprecedented exhibit lets guests see inside the human body to learn about anatomy, physiology and health

CHICAGO, February 3, 2005—On Feb. 4, the Museum of Science and Industry opens BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies—the Midwest premiere of an exhibit that has awed nearly 16 million people around the world. In this eye-opening exhibition, guests learn about anatomy, physiology and health by viewing real human bodies that have preserved through the unprecedented process of “plastination.” BODY WORLDS is open to the public through Sept. 5, 2005.

BODY WORLDS made its North American debut at the California Science Center in July and through its run hosted more than 650,000 visitors. Until BODY WORLDS, viewing the intricacies of the human body had been reserved for the medical community. But with the exhibit’s 200 authentic human specimens—including entire bodies, individual healthy and diseased organs, and transparent body slices—the general public is able to view the many layers and systems under the skin in vivid detail, and understand the relationship between healthy lifestyles and healthy bodies.

“BODY WORLDS supports the Museum’s mission. It allows us to present a captivating and compelling experience that is real and educational,” said David Mosena, Museum president and CEO. “These authentic specimens give us an extraordinary opportunity to view and learn about human health and the significance of our lifestyle choices.”

Invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, the plastination process replaces the natural fluids in the body with reactive plastics that are initially fluid, but then harden after impregnation. Before hardening the plastic in the specimens, the plastinates are fixed into lifelike poses, illustrating how our bodies internally respond to everyday movements and activities. This unique process also provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve the specimens in their true-to-life form, without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde.

“BODY WORLDS allows people of all backgrounds to get to better understand the body and how it functions,” said von Hagens. “They get a view of themselves, and of their bodies, that they have never had before. This exhibit is a remarkable teaching tool.”

More than 200 specimens detail the body’s diverse anatomy and numerous systems, including the locomotive, digestive, nervous and vascular systems, and even the development of life in the womb. Approximately 25 whole bodies, referred to in the exhibit as “plastinates,” reveal the true-to-life spatial relationships among organs. Some plastinates are authentically posed playing soccer or basketball, pondering a chess move, swimming and running, allowing visitors to comprehend the inter-connectedness of the muscle, organ and vascular systems and view them in various positions. Plastinates on display include:

  • The Teacher. Here, the nervous system is shown in precise detail. Most of the muscles have been removed, and a number of “windows” have been cut into the bones, particularly in the skull, in order to display a multitude of nerve pathways.

  • The Smoker. The skeletal system is revealed on the left side of the body and on the right, guests are able to view the muscular system. Combined, these two systems form the locomotive system. The smoker’s blackened lungs can be seen through the spaces between the ribs.

  • Rearing Horse with Rider. Although there are major differences in proportion, guests can discover the similar anatomical arrangement between horse and man in the form, position and microscopic structures of their organs and muscles.

  • Organ Man. The gastrointestinal tract and liver are shifted so that visitors can clearly see all the organs. The lower part of the liver displays several cancerous growths, and the gallbladder is filled with gallstones. At back, the vertebral column and the spinal cord are visible along the plastinate’s middle axis.

  • The Jumping Dancer. While jumping up with all extremities stretched in front of the body, the back of the trunk has been opened downwards. Lowest is the brain, which in turn rests on the occipital bone. This arrangement enables us to view the inner side of neck, thorax, abdomen and pelvis upside down on the back of the specimen.

“The plastinates are able to demonstrate the body as it exists in life,” said von Hagens. “You can see how the muscles and tendons move and stretch, how all of the bodies systems must work together to keep us moving and breathing, and even how disease can ravage the body. People are able to relate their own bodies to the plastinates.”

“Guests will leave this experience with an entirely new perspective and understanding of the human body, and how it is powered,” added Mosena.

During the run of BODY WORLDS, the Museum is also showing the complementary Omnimax® film, The Human Body, on its five-story domed wrap-around theater. In microscopic detail, this giant screen film presents a look at the daily biological processes that go on without our control and often without our notice. Viewers can follow a tomato on its journey to the stomach, paddle underwater with infants whose mysterious diving reflex allows them to comfortably “swim,” and accompany a red blood cell into the pumping chamber of the body’s engine room, the heart.

Due to the popularity of BODY WORLDS in previous locations around the world, the Museum is offering extended hours for the exhibit. From Feb. 4 through March 20, the hours to see BODY WORLDS will be 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. From March 21 hrough Sept. 5, BODY WORLDS will be open 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Guests are encouraged to check the Museum’s Web site at www.msichicago.org for updates and changes.

Combination admission into the Museum and BODY WORLDS during the day is $21 for adults; $11 for kids 3-11; $17 for seniors. City of Chicago residents receive a discount on general admission. Admission for BODY WORLDS during the evenings and on the Museum’s free days is $16 for adults; $9 children and $15 for seniors. Audio guides in English and Spanish are also available at $4 for adults; $3 for children, seniors and members; and $2 for school groups. To buy individual tickets, visit www.msichicago.org/tickets or call 773-684-1414. Discounted group tickets are also available for organized parties of 20 or more by calling 773-684-1414. To ensure an enriching experience for all, children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, parent, guardian or school chaperone.

The Museum of Science and Industry's mission is to inspire the inventive genius in everyone by presenting captivating and compelling experiences that are real and educational. Located at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, the Museum is open every day of the year except December 25. Regular Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Extended hours—9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays—will be offered from March 21 to April 3 and from May 28 to September 5. The Museum offers indoor parking and is accessible by CTA and Metra. The Museum is supported in part through the generosity of the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District. For more information, visit the Museum's Web site at www.msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414 or (800) GO-TO-MSI outside of the Chicago area.

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More Than One-Half Million visitors to BODY WORLDS comprise largest special exhibit attendance in the history of the California Science Center—Inspires the Debut of BODY WORLDS 2 featuring all new specimens!

Los Angeles— In response to the tremendous popularity of BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, the California Science Center’s President Jeffrey N. Rudolph is pleased to announce the debut of BODY WORLDS 2 scheduled to open January 29 and run through March 27, 2005.
Since July, more than half a million guests have visited BODY WORLDS, distinguishing it as the most well attended special exhibit in California Science Center history. Visitor surveys reveal that numerous guests are visiting the exhibit three and four times. To accommodate the crowds, the Science Center opened on Christmas and New Years Day. BODY WORLDS closes on January 23 and travels to the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago where it will open in February.

BODY WORLDS 2 equals its predecessor in size and proportion, comprising 20,000 sq. feet, and more than 200 all-new plastinated real human body specimens including more than 20 whole bodies, healthy and unhealthy organs, body parts and slices. Dr. Gunther von Hagens, creator of BODY WORLDS and inventor of the plastination technique, has designed BODY WORLDS 2 to reveal significant insights about human anatomy, physiology and health not available in the previous exhibit, presenting an unprecedented view of the structure and function of the human body and offering an unforgettable lesson on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.

Highlights include, the “Suicide by Fat--Obesity Revealed” specimen, which shows fat tissue and its relentless, unremitting ability to shorten life by damaging vital organs like the heart and bones. A “Cube Head” plastinate, acts as a 3D puzzle showing us the density of the human head displayed inch-by-inch and how it connects and works together. “Orthopedic Man,” demonstrates a variety of surgically implanted orthopedic devices. These and other real preserved human specimens reveal new views of the body in mesmerizing detail.

California Science Center President Jeffrey Rudolph comments, “BODY WORLDS has exceeded our expectations in terms of both strong, overwhelming attendance and the new appreciation of human anatomy and physiology gained by the public. I am thrilled that Dr. Gunther Von Hagens has agreed to present the American premiere of BODY WORLDS 2 at the California Science Center, offering our guests an extended opportunity to learn about the human body and marvel at its elegance and complexity.”

Reflecting on his latest exhibit, Dr. Gunther von Hagens notes, “BODY WORLDS 2 reveals our inner face, our individual anatomy from new angles. I have brought this exhibit to the US as an unparalleled teaching tool - to change the perception of what we are and how we can achieve a healthier, more capable and longer life.”

THE PROCESS OF PLASTINATION
Plastination is a unique process invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens to preserve specimens for medical education. The process replaces the body’s water tissue with fluid plastics that harden after vacuum-forced impregnation. Hardening the plastic in the specimens allows the bodies to be fixed into life-like poses, which illustrate how our bodies respond, internally, to movements in everyday athletic activities.

According to Dr. von Hagens, “It’s the mission of BODY WORLDS to inform visitors, and to open up the opportunity, particularly to medical laymen, to better understand the body and its functions.”

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, is an extraordinary exhibit in which visitors learn about anatomy, physiology and health by viewing real human bodies, preserved through an extraordinary new method called "plastination." Although BODY WORLDS has toured Europe and Asia to great acclaim, BODY WORLDS 2 has never been seen in Europe or America. The California Science Center proudly hosts the American debut of this highly successful exhibit.

BODY WORLDS and BODY WORLDS 2, were developed by the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany and have drawn over 16 million visitors worldwide.

Science Center President Jeffrey N. Rudolph notes, "BODY WORLDS and BODY WORLDS 2 support the educational mission of the Science Center. These are the most powerful exhibits I have ever seen. The unique use of authentic specimens teaches lessons about health, disease, physiology and anatomy that could not be possible with constructed models, photos or textbooks. Ultimately, the use of real human bodies inspires new respect for the body and its incredible complexity."
To augment the guest experience during the run of BODY WORLDS 2, the Science Center IMAX Theatre features The Human Body, a film that examines a day in the life of the body as it diligently goes about its complex set of everyday chores. Using innovative filmmaking techniques, combined with the latest medical and scientific imaging, the film shows us the amazing systems that keep our bodies running at full steam and the extraordinary marvels of life.

The BODY WORLDS 2 exhibition is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last admission at 8 p.m.) On February 12, hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission at 3:00pm) Guests are encouraged to check the web site at www.californiasciencecenter.org

BODY WORLDS 2 admission prices are: ---$12 for adults; $9.50 for seniors 60+ and students age 13+ with I.D; and $5.75 for children 4 - 12. Member rates are $9.50 for adults and $5.50 for children. Special rates for schools and other groups of 15 and over apply. Combination ticket prices for BODY WORLDS 2 and the IMAX film The Human Body are: $17.50 for adults; $13.00 for seniors and students; and $8.25 for children. Audio guides in English are also available at $4.00 for adults, and $2.00 for students and seniors. Admission to all other Science Center exhibits is free. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Tickets are available for purchase at the Science Center box office or online via our website.

The California Science Center is located at 700 State Drive – Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Enter visitor parking at 39th & Figueroa Street. Parking is $6 per car. Due to the possibility of lines, please arrive early. For general information, call 323.SCIENCE (323.724-3623) or visit our website at www.californiasciencecenter.org. Both the Science Center and IMAX Theater are wheelchair accessible.

A Note to Editors and Reporters – BODY WORLDS 2 News Conference

All members of the media are invited to attend a BODY WORLDS 2 news conference scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on January 28th. The Science Center will open at 7 a.m. on the 28th to allow time for previewing BODY WORLDS 2. If you have covered the first exhibit, the requirement for filling out exhibit access forms will be waived. Simply RSVP to this email and we will have your name at the door. This second BODY WORLDS exhibit has toured Asia, but has never been seen in Europe or America before now. BODY WORLDS 2 equals its predecessor in size with more than 20 new whole body plastinates, and reveals new insights not available in the previous exhibit. Hope to see you there.

COMPLETE ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT AVAILABLE AT: http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/GenInfo/MediaRoom/MediaRoom.php

The Institute for Plastination, which developed this exhibit, requires members of the print and broadcast media to fill out special permission agreements before on-site coverage of BODY WORLDS 2 is allowed. For your convenience, these forms may be found on the Science Center website media page at: http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/GenInfo/MediaRoom/MediaRoom.php
Please fill out the form and fax it to (213) 744-2026 in advance of your visit. Thank you.

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To Accommodate Large Crowds Rushing to Beat the Closing of BODY WORLDS the California Science Center Goes 24 HOURS on Saturday Night!

Los Angeles, Januar 15, 2005—BODY WORLDS: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies will be open 24 hours on Saturday night. To accommodate unprecedented, large numbers of visitors before the closing of the exhibit on January 23, the California Science Center for the first time in its history will be open for 24 hours.

Visitor numbers exceeded 10,000 per day over the King holiday weekend, more than double the average attendance. Large visitor numbers caused traffic jams and a 45-minute wait for the last mile on the 110 Harbor Freeway leading to Exposition Park. All available parking lots were filled to capacity and the Science Center quickly installed electronic traffic signs to help direct drivers coming to the exhibit. Meanwhile at the Science Center ticket office, long lines of BODY WORLDS visitors waited up to five hours to see the exhibit.

To ease this congestion and allow more people to see BODY WORLDS, organizers have increased opening hours to commence at 7:00 a.m. on the last weekend of the exhibition, beginning January 22 and will remain open for 24 hours until midnight on Sunday evening. This extension follows the recent special announcement of the exhibit being open until midnight on the closing weekend. Extra tickets are now online at www.californiasciencecenter.org.

Science Center President Jeffrey N. Rudolph notes, “These attendance figures have more than surpassed our expectations. To date, we have had over 600,000 visitors to the exhibit. We were originally anticipating 400,000. We are pleased that the public is taking this rare opportunity to learn about the complexity and wonder of the human body. BODY WORLDS 2 is coming and we are thrilled that we will have the opportunity to extend this experience.” This exhibit marks the most successful exhibit in the history of the Science Center. “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit” was the second most well-attended exhibit with a total attendance of 235,000.
For the final week of BODY WORLDS the opening hours are as follows:

  • Wednesday, January 19: 10:00-9:00 (last admission 8pm)

  • Thursday, January 20: 10:00-9:00 (last admission 8pm)

  • Friday, January 21: 10:00- Midnight (last admission 10:30pm)

  • Saturday, January 22: 7:00- 24hrs New!

  • Sunday, January 23: open-12:00 a.m. (last admission 10:30 pm) New!

BODY WORLDS 2 opens 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. January 29 through March 23.

We encourage all visitors to purchase timed tickets online or by telephone to ensure admission!

BODY WORLDS will close its doors at midnight on January 23 and BODY WORLDS 2 will open on January 29, 2005.

For general information, call 323.SCIENCE (323.724-3623) or visit our website at www.californiasciencecenter.org.

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