Press Release
Discover the Wonders of the Arctic and Antarctic in the Exhibition
Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins
at Fernbank Museum
ATLANTA—Travel from one end of the globe to the other as you explore the fascinating worlds of the Arctic and Antarctic in Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins, a new special exhibition opening June 7, 2008, at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
This interactive, family-friendly exhibitionexplores the unique nature of the Earth’s polar regions, the current science being undertaken there, and how these regions are indicators of climate change on our planet. Sponsored by Quark Expeditions produced by Science North, Ends of the Earth ties in with International Polar Year, an intense, internationally coordinated scientific program focused on both the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007-March 2009.
Ends of the Earth bustles with interactive and multimedia experiences appropriate for all ages. Massive landscapes, depicting the austere beauty of these frozen and extremely fragile expanses, provide striking backdrops for more than 30 educational encounters – each combining interactives, artifacts, specimens and multimedia.
Fernbank’s Director of Children’s and Family Programming, Cindy Sheehy, expects this exhibition will appeal to all ages by combining wide-ranging experiences and learning through scenic vistas, hands-on activities and cutting-edge science.
“Most people will never see a polar bear or penguin in its natural habitat, but Ends of the Earth takes visitors to the far reaches of the globe without having to rough the icy seas,” Sheehy said. “I really like the theme of opposites in this exhibition because the Arctic and Antarctic seem to be very similar at first glance, but as visitors start to look closer, they’ll realize these regions are, in fact, ‘polar opposites.’”
Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins is organized by polar geography. Visitors explore the Arctic, the Antarctic and the physical geography, climate and science they share.
The exhibit’s journey begins in the Arctic where visitors will investigate animal and human adaptations and science unique to the Arctic. In the Polar Bear Lab, they’ll learn all about land’s largest predator as they encounter a real polar bear specimen, compare a polar bear skull and teeth to its bear relatives, examine protective polar bear hair under a microscope, and learn about the status of polar bears from research scientists. A replica of a polar bear den allows curious visitors to crawl inside and watch a video of a real one.
Real specimens help visitors discover which arctic whale has a tusk and what Arctic mammal has the most hair. Animations of seasonal sea ice movement help visitors understand how climate change is affecting the snow, ice, animals and people of the Arctic.
As visitors journey to the Antarctic, they’ll pull on a penguin suit and walk and slide across the “ice” like a penguin, then match their skills against those of penguin parents in the "Feed the Chick Game.” An interactive Penguin Lab allows visitors to study penguin feathers under a microscope, check out a real penguin skeleton, and discover why penguins are black and white. They’ll also learn what researchers are currently discovering about penguins, including their feeding activities, family life and unique locomotion.
The exhibition next explores physical geography and climate as visitors take the “North versus South Quiz” to compare and contrast the poles and learn what is common between them. They’ll learn where the coldest temperature on Earth has been recorded, what the altitude of the South Pole is and whether you can see the Northern Lights at the South Pole.
As visitors enter The Explorer’s Tent, they’ll take a virtual journey to the North and South Poles through the compelling archival photographs, video vignettes and journal excerpts of explorers Roald Amundsen, Captain Robert Scott and Admiral Robert Peary.
Fernbank has also added its popular Education Alley feature—which is sponsored by Atlanta Gas Light, an AGL Resources Company, and The Coca-Cola Company—to offer a special area within the exhibition just for kids, allowing them to further explore these regions and their animal residents through a variety of books, puzzles, activities and more.
“What the average person understands about the Polar Regions is really just the tip of the iceberg!” Sheehy said. “I really enjoy the game-show style ‘Test your Ice-Q’ interactive because visitors get to prove how much they’ve learned at the end of their journey.”
Beyond the fun and interactive atmosphere of the exhibition, Ends of the Earth focuses on some timely and very important topics that are becoming more widely discussed everyday, from news stories to casual conversation.
“This exhibition touches on environmental issues that are now—or will be—important to everyone. Although far away, these are areas of our planet that are showing the effects of climate change—an early warning sign for the overall health of our planet, and in that way, are connected to our lives here in Atlanta and the Southeast,” Sheehy said.
Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins is on view at Fernbank Museum of Natural History from June 7, 2008, through January 2, 2009. The large-format film Antarctica will also be featured in the IMAX® Theatre for a deeper look at the coldest continent on Earth. Media support provided by Radio Disney.
Tickets to the special exhibition are included with Museum admission and are $15 for adults, $14 for students/seniors, and $13 for children ages 3-12. Members and children ages 2 and under receive free Museum admission. Value Pass tickets, which include Museum admission and an IMAX® screening, such as for the film Antarctica, are $23 for adults, $21 for students and seniors, and $19 for children. When you purchase the Atlanta CityPass at Fernbank, admission to Ends of the Earth is included.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 404.929.6400. Visitor information is available on the Web site at fernbankmuseum.org or by calling 404.929.6300.
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