Nature Research Center Grand Opening

Celebrate Earth Day with the Grand Opening of the Nature Research Center

The Nature Research Center will open its doors to the public for the first time with a 24 hour celebration rich in activities and entertainment for everyone.
 
The Grand Opening of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ new wing, the Nature Research Center (NRC), will attract an estimated 75,000 visitors and capture global imagination and local attention, while maintaining a commitment to fiscal responsibility and environmental sustainability.
 
A dazzling display of lights, roving street performers, musicians, aerialists and internationally known scientists will greet visitors as we publicly throw the doors open to the Nature Research Center. Unlocking how we know what we know, the public will discover science in a whole new dimension.
 
Education will play a starring role in all activities – from global town halls in the SECU Daily Planet on diverse topics such as health, sustainability and forestry – to programming about the latest leading edge research on the plaza for visitors waiting to enter the new wing. Of course, once inside, visitors will be immersed in interactive science and technology exhibits and have the opportunity to perform science activities in our investigate labs, or explore our research collections in our high-tech Naturalist Center. They will even experience riding a submersible 2000 feet below the ocean’s surface and predict the weather in the WRAL weather lab. The list goes on!
 
Friday, April 20, 2012 4:00 pm – 11:59 pm

Saturday, April 21, 2012 12:00 am – 5:00 pm