[Childfree] Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2

[Laura Hinds]

Someone on the No Kidding list sent this around, and I thought I'd alert 
anyone here who isn't also on that list (so apologies for duplicates).  This 
is a fantastic exhibit, which Bob and I got a chance to see in Chicago last 
summer.  If you are at all able to go while it's in Denver, I'd highly 
recommend it.  Just an FYI.

Laura
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Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 2:
The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies

At the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
from March 10 - July 23, 2006


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."



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