Below is a slideshow photo gallery of some of the photos taken by Russ Creech at the grand opening of the Nature Research Center at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Collection of videos about the opening of the Nature Research Center:

• High-tech tables bring museum exhibits to life (WRAL.com)
  Two tables with responsive surfaces display deeper detail about specimens in the Museum of Natural Sciences new Nature Research Center.
• Nature Research Center is dream come true for museum director (WRAL.com)
  Betsy Bennett, director of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, has been working for years to open a new wing focused on scientific research and interactive exhibits to bring people closer to science and nature.
• Workers prep for Nature Research Center opening (WRAL.com)
  Almost 200 people worked feverishly Thursday to prepare the new wing at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for its grand opening Friday evening.
• A New World (YouTube.com)
  The Daily Planet, a new spherical theater at the Nature Research Center of the North Carolina Museum of Science in Raleigh, receives its globe markings.
  
• NC Museum of Natural Sciences – Nature Research Center (ABC11.com)
  Heart of Carolina Perspectives
  

Below is a message from Gary Braasch and photo gallery from the grand opening of the Nature Research Center and The Daily Planet at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, April 20-21, 2012, Raleigh NC:

I want to bring in this great example of informal science and climate education — the new Nature Research Center wing of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.  Director Betsy Bennett and Center director Meg Lowman (of “Canopy Meg” tropical forest fame) have magnificently brought active science, art, photography, the skills of museum architects & designers, sounds, and even food and drink together into an immersive and engaging learning experience.  My portfolio of images from the opening of the Center last week is now up at  http://www.braaschphotography.com/NCmuseum/index.htm The museum website is http://naturalsciences.org/

Also my app  Painting With Time: Climate Change is now available for iPhones as well as the iPad.  We added a slight charge so we could do more with the app and give half the proceeds to Union of Concerned Scientists.  Link to the app on Apple Store is  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/painting-time-climate-change/id519699889?mt=8 We are very interested in making this platform more useful to educators and welcome ideas and examples of how it is being used.

Dr. “CanopyMeg” Lowman and Dr. Alemayehu Wassie Eshete guide us on a walk around the wall built at Zhara Church Rainforest in Ethiopia. The Zhara wall was possible thanks to efforts from scientists, donors, and the TREE Foundation.

This video contains excerpts from the documentary film “Church Forest” by Peter Eliot Buntaine & Greg Vander Veer. Find out more here: http://www.churchforest.com

One Planet/Many Worlds – Global Town Hall series presented by Time Warner Cable. Live from the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and the 24 Hour Opening of the Nature Research Center in Raleigh, NC. Featuring scientists, researchers and special guests from around the globe.

From NBC17.com:

RALEIGH, N.C. — Budding young scientists will soon have something new to explore in Raleigh – the new Nature Research Center (NRC).

The center makes up the new wing of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. It’s been a decade in the planning and two years under construction.

Read the full article

Roland gives us a tour of the Nature Research Center (NRC) as preparations are underway for the Grand Opening Gala.

Video highlighting Dr. “Canopymeg” Lowman’s visit to canopies around the world — with an inside scoop on methods, tree canopies, and important issues surrounding research and conservation. Life at the Top is a global challenge!

Clothing the Daily Planet with Continents at the Nature Research Center. Great photos by friend, Pam Hopkins:

Dr. “CanopyMeg” Lowman was a guest on “Community — The TV Show” hosted by Annette Scherman on February 3, 2012. Appearing with Dr. Lowman was New College student Michael Long.

Meg Lowman talks about her recent travels and adventures including travel to Africa to help save the Church Forests of Ethiopia, forest conservation in India, and her work on the Nature Research Center (NRC), the new 80000 square-foot wing at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Photos were displayed of the wall construction in Ethiopia that was accomplished with the help of Sarasota’s own TREE Foundation. The TREE Foundation is auctioning off the naming rights of new species of beetles and other organisms in Ethiopia. These funds go toward saving the last remaining fragments of forest in Ethiopia.

Dr. Lowman brings some art work and other interesting objects she has collected from her travels for some “show-and-tell” with Annette.

Michael Long talks about Meg’s influence on his decision to attend New College of Florida and his current studies which focus on bridging science with policy.

TREE Foundation website: http://www.treefoundation.com
Nature Research Center: http://naturesearch.org/