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.

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

Below is a PDF of SECU Daily Planet Speaker list for the 24-hour opening taking place at the Nature Research Center (NRC) in Raleigh, NC:

Download (PDF, 569.46KB)

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

From Southern Pines Pilot:

Nature never sleeps, so the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in Raleigh, will open its new wing, the Nature Research Center (NRC), with a 24-hour grand opening beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 20.

This celebration is expected to attract 50,000 visitors and capture global imagination, national recognition and local attention, while maintaining a commitment to environmental sustainability.

The 80,000-square-foot expansion includes several green features, including LED lights from CREE, a green roof to reduce runoff, water collection in cisterns, and photovoltaic panels.

Invitees include Gov. Bev Perdue, legislative leaders, NRC supporters, visionaries in sustainability, and “rock stars” in science like Mark Moffett, Jane Goodall and Paul Rose.

To prepare for the grand opening of the new wing, the museum is closed until 5 p.m. April 20.

Read the full article

Help CanopyMeg document North Carolina trees by participating in this survey.

Any questions about this survey? Contact Meg at meg.lowman@ncdenr.gov