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ANCHOR LEAD:
A NEW SCIENTIFIC STUDY IS WARNING THE EARTH IS FACING ONE OF THE FASTEST MASS EXTINCTIONS OF LIFE IN ITS HISTORY. WITHIN THE NEXT 30 YEARS, NEARLY HALF OF ALL SPECIES ON THE THAT PLANET COULD DIE OUT, LEAVING US WITH A DEVASTATING LOSS OF MEDICINES, FOODS AND OTHER RESOURCES. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SEVERELY IMPACT LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.
VOICEOVER:
THE STUDY BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY IN NEW YORK AND LOUIS HARRIS ASSOCIATES REPORTS THAT MANY SCIENTISTS NOW BELIEVE THAT IF LEFT UNCHECKED.. THE GROWING RATE OF EXTINCTION OF LIFE'S SPECIES AND HABITATS WILL POSE A MAJOR THREAT TO HUMAN EXISTENCE.. WITHIN THE NEXT CENTURY.
JOEL CRACRAFT
CURATOR
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IS SIMPLY ALL THE PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND MICROORGANISMS THAT ARE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH - IT'S CALLED THE "BIOSPHERE," THE HOME OF LIVING MATTER.
VOICEOVER:
BIODIVERSITY.. IS UNDER SERIOUS THREAT, PERHAPS EQUALLY ALARMING - THE MUSEUM SURVEY DISCOVERED THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS UNAWARE OF THE SCOPE OF THE IMPENDING CRISIS.
IN RESPONSE, THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY HAS UNVEILED A NEW HALL DEDICATED TO EXPLORING THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE ON EARTH.
NILES ELDREDGE
CURATOR
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
THE HALL IS REALLY ABOUT FOUR QUESTIONS, WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY, WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT IT, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DISRUPT IT - WE'RE LOSING 30,000 SPECIES PER YEAR, IT'S A MAJOR CRISIS - AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO STEM THE TIDE OF THE SIXTH EXTINCTION.
VOICEOVER:
THE HALL OF BIODIVERSITY IS A MASSIVE EDUCATIONAL EFFORT TO ALERT THE PUBLIC TO THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY AND IMPLICATIONS CONCERNING ITS LOSS - AND MORE IMPORTANT WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.
THE HALL OF BIODIVERSITY INCORPORATES NEW TECHNOLOGIES... SIGHTS, SOUNDS AND SMELLS ARE INCLUDED IN A RE-CREATION OF AN AFRICAN RAINFOREST.. A DRAMATIC DISPLAY EXAMINES SPECIES DIVERSITY, AND BIO BULLETINS OFFER THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING THE STATUS OF LIFE ON THE PLANET. THE HALL IS ALSO A GROUNDBREAKING MOVE IN THE EXPANDING ROLE OF MUSEUMS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION... USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
ELLEN V. FUTTER
PRESIDENT
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
THIS HALL IS GROUNDBREAKING. IT NOT ONLY HAS SPECTACULARLY VANGUARD EXHIBITIONS, BUT ALSO HAS THE ABILITY TO BRING IN REGULARLY UPDATED INFORMATION WHICH MEANS THE INFORMATION IS ALWAYS CURRENT, ALWAYS NEW, ALWAYS FRESH. AND ALSO BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE EVERY THING THAT'S IN THIS HALL AND SHARE IT WITH THE PUBLIC IN CLASSROOMS, HOMES AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS ACROSS THE NATION.
VOICEOVER:
THE HALL OF BIODIVERSITY OPENS AS A PERMANENT EXHIBITION AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ON MAY 30TH.
For info, click here to E-mail Robin Deangelis
or Call 1 212 213-4149
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