SCI set to open latest traveling exhibition, Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science

For Immediate Release — Wednesday, November 23, 2011

DES MOINES, IA: On Friday, the Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater (SCI) will open its doors and invite visitors to experience Egypt by examining authentic artifacts, learning about current science and taking a hands-on look at archaeology today.

Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science is an immersive quest for knowledge that reveals how archaeologists use modern science and technology to uncover and understand the ancient civilization of Egypt.

“This has been an amazing opportunity for our staff to work with ancient relics and bring Lost Egypt to life,” said Curt Simmons, SCI’s Vice President of Science Learning and Public Engagement. “Lost Egypt takes you on a journey – It ties together ancient history and current science while also giving visitors the chance to interact with the exhibits and make their own discoveries.”

This exhibition features a real human mummy and animal mummies, as well as scans, forensic facial reconstructions and for the first time ever, a life-size rapid prototype of a mummy in a stage of “unwrapping.” Visitors will explore a re-creation of an Egyptian tomb and authentic art and artifacts from the daily life and funerary culture of ancient Egypt.

Divided into three content areas, Lost Egypt transports visitors to a time and place far from our own and invites guests to step into the shoes of the scientists who uncover and study these ancient relics.

Field Site:

·         Hear stories from archaeologists and learn how history can be lost to the sands of time

·         Reconstruct ancient pottery replicas and try your hand at archaeology

Ancient Egyptian Culture:

·         Decode hieroglyphics and uncover the art and beliefs of Ancient Egyptians

·         Enter the tomb and meet “Annie,” a real Egyptian mummy

Laboratory:

·         Discover the science and new technology used in modern archaeology

·         Examine scans and forensic facial reconstructions of mummies

Making its Midwest premiere, SCI is only the seventh venue to host this unique exhibition worldwide. Lost Egypt is made possible at SCI with support from local sponsors Bravo Greater Des Moines, Principal Financial and Vision Iowa. Media partners are Mediacom, Star 102.5 and WHO-TV.

Supplementary Programming

The Science Center of Iowa will enhance the Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science exhibition with new Egypt-themed live programming as well as supplemental activities, events and workshops for members and general visitors, including Egypt-focused winter camps offered December 27-30, 2011.

Corresponding IMAX Film

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs (40-minute documentary film)

Part historic journey and part forensic adventure, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs follows researchers and explorers as they piece together the archaeological and genetic clues of Egyptian mummies. Through ambitious computer graphics and dramatic reconstructions, the film tells the story of one of the greatest finds in modern history: the late 19th century discovery of a cache of forty mummies, including twelve Kings of Egypt, among them the legendary Rameses the Great.

Visiting Information

Timed tickets to Lost Egypt are $16 for adults, $13 for children ages 2-12 and $14 for seniors. SCI members pay only $5. Estimated visiting time inside the exhibition is 60-90 minutes. Tickets to Lost Egypt include all-day admission to the Science Center.

For more information on the Lost Egypt exhibition and to purchase tickets, visit www.sciowa.org/lostegypt or call (515) 274-6868.

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About Lost Egypt: Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets: Modern Science will allow visitors to learn about archaeology and the work of archaeologists, including how science changes over time as new techniques are developed and new information is uncovered. The exhibition was developed by the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, in cooperation with the Science

Museum Exhibit Collaborative and was built by the Science Museum of Minnesota. Artifacts are on loan from the Brooklyn Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences. Photography © 2008 Brad Feinknopf. Mummy scans © 2005 Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium.

SCI set to open latest traveling exhibition, Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science

About the Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater

The Science Center of Iowa is a 110,000-sq. ft facility devoted to lifelong learning, featuring dynamic experience platforms and daily interactive demonstrations with SCI staff for visitors to explore and experiment.  By placing the power of learning in the hands of the visitor, the programmatic emphasis is not on "what" to learn, but "how" to learn.  SCI also features the 175-seat John Deere Adventure Theater for live performances, the 50-foot domed Star Theater for planetarium shows and the 216-seat Blank IMAX Dome Theater for engaging films.  SCI’s Iowa Learning Center cultivates ties to formal education through educational resources for educators and students, the NAEYC-accredited SCI Preschool, as well as a statewide outreach program.