PITTSBURGH, Pa., May 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Carnegie Science Center and Allegheny Health Network (AHN) today announced a new partnership to develop BodyTech, a dynamic, three-pronged health and science educational program for the region. The initiative includes a new exhibit at the Science Center called BodyWorks, the BodyStage live demonstration theater, and a new traveling science show, Anatomy Adventure, which will hit the road in the fall of 2015.
Designed to explore a wide range of topics surrounding health and the human body, BodyTech was conceptualized and created by the Carnegie Science Center staff and a team of healthcare professionals from AHN, including some of the Network's physician leaders. AHN also is the presenting sponsor of the new program.
"We are extremely proud to join Carnegie Science Center in this unique endeavor to help educate more young people in our region about healthy living and cultivate greater interest in the health sciences," said John Paul, President and CEO of Allegheny Health Network. "BodyTech is a wonderful example of two organizations deeply committed to the health and vitality of our region coming together to invest in its future."
"Every day, new medical and surgical advances are made to fight disease and help human beings live healthier lives," said Ron Baillie, co-director of Carnegie Science Center. "Much of this work is happening in the Pittsburgh region. Through this partnership with the experts at Allegheny Health Network, BodyTech opens up the possibilities to engage visitors in exciting ways in the science of the human body, and allows us to provide local students with an introduction to some exciting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers in our region."
The three components of BodyTech are:
- BodyWorks: This new exhibit will be located on the Science Center's third floor adjacent to BodyStage, and like all of the Science Center's exhibits will present hands-on, interactive experiences to help visitors grasp scientific concepts. BodyWorks will focus on four major areas of the body – cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and brain/nervous systems – with content threads throughout related to medical technology, careers in health care, local connections, and health and safety. The exhibit will align with Next Generation Science Standards for the target audience of upper elementary/middle school students. BodyWorks is expected to open in late summer of 2016.
- BodyStage: This live demonstration theater, presented by Allegheny Health Network, opened in 2014, replacing the Science Center's former Kitchen Theater. Since its debut less than a year ago, the BodyStage has already become a favorite of visitors of all ages. The shows presented in BodyStage explore themes related to health and medicine: nutrition, anatomy, and medical technology, with catchy titles like "Tasty Tidbits," about the science of taste; "Scanning, Scopes, and Surgery," about medical technology; and "It's Alimentary, Watson!" about the digestive system. BodyStage shows are crafted to be enjoyable for all ages, while also geared to the Next Generation Science Standards for specific grade levels. BodyStage also offers the chance to explore science up-close. Visitors can handle a 5-pound block of 'fat,' explore MRI images, and see the fat content of various foods represented in colorful vials.
- Anatomy Adventure: This dynamic traveling show is the newest offering of Carnegie Science Center's outreach program, Science on the Road. Science on the Road brings high-energy educational programming to schools, libraries, community centers, and other venues. Anatomy Adventure is an assembly program that takes children on a voyage through the bloodstream to learn about human body systems through the "eyes" of a miniature robotic probe. Live demonstrations explore the workings of the heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys, skeletal muscles, eyes, and brain. Nutrition and fitness are also addressed, along with cutting-edge innovations in cryogenics and lasers. The show includes an emphasis on local medical experts and potential STEM careers.
"The study of health and the human body, and the breakthrough technologies that have enabled transformations in our ability to heal it, are sure to fascinate visitors of all ages – and to awaken in some children a passion that will carry them into STEM careers," said Ann Metzger, co-director of Carnegie Science Center. "When students can connect STEM with enjoyable experiences now, they're more likely to envision a future in which they can make an impact in fields like medicine, surgery, and medical technology."
About Carnegie Science Center
Carnegie Science Center is dedicated to inspiring learning and curiosity by connecting science and technology with everyday life. By making science both relevant and fun, the Science Center's goal is to increase science literacy in the region and motivate young people to seek careers in science and technology. One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Science Center is Pittsburgh's premier science exploration destination, reaching more than 700,000 people annually through its hands-on exhibits, camps, classes, and off-site education programs.
About Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Founded by Andrew Carnegie 120 years ago, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a collection of four distinctive museums dedicated to exploration through art and science: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. The museums reach more than 1.3 million people a year through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events.
About Allegheny Health Network
Allegheny Health Network, part of Highmark Health, is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is comprised of eight hospitals, including its flagship academic medical center Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Valley Hospital, Canonsburg Hospital, Forbes Hospital, Jefferson Hospital, Saint Vincent Hospital, Westfield Memorial Hospital and West Penn Hospital; a research institute; Health + Wellness Pavilions; an employed physician organization, home and community based health services and a group purchasing organization. The Network employs approximately 17,500 people and has more than 2,100 physicians on its medical staff. The Network also serves as a clinical campus for Temple University School of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
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