Last modified: Monday, June 23, 2008
Media advisory: IU passes 'Genes' to Fort Wayne science museum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2008
Fort Wayne, Ind. -- An Indiana University traveling science exhibit that educates children and adults on how genes can affect our risk for particular diseases and disorders, such as alcoholism, cancer, depression, Alzheimer's and osteoporosis, has found a permanent home at the Science Central museum in Fort Wayne, Ind.
IU's "Genes and Your Health" exhibit educates both children and adults on how genes can affect our risk for particular diseases and disorders.
IU President Michael McRobbie will participate in a gifting program and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the museum on Wednesday (June 25), during which the university will announce that it has donated its "Genes and Your Health" exhibit to Science Central, a family-oriented museum and one of Fort Wayne's most visited attractions. The program is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m. EDT. At the conclusion of the program, visitors will be invited to tour the exhibit. A kids-friendly reception, hosted by the Northeast Chapter of the IU Alumni Association and the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Alumni Association, will be held at 5:30 p.m. EDT.
"Genes and Your Health" was written and designed by IU in association with the Indiana State Museum over a six-month period. More than 30 IU faculty, staff, students and alumni developed content for the exhibit, which debuted at the Indiana State Museum in December 2004 and was developed as part of IU's celebration of the life sciences in January 2005. As part of a subsequent state-wide tour, it was displayed at Science Central from April 11 to July 11, 2006.
Now part of Science Central's permanent collection, the exhibit promotes the importance of genomics research and its relationship to Hoosiers' long-term health. It also contains information about what IU is doing to improve the lives of those with genetic-related diseases and disorders.
WHAT: IU President Michael McRobbie to participate in a gifting program and ribbon-cutting ceremony announcing a permanent home for IU's "Genes and Your Health" exhibit. Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters will accept the gift on behalf of Fort Wayne-based Science Central.
WHEN: The gifting program will take place at 3:45 p.m. EDT, Wednesday (June 25). A kids-friendly reception with McRobbie is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. EDT.
WHERE: Science Central, 1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, Ind.
For more information on the Genes and Your Health exhibit, go to https://www.indiana.edu/~oum/exhibit.
