Events

Past Public Events

DISCUSSION AND BOOK SIGNING: THE PHILOSOPHICAL BABY BY ALISON GOPNIK
Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS & The Brain–Our Three Pound Gem to host New York Times bestselling author Dr. Alison Gopnik to discuss her latest book THE PHILOSOPHICAL BABY: What Children’s Minds Tells Us About Truth, Love, and the Meaning of Life.

The brain, the vital organ that is the essence of our individual selves, takes center stage in the BODY WORLDS exhibition. Throughout our lives, from birth to adolescence and adulthood to old age, the brain chisels, refines, matures, and transforms itself. BODY WORLDS features some of the latest findings in neuroscience, including development and function of the infant brain. Infants are acutely sensitive, social beings who learn from the environment and through experience, by engaging with the world and others.

On September 24 leading child psychologist and philosopher Alison Gopnik will talk about some of these findings, also featured in her book The Philosophical Baby. Join us for an enlightening experience through examining children’s imaginations, their consciousness, and their ideas about love and morality. To learn more about The Philosophical Baby visit http://www.alisongopnik.com/ThePhilosophicalBaby.htm.

Thursday, September 24; 4 PM–5:30 PM.

Ticket price:	$25.00 includes BODY WORLDS admission
	$13.00 admission to discussion and signing only

Dr. Gopnik’s book will be on sale in the BODY WORLDS retail store.

To purchase tickets call 877.946.7797. Space is limited. Ticket purchase includes entry to BODY WORLDS and admission to the discussion and signing.

STUDENT MEDIA DAY
BODY WORLDS is opening up the exhibition to budding journalists. High school and college journalists are invited to cover the highest attended traveling exhibition in the world. Museum representatives will be on hand for interviews. High school journalists must provide a signed note by their journalism teacher, and college students must present press credentials. Other restrictions apply.

Thursday, September 10; 1 PM–5 PM

For more information students can contact BODY WORLDS communications manager Dan Flores at d.flores@bw.plastination.com.

August is HEALTH & WELLNESS MONTH at BODY WORLDS

HEALTH & WELLNESS MONTH is a month-long health observance coordinated by BODY WORLDS at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Our goal is to make health a top priority, encouraging everyone to take small steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life.

During HEALTH & WELLNESS MONTH, BODY WORLDS will host a variety of organizations that will conduct demonstrations by experts in their field, to educate and inspire physical health and overall wellness.

See whole schedule.

To celebrate HEALTH & WELLNESS MONTH we are offering a BUY ONE BODY WORLDS TICKET, GET ONE AT 50% OFF!

Simply mention coupon code BRAIN when ordering.
Purchase tickets at the Museum or by calling 877.946.7797.

Not available online. New sales only. No retroactive discounts, refunds or exchanges.
May not be combined with any other offer. Not valid for group sales. Subject to availability.

BODY WORLDS Blood Drive
Friday, July 31, 10 AM to 4 PM
San Diego Natural History Museum parking lot
1788 El Prado, Balboa Park

First 100 donors will receive a free pass to the BODY WORLDS exhibition!

To schedule an appointment, go to www.sandiegobloodbank.org, click on “appointments” and enter sponsor code: SDNH

Brain Glow–A Week of Brain Exploration
Wednesday, June 17–Sunday, 21

Visiting Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery commenced work on Wednesday, June 21 to create a Mandala sand painting, a 2500-year-old Tantric Buddhist healing practice. The ancient ritual, conducted by 10 monks over five days in the atrium of the San Diego Natural History Museum, assumed new meaning in this time of economic uncertainty. The monks constructed the iconic Green Tara Mandala, which Buddhists believe can lead to personal and planetary healing during times of uncertainty and economic crises.

BODY WORLDS & The Brain–Our Three Pound Gem: The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies features “Mr. Anatomy” in Rock n’ Roll Marathon.

For those of you who have been following the series of events around BODY WORLDS’ search for the Fittest Man in San Diego, you may have seen recently crowned "Mr. Anatomy," Ricky Metcalf, at the Rock n’ Roll Marathon Sunday morning, May 31.

The night before the marathon Ricky spent seven hours being painted like a BODY WORLDS plastinate to represent the exhibition at the San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon.

He cheered on the 20,000+ runners as they crossed the start line, and posed with onlookers and runners alike. Demonstrating the BODY WORLDS exercise circuit was certified personal trainer and YogaFit instructor, Leah Francis and hosting the event was Coe Lewis from 101 KGB, World Class Rock.

Keep your eyes peeled for Mr. Anatomy at future events around San Diego. Check back for details. Watch Mr. Anatomy on FOX 5 Morning News at http://www.fox5sandiego.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3771321.

BODY WORLDS teams up with the American Lung Association in California to launch I Quit

One of the many dramatic displays in Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS & The Brain–Our Three Pound Gem: The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies features the blackened lungs of a smoker compared to the healthy lungs of a nonsmoker. This striking comparison has moved many visitors to quit smoking.

After exhibition cleaning crews routinely found unfinished packs of cigarettes on the glass display case containing the smoker’s lung, the idea was conceived to create a formal smoking-cessation program. “Each rejected pack marked a victory by one person against nicotine addiction,” said Dr. Angelina Whalley, physician and designer of the BODY WORLDS exhibitions. “Many visitors to the exhibition reported that they had tried everything but only stopped after seeing the smoker’ lung,” said Whalley. She remembered the dramatic public service announcement by the actor Yul Brynner before his death from cancer in 1985. “I wanted to unite his message to the donor’s lungs to inspire people to give up smoking,” Whalley said. And thus, the I Quit program was born.

The I Quit program will launch on April 15 at 9 AM in the BODY WORLDS exhibition at the San Diego Natural History Museum. The interactive display, located within the exhibition, features the memorable PSA by the late actor Yul Brynner. Prior to his death from lung cancer, he announced on national television, “I want to make a commercial and say, now that I am gone, I tell you don’t smoke—whatever you do, just don’t smoke.”

The display also includes pledge cards for visitors who intend to give up smoking, which they can sign and take with them as a reminder of their commitment to quit, as well as a receptacle where visitors can leave their last pack of cigarettes. Representatives from the American Lung Association will also be in the exhibition on certain days to offer information on resources available here in San Diego for smokers who want to quit. Visit www.SmokeFreeSanDiego.org to learn more.

Private Events:
Private Events at the San Diego Natural History Museum