EXPLORE WINTER 2023 | 9 govern life on Earth and explore how life changes over time. The new exhibit galleries will use a combination of specimens and interactive elements to tell an engaging, integrated story—one that puts the visitor at the center of the experience. Encouraged to think like a scientist, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your place in the natural world and the interconnectedness of humans and nature. Committed to instilling a sense of environmental stewardship, the new Museum will serve as a model of sustainability. Systems for rainwater harvesting and renewable energy will double as infrastructure and tools for educating the public about protecting natural resources. The entire building will achieve LEED certification, a designation awarded to construction projects that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality. JUST COMPLETED: TRANSFORMATION MILESTONES The Museum’s stunning new Wade Oval Entrance opened to the public on December 7. This date also marked the debut of a new café with outdoor seating and a modernized, expanded Education Wing, which includes the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Community Space. In addition, the Museum celebrated the reopening of two of its most popular spaces: the updated Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium and redesigned Smead Discovery Center—Presented by PNC, the Museum’s hands-on area for young learners. As the Museum embarks on its next phase of transformation, some attractions have been temporarily taken off exhibit, including the dinosaur and gem collections, prehistoric fish Dunkleosteus terrelli, the human ancestor Lucy, and Balto the famous sled dog. You can look forward to seeing these items showcased in new ways and new locations when more of the Museum’s reimagined spaces begin to open in the coming months and years. Throughout this time of transition, the Museum’s doors will remain open—and there will be plenty to see and discover. Visitors can continue to enjoy the live animals in Perkins, the Thelma and Kent H. Smith Environmental Courtyard, and Current Science presentations by curators and other guests. The new Museum's exterior Left: The Museum's future Planetary Processes Wing
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