NEW BEDFORD, MA (11 June 2009)—Despite the toughest of economic times, the dream of a place to celebrate New Bedford’s unique connection to the oceans is coming true.

 

On July 4 the Ocean Explorium will open its doors to the public seven days a week—complete with several new living aquarium exhibits and an innovative children’s activity center.

 

The new exhibits include a large living coral reef—which will highlight the issue of coral bleaching and global warming—scallops, New England fishes, jellyfish, anemone fishes and seahorses.

 

The new children’s activity center will provide a special hands-on room for younger children to explore and learn through ocean-related games, puzzles, arts and crafts, and books.

 

“It has been a long, tough road, requiring an enormous amount of dedication and determination on the part of everyone involved,” said Ocean Explorium director, Mark Smith.

 

“After years of anticipation, we are delighted to be opening our doors to people every day, so they can truly benefit from the vast collection of educational and entertaining exhibits we now offer.”

 

The Ocean Explorium is located inside the historic building that once housed the New Bedford Institution for Savings, on the corner of Union and Purchase Streets in downtown New Bedford.

 

The project is the outcome of a significant partnership between the New Bedford Oceanarium and the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, which purchased the Ocean Explorium’s focal exhibit, Science on a Sphere®, last year.

 

Science on a Sphere® uses a state-of-the-art global display system to create an image of the earth and other planets in 3-D. It displays scientific data sets—both historic and real-time—to demonstrate environmental issues on a global scale.

 

UMASS Dartmouth Chancellor Jean MacCormack has supported the concept of a public ocean science education center in New Bedford since she joined the University ten years ago.

 

"This is a very exciting time for the people of New Bedford and for all of those who have worked so hard to bring this important project to fruition,” said Chancellor MacCormack.

 

“We believe the Ocean Explorium has the ability to inspire young people to engage in a life of learning and discovery, and that our investment in this cause will pay huge dividends to our community, our society and our university in the years ahead."

 

Director, Mark Smith says the Ocean Explorium’s new living exhibits will be directly linked to Science on a Sphere® and the center’s message for environmental stewardship.

 

“We are a center for learning about the oceans—it’s a place to have fun and be entertained, but our mission is to educate people, to teach them about the oceans and why it’s important that we care for them,” he said. “The marine animals we have here will give people an exciting, live, close-up view of what we’re talking about on the Sphere, to encourage people to think globally and act locally”.

 

Although the Ocean Explorium will open its doors daily to the public on July 4, Mr. Smith emphasized that it has been operating over the past year in a more limited capacity.

 

“Thanks to support from the University, the City, the EPA, and the Department of Education, we have already reached many thousands of children in the region—indeed more than 27,800 people have been served by the Ocean Explorium since January 2008. With our opening on July 4, we will now be able to reach a whole lot more!”

 

For further information, contact Ellen Carpenter (508 758 8494)  ellenbmcarpenter@yahoo.com.au or go to the Ocean Explorium website at www.oceanexplorium.org