Ontario Science Centre presents exclusive documentary previews of CBC-TV's The Nature of Things to encourage dialogue about science

TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2015 /CNW/ - It's a perfect pairing! The Ontario Science Centre and CBC-TV's long-running science series The Nature of Things have teamed up to offer four exclusive documentary previews to encourage public dialogue about science. Proceeds from the previews will help the Science Centre continue its community access programs to make science and technology accessible to all members of the community. Each preview will be hosted by a CBC personality and be followed by an expert panel discussion. The first preview, Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig-Eater, will be hosted by CBC News Toronto anchors Dwight Drummond and Anne-Marie Mediwake on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 2 p.m.

"The Ontario Science Centre and The Nature of Things have a similar goal: increase the public's understanding of the natural world by engaging, delighting and inspiring our respective audiences," said Dr. Maurice Bitran, CEO, Ontario Science Centre. "This joint venture will help the Science Centre continue to deliver much-needed community access initiatives, such as Adopt-a-Class, while screening first-rate documentaries and hearing from leading experts."

Admission to each screening is by donation, and all proceeds will support the Ontario Science Centre's Adopt-a-Class program, which provides access to science programs and experiences to schools in underserved Toronto neighbourhoods. The Ontario Science Centre's community access initiatives, including Adopt-a-Class, offer subsidized and complimentary admission, family memberships and summer camp opportunities to more than 100,000 people every year.

"The Ontario Science Centre is a great partner for The Nature of Things: both love to explore and share the wonder of science," said Sue Dando, Executive in Charge of Production for The Nature of Things. 

Previews of the following The Nature of Things family-friendly documentaries are scheduled at the Ontario Science Centre as follows:

• October 3, 2015 – Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig-Eater
  Shadow a momma moose who has one short year to teach her calf everything it needs to know to survive in the predator-packed forest of Jasper National Park.
  
• November 7, 2015 – Sonic Magic: The Wonder and Science of Sound
  Explore the science of sound. The sounds we hear can delight us, scare us, and annoy us. But there's much more to the story. Sound can cure the sick, make the blind see and change the taste of food – it really can.
  
• January 2016 – Myth or Science: In the Eye of the Storm
  Journey into our national obsession to discover the truth about our weather and the extraordinary science that drives these fascinating phenomena.
  
• March 2016 – The Equalizer
  Investigate how modern science and technology help athletes achieve new peaks of human performance. Every year, athletes set new world records. But are today's top performers really better than athletes of the past? We put them to the test.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca/Calendar/290/.  To learn more about the Adopt-a-Class program, please visit www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca/Adopt-a-Class/

About the Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre has welcomed more than 50 million visitors since it opened in 1969, pioneering an interactive approach adopted by science centres around the world. Today, the Science Centre is an international leader in free-choice science learning and a key player in Ontario's innovation ecosystem, offering lifelong learning through hands-on, engaging experiences. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. As a publicly assisted organization, the Science Centre relies on generous individuals, corporations and foundations who share a commitment to science and education for additional operating support. For more information about the Ontario Science Centre, please visit www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight aboriginal languages.

SOURCE Ontario Science Centre

Image with caption: "Ontario Science Centre (CNW Group/Ontario Science Centre)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150929_C5051_PHOTO_EN_509040.jpg

Image with caption: "The Nature of Things (CNW Group/Ontario Science Centre)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150929_C5051_PHOTO_EN_509025.jpg

Media Contacts: Andrea Mus, Media Relations Officer, Ontario Science Centre, 416-696-3191 | cell: 416-895-5482, [email protected]; Nicola Makoway, News & Current Affairs Publicity, CBC/Radio-Canada, 416-205-7673 | cell: 416-526-7626, [email protected]