SPACE FOR LIFE celebrates the opening of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium

A journey to the edge of the Universe

MONTREAL, April 4, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - SPACE FOR LIFE is very excited to be opening the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium to the general public this Saturday, April 6. This highly anticipated new Montréal institution will offer visitors a moving, breathtaking experience—a journey to the edge of the Universe. By combining art, science and emotion, SPACE FOR LIFE—the largest natural sciences museum complex in Canada—boldly forges ahead as it creates new ways to get in touch with nature and the Universe. Designed to meet the highest environmental standards and built next to the Biodôme, the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium stands out with a strong architectural identity, which all Montrealers can be proud of.

The Space for Life: An extraordinary destination
"The opening of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium marks a defining moment in the consolidation of the Space for Life, the world's first ever site dedicated to both human beings and nature," Montréal Mayor Michael Applebaum declares. "With the Biodôme, the Botanical Garden, the Insectarium and now the Planetarium, this space constitutes a very valuable scientific instrument, an educational tool of the first order. It is a beacon of excellence supporting Montréal's leadership as a city of learning, a UNESCO City of Design, and a city of public and digital art with the recent unveiling of the concept of its outdoor artwork."

"We are very proud of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, and we are convinced that its visitors will be touched by their experience here. By providing a permanent place for artistic creativity in a scientific space, the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium is a pioneer and embodies the spirit underpinning every visit to the SPACE FOR LIFE: offering captivating and moving immersive experiences for a better understanding of the delicate bond between humans and nature," Charles-Mathieu Brunelle, Executive Director of the SPACE FOR LIFE, reminds us. 

The Space for Life: New approaches
The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium innovates with two theatres offering complementary experiences of the sky and the Universe. The journey begins in the Chaos Theatre, where the immersive show Continuum, created by Montréal artists Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, plunges visitors into an odyssey through space in all its beauty and power—a cosmic fable set to the music of Philip Glass; a invitation to "fall in love" with space and awaken curiosity. Next, in the Milky Way Theatre, a scientific interpreter guides visitors From the Earth to the Stars, like explorers aboard a spacecraft—a "guided tour of the Universe" that changes with the seasons and the current events of astronomy. A true journey to the edge of the Universe!

Does life exist beyond Earth? That is the question posed by the fun and interactive exhibition Exo: Our Search for Life in the Universe, by means of interactive kiosks, projections and multimedia games. Under the artistic direction of Lemieux and Pilon, the exhibition makes the most of digital technology to communicate a great deal of information, which is updated to reflect scientific discoveries. There is also a section dedicated to meteorites containing the largest public collection in Québec: over 300 pieces, including meteorites originating from the moon and Mars. "This is a first, as there was really nowhere in the province that could house, preserve and study meteorite fragments like this before," explains Pierre Lacombe, the Director of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium.

"The official inauguration of the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium marks the culmination of a wonderful project born of a partnership of close to ten years, and we are very proud to be able to share it with the Montréal community. This new planetarium will be not only a place to discover the world around us but also a place of continuous learning for young people. Getting young people closer to nature and getting them more interested in science is a great way to stimulate them and give them a thirst for knowledge," adds Jacynthe Côté, Chief Executive, Rio Tinto Alcan.

The world's first site dedicated to both humans and nature
SPACE FOR LIFE offers a chance to explore all facets of life, from the infinitely small to the infinitely large. Together, the Botanical Garden, the Insectarium, the Biodôme and the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium constitute a unique destination reflecting the knowledge, creativity and innovation found in this city.

The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium project was made possible thanks to the financial contributions of the City of Montréal, the ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche, de la Science et de la Technologie, the Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine, the ministère de la Culture et des Communications, Canada Economic Development and Rio Tinto Alcan. The land on which the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium was built was ceded by the City of Montréal and the Olympic Park.

 

SOURCE: Espace pour la vie

Photos and fact sheets: http://bit.ly/Planetarium2013

Source:
Jonathan Abecassis, Press Attaché
Office of the Mayor and Executive Committee
Telephone: [phone]

Information:
Karine Jalbert, Communications Coordinator
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

Nadine Fortin, Communications Coordinator
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

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