WORCESTER—The EcoTarium Museum of Science and Nature has officially opened its newest traveling exhibit, “BRAIN: the World Inside Your Head,” offering visitors of all ages a hands-on journey into the complexities of the human brain.
The 3,000-square-foot exhibit opened Saturday, May 24, and remains on view through Sept. 7. Developed by Evergreen Exhibitions in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and corporate sponsor Pfizer, “BRAIN” first launched at the Smithsonian and has toured museums across North America.
Combining cutting-edge technology with interactive displays, optical illusions, video games, and 3D models, the exhibit is designed to engage visitors in understanding how the brain works—and what happens when it doesn’t. It also delves into how brain-related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, addiction, and depression, impact individuals and society.
“At the EcoTarium, we believe that immersive, interactive learning sparks curiosity, wonder, and understanding,” said Katie Chappell, director of education & exhibits at the EcoTarium, in a press release. “‘BRAIN’ is more than an exhibit—it’s an invitation to explore the incredible science of how our brains grow, adapt, and connect us to the world and each other.”
Visitors kick off the exploration by walking through a shimmering tunnel of flashing lights that simulates networks of neurons firing. Inside, the exhibit traces the brain’s development from infancy to old age, features re-creations of famous neurological case studies like Phineas Gage, and previews the future of neuroscience through breakthroughs in genome mapping and molecular medicine.
The exhibit is included with general museum admission. For more information, visit ecotarium.org/exhibit/brain.
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