Human body exhibit comes to Rochester

“We don't think it is for everybody but we do think that everybody who comes will be very grateful that they did,” says Kate Bennett, president of the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

The RMSC is the first and only site in Upstate New York to show the exhibit “Our Body: The Universe Within”. The exhibit has drawn hundreds of thousands of people throughout North America in cities such as New York City and Chicago.

“When you look at it, it's actually kind of intimidating when you look at it to see this human body there,” says Maggie Brooks, Monroe County Executive (Rep).

Therein lays the certain amount of controversy surrounding the exhibit: its subject. “Our Body: The Universe Within” uses real human bodies in various positions, revealing muscle, bone, organs and blood vessels. Some models also show the body ravaged by stages of disease. The bodies used come from voluntary donors or individuals who agreed upon their death, their bodies could be used for medical science and the study of anatomy.

“It is an opportunity for us to see things that none of us have really seen before,” says Bennett who will not reveal the price it cost the RMSC to bring the exhibit to Rochester.

While some may say Rochester is a rather conservative town for such an exhibit, County and City leaders lent bi-partisan support to the project. Some leaders say Rochester was indeed, the perfect venue for the exhibit.   

“Our leadership in science and healthcare certainly makes this the perfect place for this to be housed for the next few months,” says Brooks.

The exhibit is expected to generate more than 100,000 visitors during its three month stay in Rochester. Bennett predicts the show could be the largest draw ever for the museum, which attracts 500,000 annually. The goal is not only to attract tourism to Rochester from outlying areas such as Syracuse and Buffalo, the exhibit is also intended to inspire future health care professionals.

“There is an impending physician shortage in our community so to have the opportunity to have folks and for young adults to take a look at this and say, this is really cool, this is something where focus my life's work and life's career,” says Dr. Stephen Cohen, VP and chief medical officer for Preferred Care.

“Our Body: The Universe Within” takes up 10,000 square feet in typical, larger exhibit spaces. The RMSC version was designed specifically to fit the smaller space. The exhibit contains 12 actual human specimens and 75 additional displays.

“And they take sometimes as much as 1000 hours to complete the process from the point of embalming to the plastination to the artistic appearance of the specimens,” says Marcus Corwin, general counsel for “Our Body: The Universe Within”.  

“Our Body: The Universe Within” will run from September 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008. Tickets go on sale opening day, September 1, 2007. Costs range from $16 to $24 depending on the visitor and show. Visit: www.rmsc.org or call: 697-1942 for more information. The exhibit is intended for children ages 12 and older. Younger children may attend only accompanied by a parent or guardian.