Swedish visualization technology reveals ancient secrets at London’s Natural HistoryMuseum

Visitors to ‘Science Uncovered’ will be able to reveal, for the first time ever, the inner secrets of some of the most intriguing specimens at London’s Natural History Museum using the Inside Explorer – a visualization tool from Sweden. The Interactive Institute and Visualization Center C, Sweden, have worked together with scientists at the Natural History Museum to present the visitors with an unprecedented hands-on experience.

On 28 September, the Natural History Museum in London opens its doors for their biggestever after hours ’Science Uncovered’ event, bringing to life to visitors the latest research, as well as the scientists behind some of the museum’s amazing collections. For the very first time, the museum will showcase Inside Explorer – an interactive visualization touch table that allows visitors to experience specially selected specimens from the museum’s collections in ways never before possible.

”Collaborating with the Natural History Museum science team for Science Uncovered has been incredible and has resulted in an interactive visitor experience that is going to attract a lot of attention. What is compelling is how leading edge science is so closely linked to the gallery experience and is totally based on actual science data. When visitors virtually explore these remarkable artefacts on the visualization table, they can share the same thrill of discovery that the museum scientists experience every day in the labs.” says Thomas Rydell, Studio Director at the Interactive Institute in Sweden.

Inside Explorer is a powerful visualization system based on an interactive multitouch table and specialized software that enables users to explore objects that have been scanned using CT (Computed Tomography) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) medical scanning systems. This system turns vast digital datasets generated by modern scanners into 3D visuals that anyone can interact with in real-time. While previously the system has been used in exhibitions to explore human anatomy
at museums in Sweden, Singapore, and the United States, this is the first time that the system will be used to explore a natural history collection. At Science Uncovered, the Inside Explorer will allow visitors to explore the objects in detail and virtually peel off layers, rotate, zoom, cut and reveal hidden details in ways that would never be possible with the physical objects themselves.

”The MicroCT scanner in the Natural History Museum’s Imaging & Analysis Centre is fully operational scanning samples from across all the natural science disciplines. Demonstrating how our science is relevant to everyone in their daily lives is an important element of the Museum’s work and the ‘Table’ will offer a unique method for visitors to interact and learn about recent scientific discoveries directly from the scanned samples”, explains Chris Jones, Head of Imaging & Analysis Centre (IAC) and Science Facilities at London’s Natural History Museum. As one of the world’s leading natural sciences institutions, the museum collections include some scientifically unique and valuable specimens that are truly remarkable. Specimens at the table’ include a gecko trapped in amber for 20 million years, the world famous ’Tissint’ meteorite from Mars that fell to Earth in 2011, and a mummified cat from ancient Egypt. These artefacts were first scanned at the museum using the in-house Micro CT facilities. The results were then prepared for visualization and installed on the Inside Explorer visualization system by the team in Sweden. Now, Science Uncovered visitors will be able to explore them too.

Visitor Information
Dates and times: 28 September 2012, 16.00 – 23.00
Visitor enquiries: 020 7942 5000
Admission: Free
Nearest tube: South Kensington
Website: www.nhm.ac.uk/scienceuncovered
Twitter: #SU2012

Press Images
High-resolution press images of Inside Explorer can be downloaded here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/interactiveinstitute/sets/72157631620850670/

Contact
David Hughes, Solution Development Manager, Interactive Institute
e-mail: david.hughes@tii.se, phone: +44(0)7802 636304

Sara Backlund, Director of Communications, Interactive Institute
e-mail: sara.backlund@tii.se, phone: +46(0)730 662036

Magdalena Allgren, Marketing & Communications Manager, Visualization Center C
e-mail: magdalena.allgren@visualiseringscenter.se, phone: +46(0)11 156320

Claire Gilby, Senior Press Officer, Natural History Museum
e-mail: c.gilby@nhm.ac.uk, phone: +44(0) 207 942 5106 (not for publication)

Interactive Institute
Interactive Institute is a Swedish experimental IT & design research institute that conducts
world-class applied research and innovation. Interactive Institute develops new research
areas, concepts, products and services, and provide strategic advice to corporations and
public organizations. Over the course of a decade, Interactive Institute has established
itself at the forefront of research and development in interaction design, data visualization,
user behaviour and entertainment, positioning Sweden as a leading force in the lifestyle
technology research sector. Interactive Institute is owned by Swedish ICT.
www.tii.se

Visualization Center C
Visualization Center C is a public arena and a meeting place about visualization filled
with sensory experiences. It contains exhibitions, a dome theatre, a virtual reality arena,
conference rooms, cinemas, media laboratories, research facilities, a shop and a restaurant.
Visualization Center C’s goal is to demonstrate and distribute knowledge about visualization
research being conducted at Linköping University and engage, inform and entertain the
visitors. The center is housed in Norrköping’s unique and historical industrial area and is the
result of a close collaboration between the Municipality of Norrköping, Linköping University,
Norrköping Science Park and Interactive Institute.
www.visualiseringscenter.se/en

Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is an award-winning tourist attraction and also a world-leading
science research centre. Through its collections and scientific expertise, the Museum
works to help understand and maintain the richness and diversity of our planet, with
groundbreaking partnerships in more than 70 countries.
For more information go to: www.nhm.ac.uk
For the next 12 months, visitors can light up our Diplodocus and make it roar as part of an
appeal to redevelop the Museum’s iconic Central Hall. www.nhm.ac.uk/ilovedippy