Sony Ericsson gift funds Museum of Natural Sciences’ new audio tours
NPR host Alex Chadwick narrates

October 4, 2002
For Immediate Release
For education and arts editors
Contacts: Karen Kemp (919) 733-7450, ext. 304

(RALEIGH)--The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences this month introduced exhibit audio guides narrated by Alex Chadwick, host of the nationally broadcast Radio Expeditions from National Public Radio and the National Geographic Society. Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (USA) Inc. sponsored the project.

Through MP-3 digital sound technology, Chadwick and others offer insights and background on the Museum’s permanent exhibits. Visitors can rent the Tour-Mate audio wands from the Museum Store for $4 and listen in English or Spanish. Chadwick generously volunteered his studio time for the English-language version.

“The audio guides respond to visitors’ many requests for Museum tours,” said Exhibit Director Roy Campbell. “Because the tours are self-guided, visitors can tour the Museum in any direction, order or speed. They see a number posted in a part of an exhibit they want to know more about, enter it on a keypad on the hand-held wand, and hear a narration.”

At selected audio stations, visitors can enter another number and receive additional, in-depth information. Campbell and exhibit developers designed a 45-minute audio tour complemented by an additional 35 minutes that delve into more details.

“In the ‘Mountains to the Sea’ exhibit, for example, the detail track challenges the visitor to identify North Carolina’s state symbols in the exhibit,” Campbell said. “The tour adds clues that will help visitors search for and identify our state reptile, tree and bird in the dioramas.”

Five of the 40 audio wands are modified for use by hearing-impaired visitors. The Museum is seeking additional funding to create a highly descriptive version of the tour for visually impaired museumgoers.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the web at www.naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.

Home	What's New?	Visitor Info	Calendar	Exhibits
	Education	Research	Museum Store	Join Us!
Search	Fun Stuff	Site Map	Staff Directory	Links