Museum of Science and Industry

Discovery Communications and Exhibits Development Group Announce MythBusters Traveling Exhibition

Interactive Exhibition Will Let Guests Experiment and Test Common Science Myths Explored by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman on the Hit TV Series MythBusters

Chicago, Ill. (September  28, 2011)—Discovery Communications, the world’s number one, non-fiction media company, and Exhibits Development Group (EDG), in partnership with the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) and Geoffrey M. Curley + Associates (GMC+A), announced today the launch of MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition, which will debut at MSI on March 15, 2012.   

Just like Discovery Channel’s Emmy^®-nominated series MythBusters, the exhibition will uncover the truth behind popular myths by mixing scientific method with gleeful curiosity and old fashioned ingenuity to create hands-on, interactive experiences for guests of all ages.  In MythBusters, co-hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman take scientific investigation to exciting new levels by proving or exploding myths using their highly experimental approach and extensive backgrounds in special effects.   Adam and Jamie have been heavily involved throughout the development of the exhibition to ensure guests get a true MythBusting experience.

“MythBusters fans continue to support the program and invite us into their homes season after season. Now there’s the opportunity for families to do their own MythBusting in our first hands-on exhibit,” said Savage. “We are excited to give guests a chance to enter our world and test our favorite myths in a live setting.”

“We hope guests will come ready to bust a myth and explore science in a whole new way,” added Hyneman.

Guests will learn about myths, the MythBusters and what experimenting is all about by participating in a series of fun, hands-on experiences and live demonstrations. Experiments will cover topics such as flight, friction, gravity, speed and combustion. The exhibit will showcase:

Blueprint Room – Based on the real-life operations room of the MythBusters’ iconic set, this room acts as an introduction to MythBusting and is filled with gadgets, props, video and, of course, blueprints used by Adam and Jamie to explore myths on the show.

Workshop – This is the place where guests turn into investigators and use real science to test myths. Is it true that an airplane won’t be able to take off if it’s on a conveyer belt running in the opposite direction?  Will you get less wet if you run rather than walk in the rain? Is a house made of brick less likely to fall victim to wind than one made of sticks? These are just a few of the questions guests will be challenged to answer.

“To be able to witness the scientific excitement of MythBusters live is a rare and unique opportunity and we are thrilled to bring this experience to the public,” said Amy Noble Seitz, Founder and CEO of Exhibits Development Group. “Supporting Discovery Channel, its talented team and the MythBusters themselves on the debut of their first major traveling exhibition is an honor. We truly hope this exhibit will spur scientific curiosity, thought and experimentation for all ages.”

“We’re thrilled to be the premiere site for this one-of-a-kind of exhibit experience,” said David Mosena, president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. “The MythBusters share our vision of inspiring young people to achieve their full potential in science, and we’re excited by this unprecedented collaboration with MythBusters, Discovery Channel, EDG and partners.”

Tickets for the exhibition at MSI will go on sale December 1, 2011 at msichicago.org. MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition opens March 15, 2012 and closes September 3, 2012.
The exhibition tour will visit 14 additional cities within the U.S. and Canada. Visit www.exhibitsdevelopment.com for updates on announcements and updates on the tour.

Financing for this exhibition has been made possible by Olympus Capital Investments, LLC, a unit of Olympus Holdings, LLC.

About the MythBusters:
Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage are the hosts and executive producers of MythBusters, Discovery Channel’s three time Emmy nominee for Best Reality Program, that takes a searching and irreverent look at scientific investigation.  With extensive backgrounds in special effects and a humorously skeptical outlook that prompts them to test everything before they believe it’s true, the MythBusters have proven or exploded ideas about science for eight seasons on the show, building a devoted and diverse fan base along the way. The MythBusters TV series is produced by Beyond Entertainment Limited.

About Discovery Communications:
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in 210 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 130-plus worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as US joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

About Exhibits Development Group (EDG):
EDG is dedicated to the development, production, marketing and distribution of traveling museum exhibitions and cultural projects. EDG also serves as a partner to other exhibition organizers, museums, foundations and collection owners in the U.S. and abroad in the care and stewardship of their exhibitions and collections. EDG’s mission is to initiate and promote international cultural and intellectual exchange by bringing high-quality traveling exhibitions of art, science, and history to broad and diverse audiences. For more information, please visit www.exhibitsdevelopment.com.

About Geoffrey M. Curley + Associates (GMCA):
GMCA is an innovative consulting company to support the development and execution of new and vibrant educational, hands-on, minds-on experiences.  GMC+A’s goal is to integrate new, cutting-edge technologies, environmental design and emotional storytelling with tantalizing visual audio and tactile experiences making exhibitions more personal artistic, fun, educational and memorable. For more information, please visit www.gmcurley.com.

About Olympus Holdings, LLC (Olympus Holdings):
Olympus Holdings is a company engaged through its various subsidiaries in energy, entertainment and finance.  For more information, please visit www.o-hold.com.
Live MythBusters Demonstration Stage – Here guests have the opportunity to view and participate in live science demonstrations that dissect myths with the help of a team of energetic MythBusting facilitators.

The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI) offers thousands of fun and interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind, world-class experiences to inspire the inventive genius in everyone. Through its Center for the Advancement of Science Education, MSI also aspires to a larger vision: to inspire and motivate children to achieve their full potential in science, technology, medicine and engineering. Come visit and find your inspiration! MSI is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and regular hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum is supported in part through the generosity of the people of Chicago through the Chicago Park District. For more information, find MSI online at msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414 or (800) GO-TO-MSI outside of the Chicago area.

Press Materials

• MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibit Press Release (PDF)

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