PHILADELPHIA, PA - The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has been awarded its largest exhibition grant ever: a three year, $1.7 million continuing grant from the National Science Foundation to support an innovative exhibition project, "Survivor: The Place of Humans in the Natural World."

The first year of the award, effective January 1, 2004, is for $610,560.  The continuing grant, approved on scientific and technical merit for three years and contingent on the availability of funds and the scientific progress of the project, would continue in 2005 and  2006, for a total of $1,675,030.

"Survivor: The Place of Humans in the Natural World," is planned as a 3,000 square foot traveling exhibition--to open at the University of Pennsylvania Museum in 2006--guiding the visitor through an exploration of the process and consequences of human evolution in the context of its implications in daily life.  The exhibition material will be presented through diverse sensory and multimedia techniques and interactive devices, including an interactive web design and a content "morphing studio."

"While the Museum has received a number of important National Science Foundation grants over the years, this is the first NSF grant for an exhibition," noted Dr. Jeremy A. Sabloff, Williams Director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum and Principal Investigator for the project.  

"'Survivor'--with its conceptual, as opposed to artifact, driven content, and its increased emphasis upon high-technology multimedia educational tools--is an exciting departure for the Museum, and an exciting new way for the public to learn about human evolution," he continued.  "Most exhibitions that have presented concepts about evolution have offered a remote, linear approach that 'finishes' with humanity today.  This exhibition, in effect, turns the tables.  The subject of 'Survivor' is the visitor.  Why do you have a persistent backache even though you live an active lifestyle?  Why do mothers have such a difficult time in the birth process and produce such helpless offspring?  Are you really a 'finished product'?"

Though ideas remain at the heart of "Survivor," Penn Museum's physical anthropology collection, overseen by Dr. Janet Monge, Keeper of the Skeletal Collections and this exhibition's co-curator, will be used in the exhibition.  The collection includes tens of thousands of skeletal remains from humans and primates dating back over 12,000 years, and the most significant collection of human fossil molds and casts in the world.

In another "first" for the Museum, aspects of the exhibit design and conclusion will include insights into evolutionary processes by University of Pennsylvania undergraduate students.  "It marks the first time that Penn students will become an integral part of the exhibit process, contributing to the context of the exhibition," noted Dr. Monge, whose experience includes 15 years teaching undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College and Princeton.

Dr. Alan Mann, Curator of the Physical Anthropology Section at Penn Museum until his retirement from Penn in 2001, is lead curator of the exhibition, working with Dr. Monge.  A professor at Princeton University and Research Associate at UPM, Dr. Mann is currently on the Scientific Panel overseeing the construction of the $20 million Neandertal Museum in the southwest of France.

An extensive Advisory Committee includes Dr. Ian Tattersall, Curator, Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History; Milford Wolpoff, Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan, and James Baker, President and CEO, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.  Dr. Gerald Margolis, UPM Deputy Director, will provide general oversight of the team-developed project.  Gillian Wakely, Associate Director of Programs at the Museum, will oversee the development of educational materials and publications.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street on the University of Pennsylvania's campus in Philadelphia, is dedicated to the study and understanding of human history and diversity.  Founded in 1887, Penn Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the world.  With an active exhibition schedule and educational programming for children and adults, the Museum offers the public an opportunity to share in the ongoing discovery of humankind collective heritage.  The Museum can be found on the world wide web at www.museum.upenn.edu.  For general information call 215/898-4000.