Contact: Karen Rubin-Hamilton        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         (301) 229-6877              10/8/97

Life-sized robotic whales swimming in a simulated natural habitat brings the wonder of these magnificent creatures to life at Dinamation's World of Whales exhibit at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Science Learning Center in Silver Spring, Md.

The scene has to be seen to be believed. Huge creatures make gentle sounds amid shimmering lights and a theatrical setting. It takes time to appreciate that the whales are true to their size and then realize how big they really are.

"It was scary and at the same time exciting," said Katie McFadden after her first visit. Some children approach the whales with great hesitation, but call good-bye to them before they leave.

Explore-It-All Science Center and NOAA are hosting the exhibit through Dec. 21.

Explore-It-All Science Center, a non-profit organization bringing informal science education to the Washington D.C. regional community, has designed an educational program around Dinamation's life-size, robotic whales. This week, the first groups of school children visited the center. Focusing on the objectives of the Maryland School Performance Program and incorporating concepts required at different grade levels for the state assessment component of the educational performance program, Explore-It-All has created a field trip package aimed at the elementary school science, math and language curricula.

NOAA's message is to respect whales. "Let them be wild so they will be there when your children grow up," Cmdr. Rick Brown of the NOAA Commissioned Corps reminds the students. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service has a mandate through the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act for the protection and conservation of whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles and other protected marine species. The fisheries service supports the education focus of this exhibit for public information on the importance of conserving, protecting and respecting these resources.

This exhibit has the same requirements as the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act laws: don't touch the whales. But there are other things to touch at the exhibit, water properties activities and computer activities. Teachers are provided with materials to prepare students for their visit, giving them background on whales and guidelines for investigating their nature and environment. Dinamation International has designed and created robotic creatures based on scientifically accurate information and modern technical capabilities.

These creatures serve as a focal point for Explore-It-All's debut as a community-based center for informal science education. The facility is available for special events.

Dinamation's World of Whales science exhibit is located at NOAA's Science Learning Center at 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Md., 20910, near the Silver Spring Metro. The exhibit, which opened Sept. 26 and closes Dec. 21, is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday 12 noon - 5 p.m. and closed on Monday. Admission is $6.00 for adults; $4.00 for children; and $3.50/ea. for groups

For more information call Karen Rubin-Hamilton or Lucy McFadden at 301-229-6877.