“Race: Are We So Different” was hosted at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences from April 22-October 22, 2017. Throughout the six months, and enhanced by special programming, including cultural conversations, the Rhythm of Race special event, and a series of presentations discussing the topic of Race in our everyday lives, this exhibit reached nearly 85,000 individuals.
The Museum’s exhibition, special programs and events such as Cultural Conversations, community outreach, media highlights and list of generous sponsors can be found in The Report to Stakeholders (PDF, 9MB).
The topic of Race, how it impacts each of us individually, and the society in which we live, does not end when the exhibit leaves Raleigh, however. Below are videos of the excellent and varied RACE Speaker Series, along with a Discussion Guide. The Guide is a tool for a group activity and discussion, designed to help you begin the conversation about multiculturalism and diversity by assessing each one of these videos. These resources are available for free to the public thanks to the vision and generous support of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
Information for these resources can be found below.
Closing the RACE Gap: A Discussion on Health, Wealth, Education and MediaDiscussion Guide
No More Hidden Figures: STEM Diversity in the 21st CenturyDiscussion Guide
The Future of STEM: Back-to-School Minority Opportunity FairDiscussion Guide
(W)rap on Race: Where Do We Go from Here?Discussion Guide
Science Cafe: Coffee EconomicsDiscussion Guide
Race Speaker Series Discussion Guides
Science Cafe: What’s in Your Gene Wallet? Race, DNA and Ancestry TestingNote: discussion guide not available for this event.
The Museum is dedicated to welcoming all members of the community as visitors, volunteers, docents, interns, employees, and donors, and to lead the way in being a fully accessible institution. In 2013 the Museum created and implemented a first-of-a-kind conference for students with disabilities interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), in collaboration with SAS Institute Inc. This annual event has already been replicated by several other science centers across the country. Bimonthly guided tactile tours of the Museum provide visitors an opportunity to experience the Museum more fully than might be the case without these tours. Additionally, the Museum offers a fully accessible app to increase independent navigation and a pre-visit planning experience for visitors benefiting from these accommodations for their visit.
Through these efforts, the Museum received recognition from the City of Raleigh Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities with the Ken Franklin Citizen Involvement Award in 2014. Embracing inclusion as a core value, the Museum makes every effort to ensure that every interaction with us is a rewarding experience.