Courtesy of Gunther von Hagens, Institute for Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany, Body Worlds

The San Diego Natural History Museum is home to a plethora of exhibits and educational opportunities for all ages. In addition to several permanent exhibits including Fossil Mysteries and Water: A California Story, SDNHM also hosts a 300-seat giant-screen movie theater which is currently showing two educational yet entertaining films titled, “Ocean Oasis” and “Human Body: Pushing the Limits 8212; Brain Power.”

More importantly, SDNHM is presently showcasing the world’s first original traveling human plastination exhibit, known as Dr. Gunther Von Hagens’, “Body Worlds,” which made its San Diego debut in early March. Traveling the world since the early “90s, “Body Worlds” has already made its mark on the globe with more than 9,500 donors willing to allow their bodies to be used for the exhibit across the world to date, 10 percent of those donors are from the U.S. alone.

One of the unique aspects of the exhibit is that there are varying focuses for each exhibition. SDNHM’s presentation emphasizes the brain and its utility to the rest of the body in a two-part exhibition. The unique arrangement of these bodies allows for the donors to remain anonymous while still keeping their personalities intact.

Many of the bodies are displayed in a way that illustrates various daily activities such as diving, skating and even playing baseball. In spite of this particular exhibit’s focus on the brain, many other aspects of the body are also addressed throughout the entire exhibit.
A variety of ailments, diseases and human processes are artistically displayed, complete with posters, panels and signs further explaining each display along with intriguing facts. For example, did you know that “on average, women are more empathetic and better able to sense what others feel” as compared to “on average, men are more physically violent but better at coping with conflict and moving on?”

San Diego State’s own Sandra Garver, a professor of human anatomy says, “No book or computer can make someone fully understand something. Human anatomy is one of those concepts you won’t understand until you see it, and “Body Worlds’ is an amazing teaching medium for this.”

Garver was contacted by SDNHS to help out, and with an extensive background in biology and human anatomy, she was thrilled to lend a hand.

Since the exhibit’s debut, more than half a dozen San Diegans have pledged to donate their bodies to further Dr. Von Hagens’ “Body Worlds” project. If you wish to learn more about the plastination process or want to find out more information about how to donate your body to Dr. Von Hagen, visit http://www.bodyworlds.com. The “Body World & The Brain 8212; Our Three Pound Gem” exhibition will restart on April 9 under the title “Body Worlds 2,” and will run until Oct. 4. To purchase tickets to this amazing event right here in San Diego, visit www.sdnhm.org.