Baptist Health Partners with The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science

Funds will Support Educational Programs at the Baptist Health People & Science Gallery in the New Museum

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science announced today that it has received a $5 million gift from Baptist Health South Florida for educational health and wellness programming to be offered at the Baptist Health People & Science Gallery in the new Museum, currently under construction in downtown Miami.

The Gallery will encompass a 9,000-square-foot space on the main plaza level of the Museum aimed at providing a high-tech and personalized exploration of the benefits of science and technology to our daily lives. It will be located directly below the Museum’s one-of-a-kind, 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream Tank and will be visible from all levels of the Museum.

Through its gift, Baptist Health will support a series of dynamic exhibits in the Baptist Health People & Science Gallery, where students and visitors alike will learn and explore science, technology and health.  In addition, the partnership will directly benefit students of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.  A portion of the gift will be allocated to support transportation expenses for the students to visit the Museum.

“We could not think of a better partner for the creation of a first-of-its-kind gallery that will teach people how to make better choices for a healthy life,” said Gillian Thomas, President and CEO of the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science. “The Baptist Health People & Science Gallery will leave a lasting impression on all of the visitors to the Museum, providing them with hands-on learning experiences that will help change their way of life for the better. We are grateful to Baptist Health South Florida for its support and hope that other organizations follow their lead in supporting science education.”

“Baptist Health South Florida is proud to partner with the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science to help children, families and visitors of all ages learn and explore the world of science and gain a greater understanding of how our bodies work and of the importance of making healthy choices,” said George Foyo, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Baptist Health South Florida. “We know that with the People & Science Gallery, we will be able to provide fun and unique educational experiences that will help improve wellness in our community and beyond.”

Visitors will begin their journey through the Baptist Health People Science Gallery by programming the Museum app or visiting the kiosk to design a “day in their life” as they move through five zones of everyday life: Learn, Eat, Exercise, Connect and Relax. Each zone will allow the visitor to experience different scenarios using technology to explore, create or investigate different lifestyle choices.

All under the theme “Life: Choose your Adventure,” each zone will offer the following experiences:

• The Learn Zone features brain cognition, and learning styles. Animation of data will show brain function during activities such as laughing, solving a puzzle or making a decision.
• The Exercise Zone explores cardiac output, oxygen uptake, and showcases the advanced technology of robotics for prosthetics and surgery. For example, the Energy Dance Floor will contribute to energy use in the building. Outcomes will be visible on the media screen.
• The Eat Zone explores the psychology of eating, mindless eating and behavioral food choices. At the virtual restaurant, visitors will be able to manipulate caloric intake by designing a meal that an astronaut or athlete would eat , or create their own meals and see the caloric and weight outcome of their choices.
• The Relax Zone delivers meditation techniques and interactive relaxation games. With electrodes placed on the forehead, measured brain activity will show ball movement relating to whether the visitor is relaxed or stressed.  Here, visitors will find answers to questions such as: “what happens to the brain when you sleep?” Or “what happens to the brain when you are stressed?”
• In the Connect Zone the chemistry of happiness, philanthropy, relationships, and the physiology of body language are explored, using technology that allows facial recognition and a mood meter.

Among the cutting-edge technology that will be available at the Baptist Health People & Science Gallery are: the Museum App; a kiosk allowing visitors to have results sent to their emails; an energy dance floor that allows visitors to generate energy for the building; a science bar that will showcase hydroponics and “green cooking” demonstrations; a high-tech stage and media wall; electronic tables used for activities such as genetic profiling and a 3-D view of the human body; and an aquaculture tank with tuna and cobia.

“We know the new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science will greatly complement the science curriculum taught in schools and will offer students a hands-on approach,” said Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. “The Baptist Health People & Science Gallery will be a great place for students to see how science affects their daily lives.”

The gift from Baptist Health South Florida adds to the fundraising momentum for the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science. Construction continues for the new facility in downtown Miami’s Museum Park. The 250,000-square-foot complex, which will be among the world’s most innovative and sustainable science museums, is set to open in 2016. It is expected to attract an estimated 600,000 visitors each year.

For a virtual video tour of the future museum, click here.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and more than 30 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit Baptist Health has more than 15,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians, and also includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health was just listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America (#19 in the nation and #1 in Florida) and has remained on the list for 14 consecutive years. It was also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the third year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute.

About Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science
Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science aims to make a difference in people’s lives by inspiring them to appreciate the impact that science and technology can have on every facet of our world. For nearly 65 years, the Museum’s award-winning educational programs, family-focused exhibits, historic planetarium, and rehabilitative Wildlife Center and Clinic have enriched locals and tourists alike. In 2016, the Museum will continue to inspire visitors in a new state-of-the-art facility designed by Grimshaw Architects currently under construction at Museum Park, in the heart of downtown Miami. The Museum will be structured around a lushly landscaped indoor and outdoor Living Core Aquarium of terrestrial and aquatic environments, featuring a Gulf Stream tank experience totaling over 500,000 gallons of salt water. The facility will also feature a state-of-the-art full dome Planetarium, the Knight Learning Center, Innovation Center and Cafe, and an Exploration Center featuring permanent interactive exhibits: Feathers to the Stars and The River of Grass. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers. The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science is funded with the support of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. Learn more at miamisci.org or call (305) 646-4200.

Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science is located at 3280 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33129. The Museum is open every day from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 3; students (with valid ID), seniors (62+) and children 3 – 12, $10.95; adults are $14.95. Parking is free.

Contact: Dori Alvarez, Baptist Health, 786-596-3050, [email protected]