For Immediate Release Contact: Pat Kremer/Nancy O’Shea (312) 665-7100 (For Media Use Only) KICK-OFF DAY Field Museum’s Year of Biodiversity and Conservation Begins with Chicago’s First “Race to Stop Global Warming” Sunday, September 21, 2003 Chicago, Illinois – The Field Museum will kick off The Year of Biodiversity and Conservation on Sunday, September 21, by hosting Chicago’s first “Race to Stop Global Warming” and a day of fun-filled events. Live entertainment, programs featuring Field Museum scientists, and the opening of the new exhibition, “Polar Thaw: Global Warming in the Arctic and Antarctic,” will give visitors an opportunity to explore the September theme of “Climate Change.” The Year of Biodiversity and Conservation is a nine-month program highlighting the work of Field Museum scientists who study the Earth’s biodiversity and are involved with conservation projects throughout the world. A different theme and scientist will be featured each month, from September (Climate Change) through May (Tree of Life). Exhibitions, lectures, and educational programs will introduce visitors to a wide variety of topics – from the evolution of Neotropical birds to the future of endangered mammals in Madagascar. To introduce the September theme of “Climate Change” on September 21, the museum will host Chicago’s first “Race to Stop Global Warming,” a national event organized by The Green House Network in Portland, Oregon. The race kicks off with an 8:45 a.m. Kids Fun Run, followed by a 15K run, 8K run, and 5K run/fitness walk – all starting at 9 a.m. in Arvey Field, adjacent to The Field Museum. In a partnership with The World Wildlife Fund, this year’s race series will focus on the polar bear, a species threatened by the dramatic ice changes taking place in the Arctic. Race participants will receive two-for-one admission to The Field Museum on the 21st of September 2003. Special events include a production by the Foundation Theater Group featuring prairie and wetland characters, a performance of American folk songs by the Lincoln Park High School Choir, and an endangered species art workshop. A “Year of Biodiversity and Conservation Center” featuring interactive computer terminals will open in Stanley Field Hall. Changing multimedia displays at the Center will inform visitors each month about upcoming events and offer an in-depth look at research topics. Continue