ROYAL SASKATCHEWAN MUSEUM OPENS NEW EXHIBIT

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum unveiled a new, permanent exhibit today that offers a ray of hope for people concerned about social and environmental issues. As one of eight sculpted "towers" in The Human Factor section of the Life Sciences Gallery, the exhibit lets people calculate the size of their ecological footprint. It shows how their results would change if they made different choices.

"The exhibit offers a hopeful message," Culture, Youth and Recreations Minister Joan Beatty said. "It says that, while there are many reasons to be worried about issues like climate change and social disparity, there are also many positive things that we can do about these issues at an individual level."

"Ecological footprints are useful measures of impact, because they show how much of the Earth's surface it takes to support our activities, and they reflect the choices we make as individuals and groups," The Human Factor Curator Dr. Glenn Sutter said.

The other seven sculptures in The Human Factor area are completely grey, with a rough, textured coating, and they convey a sobering message about attitudes and actions associated with social and environmental problems. The new tower – called "Can We Tread Lightly?" – is made of colourful objects that represent steps that can be taken to address these problems, from using appropriate technologies to supporting relevant interest groups.

Dozens of ecological footprint calculators have been developed since the concept was introduced in the early 1990s by William Rees, a professor at the University of British Columbia. What sets the Museum's calculator apart is the fact that it shows visitors how their footprints shrink and grow depending on the decisions they make as individuals.

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is fully funded by the provincial government as part of its commitment to give the people of Saskatchewan an appreciation and understanding of our natural and cultural heritage.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Penny Pedersen Royal Saskatchewan Museum Regina Phone: (306) 787-2850