Museum of Science and Industry

Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 4: The Original Exhibition of Real Human Bodies revealed a sporting theme when the exhibition had its world premiere today at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester. Dr von Hagens' latest collection includes plastinated bodies in dynamic sporting poses such as football and swimming, as the city gears up for a record year of international sport.

BODY WORLDS 4 presents technical refinements in the use of polymers and reactive resins, especially in whole body plastination, that Dr Gunther von Hagens considers breakthroughs in plastination science, and aesthetic refinements in dissection and presentation including, for example, plastinates posed in joint narratives.

The exhibition is the culmination of the German scientist and physician's 30 year career in anatomy. Many of the exhibits demonstrate the effects on the body of widespread health problems in the UK such as obesity, smoking and heart problems. Dr von Hagens, a former researcher at the University of Heidelberg's Anatomy and Pathology Department, invented Plastination in 1977, in an effort to improve the education of medical students.

The debut exhibition marks the return of BODY WORLDS to Europe, after a three-year tour through North America's science museums, to critical and public acclaim. BODY WORLDS is the most highly attended touring exhibition in the world, attracting 25 million visitors.

The exhibition is supported by the British Red Cross which is presenting several workshops exploring the anatomical impacts of injury and disease on the human body and how first aid can treat them, often to life-saving effect.

Among the over 200 plastinates on display, the exhibition will feature a badminton player, a jumper doing the splits and 'The Wave Roller' - a male plastinate rolling inside a metal wheel.

Other exhibition plastinates include a relay runner, a guitar player, a gorilla, and the famous 'Poker Playing Trio' featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale.

Dr Gunther von Hagens said: "Manchester is a forward thinking city and has a long history of supporting scientific and technical achievement. Many scientific and technical marvels, such as the world's first stored-programme computer, began right here, so I thought BODY WORLDS would resonate in the city."

Tony Hill, Acting Director of MOSI said: "We are delighted to host Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 4 in Manchester. Dr von Hagens has been particularly keen to include specimens which are relevant to Manchester's sporting heritage, and these will provide a fascinating link to the internationally important sporting events which are taking place this year in the city. All age groups are welcome, although we recommend that children of secondary school age will find the exhibition most beneficial."

He added: "There will be a series of lectures held at MOSI surrounding the event which cover related topics such as ethics, stem cell research and first aid."

The striking organs and whole-body plastinates in BODY WORLDS 4 derive from people who have, in their lifetime, generously donated their bodies for Plastination, to specifically educate future generations about health. More than 8,000 donors including 103 Britains have bequeathed their bodies to von Hagens' Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany.

The exhibition will feature a rolling programme of lectures, workshops and school classroom activities. These will explore the topics surrounding BODY WORLDS, such as anatomy, the ethics of displaying human bodies and emergency life saving.

Joe Mulligan, British Red Cross Head of First Aid Services, said: 'We are delighted to be providing first aid expertise to BODY WORLDS 4. We are committed to making first aid knowledge accessible and widely available. Through this partnership we can reach thousands of people with some basic first aid messages and will hopefully inspire them to go on and learn more.'

About Tickets to BODY WORLDS 4

BODY WORLDS 4 tickets are on sale priced £10.00/£11.50 (Mon-Thur/Fri-Sun), £7.00/£8.50 (children/youth), or £8.00/ £9.50 (senior citizens/students with ID). Special group rates apply. Tickets are available from the MOSI box office and on this website

For phone ticket order please call 0871 231 0847, for group booking 0844 412 4650.

About the Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), located at Liverpool Road, Manchester, is a charitable trust (registration 518412) which receives revenue funding from The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (SCMS). MOSI is dedicated to making Science and Industry inspirational to all, while highlighting our specific region's rich and continuous contribution to scientific endeavour and education.

Our vision is to be a world class cultural attraction right at the heart of everything Manchester has to offer.

About the Institute for Plastination (IfP) and the process of Plastination

Dr Gunther von Hagens founded the IFP in 1993. It is the central organisation that co-ordinates the BODY WORLDS exhibitions, Biodur Plastinate products, the unique Body Donation programme and the scientific preparation of the Plastinates themselves. Plastination is today mainly performed in Guben, Germany.

During Plastination, bodily fluids and soluble fats are extracted from a specimen, and replaced through vacuum-forced impregnation, with reactive resins and elastomers, such as silicon rubber. The specimen is then cured with light, heat, or certain gases, which gives it rigidity and permanence.

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