Planet Named for Credit Union

As the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences kicked off the 24-hour grand opening celebration of its Nature Research Center, thousands of visitors couldn’t miss the SECU Daily Planet.

The centerpiece of new museum wing was named in recognition of the $4 million grant provided by members of State Employees’ Credit Union via the SECU Foundation.

The giant silver globe, which serves as the focal point for the museum’s new wing, is a three-story multimedia program area, which boasts a theater with multi-channel surround sound and a 45-foot high-definition screen. Plans for the space, which can accommodate over 100 visitors at a time, include presentations of key environmental issues and ground-breaking discoveries by scientists from the museum, partnering universities and from around the world. In addition, students and teachers in all 100 North Carolina counties can also enjoy selected SECU Daily Planet programs through the North Carolina Research and Education Network.

The Nature Resource Center, which includes several green features, has been designed to also provide students, teachers and the general public with a unique opportunity to meet and learn directly from scientists.