January 7, 2015—SK Films and Pacific Science Center are pleased to announce that the giant screen film Amazon Adventure has been awarded a major grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
The grant was awarded for the film in support of the key scientific ideas embedded in the project, specifically the presentation of the underlying biodiversity of the Amazon basin and the compelling history of important discoveries made in the Amazon that shape our understanding of mimicry and natural selection. The film will be accompanied by a suite of educational resources and research into learning outcomes, under the management of the Pacific Science Center.
“The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is a perfect fit for this project, due to its commitment to science, education and environmental conservation, especially in the Amazon. We are thrilled to have their crucial support,” says Diane Carlson, Vice-President, Guest Services and Theaters, Pacific Science Center.
Amazon Adventure tells the science adventure story of Henry Bates and his extraordinary 11-year journey through the Amazon as a young man in the 1850s. Although unknown to the general public, he made crucial contributions to evolutionary biology. While identifying 8,000 species new to science, he discovered the phenomenon of “Batesian” mimicry and provided the “beautiful proof” for what is widely considered the most important scientific explanation of the development of life on Earth—natural selection. This story will be told with cutting-edge technology that will capture the amazing Amazonian rainforest and incredible examples of mimicry.
The film is being developed by SK Films with Tangled Bank Studios, the film and television production unit of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and the project is also benefitting from major funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation. “We are delighted to have such an extraordinary group of institutions committed to this project,” says SK Films CEO Jonathan Barker. Production of the film is slated to begin in 2015.
About SK Films
SK Films is an award-winning creator and distributor of cutting edge 3D and 2D natural history and other fact-based content for multiple platforms from giant screen/IMAX® cinemas to mobile applications. Working with world-leading talent and with an unwavering commitment to quality, SK’s mission is to entertain and inspire audiences and immerse them in the awe and wonder of the world we live in.
About Pacific Science Center
Pacific Science Center began as the United States Science Pavilion during the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Millions came to explore the wonders of science during the World’s Fair and upon closing ceremonies, the Science Pavilion was given new life as the private not-for-profit Pacific Science Center, becoming the first U.S. museum founded as a science and technology center. On July 22, 2010 Pacific Science Center was declared a City of Seattle Landmark. On October 22, 2012 Pacific Science Center celebrated making science fun for 50 years.
About the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation believes in bold ideas that create enduring impact in the areas of science, environmental conservation and patient care. Intel co-founder Gordon and his wife Betty established the foundation to create positive change around the world and at home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Science looks for opportunities to transform—or even create—entire fields by investing in early-stage research, emerging fields and top research scientists. Our environmental conservation efforts promote sustainability, protect critical ecological systems and align conservation needs with human development. Patient care focuses on eliminating preventable harms and unnecessary health care costs by meaningfully engaging patients and their families in a redesigned, supportive health care system. For more information, please visit www.moore.org or follow @MooreFound.
About Tangled Bank Studios
Tangled Bank Studios, LLC, is a production company dedicated to the creation of original science documentaries for broadcast and theatrical distribution. Founded in 2012 by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as an extension of its longstanding science education mission, the company produces programs that capture compelling stories of discovery across all branches of scientific inquiry, including the recent three-part series Your Inner Fish, broadcast on PBS.