Feb. 24, 2005
By Lisa M. Larranaga
Staff Writer

Biology professor Dr. Kirk Kelley and the St. Ambrose University Biology Club are taking field trips to a new level.

In April, the group will head to Chicago to view Gunther von Hagens’ controversial exhibit, Body Worlds: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies.  The exhibit, which features more than 200 authentic human specimens, has been banned in the state of Florida and according to a February Chicago Tribune article, "attacked by some religious figures and laypeople for sensationalizing, profiteering from or showing disrespect to the dead.”

“The criticism usually begins to fade when people see what actually is in the exhibit,” von Hagens said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

Von Hagens, 60, a German anatomist, invented “plastination”, a process used to preserve cadavers.  After realizing the cadavers could educate people about body and health issues, he began preparation for an exhibit.

After a test-run in Tokyo, with a turn out of half a million people, von Hagens began touring.  From Japanese and Asian cities, to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and the United States, Body Worlds has created quite a stir. 

“I think it’ll be interesting to study the bodies and see his work, but also to determine if he really should be doing this,” Kelley said.

The Biology Club is inviting all interested students and faculty to join since the exhibit has many elements.

“There’s been lots of interest from the general public,” Kelley said, “because it’s not just anatomy.  Ethics, art and many other areas are involved, too.”

Kelley warned potential participants that some of the specimens can be graphic, such as a pregnant woman with her fetus exposed, but reminded them that some of the bodies are replicas of famous anatomical art pieces.

The exhibit features 25 whole bodies, healthy and unhealthy individual organs and transparent body slices.  Most of the cadavers are posed in activities such as running, swimming and playing basketball.  Each cadaver is posed in a way to show a body system at work. 

So far, 16.5 million people across the world have viewed the exhibition and 6,500 have

volunteered their own bodies to be used in future displays.  Body Worlds debuted in the United States from July 2, 2004, through Jan. 23, 2005, in Los Angeles and will make its second stop from Feb. 4 through Sept. 5 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

"Dr. von Hagens terms his exhibit as 'edutainment'," Kelley said. "I guess it will be up to the viewer to determine if that is true or not."

Upon return to St. Ambrose, the Biology Club plans to host a panel discussion exploring the question, "Is it art, science or exhibitionism?"

Space is limited, so to get more information on the trip or to register to attend call Dr. Kelley at 333-6182 or Dr. Sarah Vordtriede at 333-6112.  Tickets are $18 for students and $21 for faculty and staff. Transportation is provided.

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