Mining Week Adds Spice to Earth Science Education

The 10th annual Ontario Mining Week helped celebrate the official public opening of the Inco Limited Gallery of Earth Sciences at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on May 30, 1999.

The Ontario Mining Association and its members presented this special day, in co-operation with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and the programs department at the ROM. Their efforts produced a mixture of exciting interactive exhibits along with some dramatic and interesting displays, which entertained and educated the thousands of visitors to the ROM that day. People were able to dress up in miners’ gear, pan for gold, be artistic with zinc protective face creams and play computer games.

On display were examples of why you can’t live without metals, the geology of Toronto-in 3D-and environmental success stories of the industry. There were gem searches, star lab classes in the mini-planetarium, and plenty of sessions with the members of the Dynamic Earth development team.

It was a day to celebrate the most ambitious gallery ever opened at the ROM, and to demonstrate the importance of minerals in our lives. Another popular component of the day was the walking tour led by noted building material expert Ed Freeman. His walking educational event demonstrated how minerals are used in architecture along with a smattering of local history.

The Mining Week effort at the ROM this year was in support of the unveiling of the Dynamic Earth. This newly created $4.25-million, 14,000-square-foot permanent gallery at the ROM is a new flagship in mineral education. “The ROM is grateful to Inco Limited, whose generous contribution has made the development of this gallery possible,” said a ROM spokesperson.

“The new ROM gallery captures the magnificence and the mysteries of our Earth and its mineral riches that we so depend upon in our daily life. Teaming up with the ROM on such a breakthrough gallery as Dynamic Earth was a natural for Inco,” said Michael Sopko, Chairman and CEO of Inco. This Canadian corporation is based in Toronto; it has operations in 14 countries and is one of world’s premier mining and metals companies.

“As the ROM’s largest and most elaborate gallery to date, Dynamic Earth: Inco Gallery of Earth Sciences sets a new standard in our immersive experiences,” said Lindsay Sharp, President and CEO of the ROM. “Our talented team of earth scientists and designers have combined state-of-the-art lighting, sound and visual design to envelop us in the wonders of our ever-changing planet.”

Take a walk through the ROM and see first-hand how donations from the mining industry can be converted into a dramatic and successful educational experience available to everyone.

It was a day to celebrate the most ambitious gallery ever opened at the ROM, and to demonstrate the importance of minerals in our lives