National Grid : Thursday, April 24, 2014 - NATIONAL GRID HELPS SUPPORT WORCESTER'S ECOTARIUM, ENABLING VISITORS TO EXPLORE "SCIENCE OF CITIES"

April 24, 2014 - Visitors of all ages to the EcoTarium, Worcester's museum of science and nature, will be able to discover connections between urban environments and their many occupants, including people, plants and animals, thanks in part to a $25,000 donation from National Grid. The gift supports the museum's future City Science exhibit, an interactive exploration of cities that uses Worcester as its backdrop. National Grid presented the gift yesterday, surrounded by families enjoying Earth Week activities at the EcoTarium.

"Getting involved in local communities is enormously important to National Grid, and in the EcoTarium, we saw the opportunity to help educate Massachusetts residents both young and old," said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts. "With our Smart Energy Solutions program ramping up in Worcester, we're finding new ways to engage with customers around the science that powers cities."

Currently in the prototyping phase, City Science will uncover the hidden science of cities from many different perspectives: above, below and at street level. The exhibit will explore questions, such as: What keeps our buildings and bridges standing? How does electricity and water come into our homes? What is a better solution for a problem road intersection? How do trees affect temperature - and our air conditioning bills?

With hands-on experiment stations, visitors will be able to discover and investigate the science they encounter in their everyday lives, but rarely stop to consider. For example, the "Hidden City Networks" and "Neighborhoods" portions of the exhibit will address topics that are particularly relevant to National Grid and its Worcester Smart Energy Solutions program, such as sustainable energy, utility infrastructure and more.

"This gift will help us bring cutting-edge science to our visitors and create innovative ways to engage them in conversations about building a better city," said EcoTarium president Joseph Cox. "How to shape the quality of life and efficiency in urban settings are important issues today, and we applaud National Grid for being part of this exciting opportunity to let people of all ages imagine the solutions."

EcoTarium visitors can help design the future City Science exhibit by trying out some of the interactive prototypes in the Exhibit Development Zone on the museum's middle level. The EcoTarium, located at 222 Harrington Way in Worcester, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.ecotarium.org .

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'.

In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. 

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com

Follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram

About the EcoTarium

EcoTarium is New England's leading science and nature center, an indoor-outdoor experience dedicated to inspiring a passion for science and nature in visitors of all ages. The center includes a museum building with three floors of interactive exhibits and is home to live animal habitats, interpretive nature trails through forest and meadow, the Alden Digital Planetarium, a tree canopy walkway (seasonal) and a narrow-gauge railroad.

EcoTarium, located at 222 Harrington Way in Worcester, Mass., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 12 to 5 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults, $8 for children 2-18, $10 for seniors 65+ and students with ID. WOO card holders receive $2 off admission for up to four people. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.ecotarium.org .