Natural History Museum opens on 28 April
Visitors will get to marvel at the exhibits of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM), including the highly anticipated fossilised dinosaurs, when it opens to the public on 28 April 2015.
Spread over two levels, the 2,000-square-metre exhibition gallery's main floor focuses on the history and diversity of life on Earth, with a strong emphasis on Southeast Asian flora and fauna. The sections are arranged as follows: Life, Plants, Fungi, Towards Animals, Molluscs, Arthropods, Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Dinosaurs, Birds and Mammals. Three thematic displays'Water to Land, Tropical Rainforest and Marine Cycles'round up the exhibits.
On the mezzanine floor, a Heritage gallery showcases plant and animal materials from the original Raffles Museum, while Singapore Today features local geology and conservation. More than 2,000 specimens, including some from the 1800s, will be displayed. About 40 audiovisual productions will explain the exhibits to make visitors' experience more interactive and immersive.
The Museum will open from Tuesday to Sunday and all public holidays, including those falling on Mondays. Six 1.5-hour sessions are available from 10am to 5.30pm, with up to 300 people for each session. Admission is strictly by tickets and session timing, with opening hours from 10am to 7pm.
Tickets can be purchased from 10am on 30 March 2015 online through ticketing service provider SISTIC (http://sistic.com.sg/events/lkc2015), with pre-booking up to a month in advance. Visitors can print out their e-tickets or collect them from SISTIC's authorised agents. Tickets can also be bought through SISTIC's appointed agents in Singapore and several neighbouring countries.
Standard tickets are priced at $20 for adults, and $12 for children 3 to 12 years old. Local residents enjoy discounted rates of $15 and $8 for adults and children, respectively. Students, senior citizens, National Servicemen and persons with disabilities also enjoy a special rate of $8. The usual SISTIC charges will apply on top of these prices. As tickets will not be sold at the Museum, visitors are advised to buy online and keep their tickets for entry and exit.
As tickets will not be sold at the Museum, visitors are advised to buy their tickets online through SISTIC
NUS staff and students will have complimentary admission to the LKCNHM. However, to manage overcrowding, a dedicated website will be provided for booking. As Museum Head Professor Peter Ng anticipates the weekends to be especially crowded, he encourages NUS staff and students to visit on weekdays instead to help alleviate the situation.
Prof Ng explained that a control on the number of entries is required to avoid congestion and overcrowding, thus allowing visitors to gain a more pleasant and rewarding experience in the gallery. As the first natural history museum in Singapore, "we are erring on the side of caution in managing the expected crowds. He assured that the situation will be monitored "and evolve along the way, such that as the situation eases, the booking mechanism will also be relaxed.
Although a not-for-profit institution, the LKCNHM charges entry fees so that the proceeds can help in the maintenance of the Museum, and payment of manpower, utilities, curation and other expenses.
Non-flash photography is permitted within the Museum. However, selfie sticks and tripods are disallowed for security and safety reasons, said Mr Asnul bin Rasip, Executive (Guest Services & Operations) of the Museum. There will be no additional charges for pushchairs and lockers, he added.
Ms Fiona Lim (left), LKCNHM's Assistant Manager (Guest Services & Operations) and Mr Asnul at the customer service counter that will provide assistance to visitors
