New IMAX documentary film “PANDAS” combines adorable animals and science problem-solving at The Tech Museum of Innovation

San Jose, CA, May 02, 2018 -- The Tech Museum of Innovation will debut the latest IMAX® documentary adventure, “Pandas” — a heartwarming story about reintroducing captive-born pandas to the wild, in the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater on Saturday, May 5. The film, narrated by Kristen Bell (“Frozen,” TV’s “The Good Place”), will inspire a new generation to consider their impact on the world and to protect its ecosystems.

“I am thrilled to team up with IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures to help tell this incredible story in the larger-than-life IMAX format,” said Kristen Bell. “ ‘Pandas’ not only spotlights the important work being done to protect these beloved and ridiculously cute animals, but it provides us with inspiration and hope and showcases the great things we can achieve when we work together.”

At Chengdu Panda Base in China, scientists are preparing captive-born cubs for the wild. This film follows one researcher, whose passion leads her to initiate a new technique inspired by a black bear rehabilitator in rural New Hampshire.  What starts as a cross-cultural collaboration becomes a life-changing journey for one special panda named Qian Qian.

The film, from the creators of IMAX documentaries “Born to Be Wild” and “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar,” follows Qian Qian on an adventure into the mountains of Sichuan as she experiences nature for the first time and discovers her wild side.

“Not only does ‘Pandas’ rate off the charts on adorableness, its focus on using science and innovation to improve the world fits right into our mission at The Tech,” said Michelle Duncan, The Tech’s IMAX Theater Operations Director. “We’re thrilled to present the film to thousands of families and schoolchildren, and really encourage them to think about how they can funnel passion for wildlife into affecting real change in the world.”

The Tech will also debut an engineering design challenge called Pandamonium in The Tech Studio,  where visitors will rescue a mini-panda by designing and building a zipline vehicle. The activity encourages students and families to consider physics, material selection and animal comfort, and will boost confidence in problem-solving skills for people of all ages. Pandamonium will be featured as part of Girls Day @ The Tech: Science Safari on Saturday, May 12.

“We’re harnessing the power of empathy in this challenge and encouraging our visitors to channel a love of pandas and animals into designing solutions,” says Lauren Cage, Gallery Programs Manager at The Tech. “They’ll learn important steps in innovation by testing, rebuilding and retesting their solutions — and learning from mistakes along the way. We hope our visitors today grow up to be scientists and engineers finding creative ways to protect habitats tomorrow.”

Giant Pandas at China’s Chengdu Panda Base as seen in the new IMAX® film, “PANDAS,” an IMAX Entertainment and Warner Bros. PANDAS opens at The Tech Museum of Innovation in downtown San Jose on May 5. Photo by Drew Fellman. PANDAS opens Saturday, May 5 at The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.

For “Pandas” tickets and showtimes, visit TheTech.org/pandas. Media tickets are available for May 5 showings.

About The Tech Museum of Innovation
The Tech is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds. The museum — located in the Capital of Silicon Valley — is a non-profit experiential learning resource established to engage people in exploring and experiencing applied technologies affecting their lives. Through programs such as The Tech Challenge, our annual team-design competition for youth, and internationally renowned programs such as The Tech for Global Good, The Tech endeavors to inspire the innovator in everyone. The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater is the largest IMAX Dome theater on the West coast, seating 280 people with 9,000+ square feet of wraparound image and 13,000 watts of digital surround sound. Visit thetech.org for more information.

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Marika Krause
The Tech Museum of Innovation 
408-591-0027
[email protected]