Marsh & McLennan Companies, which includes Bermuda-based operating entities Marsh and Guy Carpenter – today announced its title sponsorship of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute’s (BUEI’s) new interactive space exhibit, launching from tomorrow [Wednesday, September 25, 2019] to Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

The exhibit, 50 Years of Space, will commemorate the global achievement that was realised when humankind took its first step on the moon on June 21, 1969. It includes a unique exhibit of artefacts and historical memorabilia collected by Bermudian Scott Stallard, which he gathered over six dec-ades of America’s early space programme. Additionally, it will feature several evenings and after-noons of space-related movies from this historic period. A 12-minute ‘behind-the-scenes’ video cre-ated by Scott Stallard at a space shuttle launch will be shown to school groups as part of their free tour.

”Marsh & McLennan is delighted to sponsor this informative exhibit and consider this as an invaluable opportunity for us to help BUEI educate people about the early days of space exploration,” said Vittoria Canale, a member the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. “Due to those brave individuals and their visits to space, the world has benefitted tremendously, including the intro-duction of a host of technological and scientific advances in areas such as health, medicine, energy, the environment, and IT.

“As an organization that focuses our giving on youth, seniors and the environment, MMC is particu-larly excited this exhibit will provide free, open-access to local school children until its closure on Oc-tober 9th. We encourage the public to support this endeavour and learn more about the fascinating ties Bermuda has to this phenomenal global achievement.”

During the early days of space exploration many of the astronauts in training came to Bermuda to dive with the Island’s most famous ocean archeologist Teddy Tucker. Many of them continued to visit Mr. Tucker after their travels in space, becoming lifelong friends with his family. Tara Curtis, Chief Executive Officer of BUEI, said: “We are grateful to Marsh & McLennan for their generous sponsor-ship of this special event. Education is at the heart of what we do at BUEI and we look forward to providing hundreds of Bermuda students with the unique opportunity to learn about space exploration and the discoveries and technology which resulted.

“We are also very grateful to Scott Stallard who was our partner on this exhibit. Without Scott this idea would have never taken flight and we are grateful to him for lending his valuable memorabilia for the length of the exhibit,” Ms. Curtis continued.

Since its inception in November 1990, BUEI, a not-for-profit organisation with the mission to ‘nurture an appreciation for the ocean around Bermuda by offering Education and Experiences relating to our ocean, and through Exploration,’ has seen tens of thousands of students participate in one of its many educational programmes. All BUEI initiatives offer extensive exposure to marine and science-based subjects and topics. The programmes are also customised to specific subject matter and curriculum objectives, are multi-level and adapted to all age groups.

For more information on scheduling a school tour contact eduassoc@buei.bm or call 294-0217. Free transportation is available upon request. For more information on BUEI visit www.buei.bm.

• Press release from Marsh & McLennan Companies