The Utah Science Technology and Research initiative normally focuses on the forward movement of innovation and science, but with the upcoming exhibit at The Leoardo, it seems time to reflect on the genius of a man who has inspired generations with his imagination, brilliance and innovation.

Da Vinci – The Genius will capture the spirit of a man who was an inventor, artist, scientist, engineer, sculptor, biologist, musician, architect and philosopher. Those who visit the touring exhibit will be transported back into the world of a true Renaissance man. The exhibit is a rare opportunity to return to the past and explore the wonder of scientific advancement that continues to influence the scientific community.

The exhibit features more than 200 pieces, including 75 life-size machine models, some of which are interactive. It also includes the secrets of Mona Lisa, a multimedia exploration comprised of high-resolution images and a 360-degree walk-around. There will be 11 themed areas including flight, physics and mechanical, anatomy, Renaissance art, military engineering and a history of his life and times.

Da Vinci was largely self-taught. He pledged to himself from an early age “to learn all there is to learn” and to challenge, through experimentation and application of sound scientific principles, everything that had been learnt before him. 

Unfortunately, Da Vinci left behind very few tangible examples of his theories. His legacy has been preserved primarily in his notebooks of categorized drawings and writings. Da Vinci -The Genius brings to life the inventions, ideas and philosophies found in his writings. This is not an exhibit of original artifacts, but rather recreations created to understand and explore his works. 

The event marks the first visit of the exhibit to the Intermountain West. Pervious cities on the tour have included Vancouver, Moscow and Washington D.C. The Da Vinci -The Genius exhibit will be in Salt Lake City through January 27, 2013.

USTAR and The Leonardo present the Leonardo After Hours event each quarter, with the next event planned for December. The topic of the event will be announced soon.  After Hoursis a series of public discussions that tackle current science and technology topics and their impact on our society. Local experts from universities, industry, and government join the public for lively discussions in a laid-back, evening atmosphere.

Visit www.theleonardo.org  for more information about Da Vinci -The Genius and Leonardo After Hours. The Leonardo is located at 209 East 500 South, Salt Lake City.