Compaq is sponsoring the latest film on the five-story screen of the Mugar Omni Theater at Boston's Museum of Science. The film, which opens October 19, 2001 and runs through March 2002, enters the world of some of the most inspiring, but misunderstood creatures, bears-the earth's largest terrestrial predators. From polar bears in the Arctic to black bears in Montana, Bears offers a chance to get closer than ever before to these enormous animals-while safe in your theater seat.

Bears follows a day in the life of several types of bears, including the grizzly, the black bear and the polar bear. Moviegoers will learn about the dangers that confront these animals everyday and why it is important to humans to preserve bears' lives and living environments.

Bears follows wilderness guide Chris Day and her husband Ken, an experienced pilot, as they take audiences into the wilderness to meet and view these magnificent animals at close range. Though three species of bears are the focus of the film, there are actually a total of eight bear species in the world, all of which are experiencing threats to their natural environments due to hunting and other outside influences.

"Bears allows visitors to get a close-up look at these amazing creatures in their natural habitats and audiences are able to see how they strive to survive," said Lew Stevens, curator for the Museum of Science's Live Animal Center. "During our daily live animal presentations, whether it's with a possum, owl, crocodile, or bobcat, we strive to educate Museum visitors about the animals, their habitats, and the importance of wildlife conservation."

A National Wildlife Federation film, Bears explores the crucial role of these predators, with spectacular footage of North American bears in the wild. The Museum of Science and the Mugar Omni Theater are wheelchair accessible. Admission to the Omni Theater is $7.50 for adults; $5.50 for children (3-11); and seniors (65+). For more information, call 617-723-2500 or visit the Museum of Science website at www.mos.org.