Orlando Science Center, National Geographic form partnership

The Orlando Science Center has formed a partnership with National Geographic Cinema Ventures that is tied to the museum’s newly renovated theater. In the near future, that space will be known as the Digital Adventure Theater, A National Geographic Experience.

“It’s almost like getting the National Geographic seal of approval,” says Jeff Stanford, spokesman for the science center. “Their name stands for education, discovery, exploration, quality.”

The science center is the sixth establishment to team with National Geographic, Stanford says. The goal is to partner with 20 to 25 institutions.

National Geographic films will show daily in Orlando Science Center, and the partnership will give the science center a leg up on works such as director James Cameron’s planned documentary about deepsea diving, expected to be ready next year.

Orlando Science Center will celebrate its new partnership Saturday with screenings of National Geographic’s “Meerkats 3D” at 3:15 and 4:15 p.m.

The event will also include visits from Central Florida Zoo animals such as a ball python, yellow-billed hornbill, emperor scorpion and African hedgehog from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., plus National Geographic giveways such as meerkat dolls and prize packs with National Geographic DVDs.

Regular admission is required for Saturday’s events.