WM Alum Finalist in Competition to Live in Chicago Museum

By Amber Lester Kennedy Saturday, October 01, 2011

Many kids have wished they could spend a night in a museum, ducking under the ropes that block off exhibits, sleeping in gilded Louis XVI beds and playing with the controls on antique airplanes.

If enough people vote for him, Kevin Byrne will see that childhood dream come true. Byrne, a 2000 graduate of The College of William and Mary, is a finalist in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s “Month at the Museum” contest. Byrne, a Roanoke native, works as a marketing analyst in Chicago.

Month at the Museum will choose one person, out of six finalists, to live in the museum for 30 days. During that time, the person will attempt to delve into the museum’s exhibits and behind-the-scenes work and report on their experience to the outside world through social media. The winner will get to explore exhibits after hours, with only the security guards to keep him or her company. For Byrne, a self-professed adventurer, it sounds like the chance of a lifetime. He would add it to an already impressive list of adventures: he has biked solo across the country, run in five marathons and at one point, served as a “tube talker” with the Blue Man Group.

Byrne, who majored in biology, is fascinated by science, and emphasized the science employed in our everyday lives in his entry packet, which included a video (see it here) and essay. The contest appeals to all of his interests: science, communications and marketing. “I love exploring the science of everyday things,” he said. “Space travel is awesome, but I think people don’t necessarily think about the science in the world they come into contact with every day.”

Last year’s winner, Katie McGroarty, slept in a submarine. Byrne doesn’t have a specific exhibit he’s itching to explore, but hopes the public would give him suggestions of what they would do if given the opportunity. He also wants to give people a glimpse into what museum professionals are doing while the public tours the halls. “I’d also like to know what goes into putting a museum like this together, possibly talk to exhibit designers,” he said.

If he wins, Byrne will also take home $10,000. His employers at marketing agency Razorfish have already granted him two weeks of vacation and he can take up to a month of unpaid leave. If he doesn’t win, he says he’s already planned to take two weeks off to visit friends in California. “That’s my consolation prize,” he said, laughing.

Visitors to the museum’s website can vote once a day until the polls close at 5 p.m. Monday. The winner will be announced at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Click here to vote.