WM Alum Wins Contest to Live in Chicago Museum

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, October 05, 2011

WM alum Kevin Byrne will spend a month living in a Chicago museum.

Kevin Byrne, 33, beat five finalists in the museum’s “Month at the Museum 2: Science Never Sleeps” contest. He won the title Wednesday afternoon in an explosive fashion, when each finalist was asked to destroy a pumpkin with a blow torch. Inside each pumpkin was a balloon, one with hydrogen and the rest with air; only Byrne’s pumpkin exploded. He was chosen by popular vote online.

From Oct. 19 to Nov. 17, Byrne will live in the historic 14-acre museum, with exhibits that include a full submarine and train cars. He’ll get access to the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the museum running, and get to dip behind velvet ropes to inspect items on display.

He’ll also act as an ambassador for the museum, documenting his adventures on his Twitter feed here. Byrne, a marketing professional, had to submit a written essay and a video audition as part of his application to the contest. He’ll take home a $10,000 prize, and has already scheduled a month off from work.

Byrne graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2000 with a degree in Biology. He’ll be applying that fascination with science to his experience at the museum. Last week, he told WYDaily that if he won, he’d like to explore the science of our everyday lives. “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.”

Read more about Byrne here.