Jersey City, NJ -- (November 8, 2002) -- In a survey conducted in October by a prominent Washington, D.C. polling firm, New Jersey residents show strong support for placement of a tower with observation deck as a unique educational experience adjacent to and connected with Liberty Science Center in Jersey City.

The proposed tower will replace a broadcast antenna destroyed when the World Trade Center collapsed, and needs to be 2,000 feet high, enabling strong area-wide reception of analog and high-definition television as well as emergency broadcast signals. This dramatic new icon will be the world's tallest free-standing structure, some 200 feet higher than Toronto's CN Tower. The observation deck is likely to be located at about the 1,250 foot level, taking visitors to a point as high as the top of the Empire State Building needle.

Of the 622 residents queried about the tower project, only 7% had read summer news reports about the proposed project. However, the more respondents heard about the project potentially being linked with Liberty Science Center, the more they approved of it.

When asked whether they would prefer an antenna-only tower or one with an observation deck for an educational experience, a resounding 74% of those polled supported the latter option. And the numbers in favor climb even higher when those amenities were tied to Liberty Science Center's mission about opening minds to science and technology.

"Of those polled, 78% agreed that building an elegant and ecologically-sensitive tower with a public observation deck, and in association with our exhibitions and programs on the environment, health and invention, will give the people of New Jersey important benefits, such as tourism and tax revenue, employment gains, and a new source of statewide pride" says Dr. Emlyn Koster, president and CEO of Liberty Science Center.

With a decision imminent about the placement and context of this tower, Dr. Koster thinks it's time for NJ residents to become better informed about the project and express their opinions. He stresses the importance of this project being a visionary asset overlooking Liberty State Park and at the heart of the NY/NJ metropolitan region. "It is important for the right decision to be made about an observation deck," he says, adding that: "Many of the world's most famous cityscapes - including Paris, Moscow, Seattle, Shanghai, and Toronto - feature tall towers that are aesthetically pleasing landmarks."

"Don't Give in to Terrorism," respondents agree --
In other survey findings, 48% of those polled had been to the top of the World Trade Center, yet only 26% felt that the tower could be a target for terrorism and should not be built for that reason. Instead, 64% felt that placing the world's tallest tower directly across from lower Manhattan would be an appropriate symbol of America's strength and determination to move forward.

Located at the edge of Liberty State Park next to the NJ Turnpike, commuter parking, light rail and ferry routes, Liberty Science Center is a major, nonprofit institution that provides exhibition, program and theater experiences that transform the way visitors see the world of science and technology. With more than 250 interactive exhibits, Liberty Science Center hosts numerous award-winning on and off site science activities and demonstrations, as well as being home to the nation's largest IMAX® Dome screen.

Since opening in 1993, more than seven million guests have visited Liberty Science Center, making it one of the region's most popular educational attractions for schools and families.

Survey Methods
These results are based on telephone interviews conducted on September 30 - October 2, 2002 by Penn Schoen & Berland Associates, Inc. A total of 622 survey respondents were randomly selected from New Jersey residents aged 18 and over. For results based on this sample, there is a 95 percent confidence level that the margin of error attributable to random sampling is plus or minus 3.9%.

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