Development
FROM SENSATION TO STANDARD
Plastination is an internationally recognised scientific process. There are no more than 400 plastination laboratories in 40 countries which create plastination preparations for the instruction of students, as well as scientific applications.
2021
FR:EIA – AN ANATOMICAL WORLD PREMIER
FR:EIA (= Fascia Revealed: Educating Interconnected Anatomy) the first 3-D plastinated human fascia specimen shows the complex and extremely unstable network of connective tissues throughout the whole body, down to the smallest detail. It is the first specimen of this type in the world and can be seen at the BODY WORLDS museum in Berlin.
2019
50 MILLION VISITORS
BODY WORLDS, an exhibition of superlatives: after 24 years of work in medical education about the human body, the creators of BODY WORLDS welcomed their 50 millionth visitor on 27 November 2019. This makes BODY WORLDS the most successful special exhibition of all times and marks a milestone in the history of anatomy.
2017
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF BODY WORLDS
The BODY WORLDS exhibition celebrates its 20th anniversary. An exhibition of superlatives which had already visited 6 continents, more than 30 countries and 140 cities.
2015–2017
The team of experts at the Plastination Centre in Guben turn their attention to implementing ever more unusual orders: A 200 kg blue whale heart for the Royal Ontario Museum is plastinated.
2013
Gunther von Hagens is recognized by the ASTC (International Association of Science and Technology Centers) for his life`s work and his exceptional contribution to the communication of science to the general public.
2010
Plastination takes on new dimensions with the large animal specimen “Samba”. The creation of the world’s first plastinated elephant represents the starting point for the exhibition ANIMAL INSIDE OUT.
2008
It becomes possible to dye plastinated body slices to order. The dying process makes it possible to differentiate between the various tissues, e.g. between tight connective tissues and musculature or the skin.
2004
A BODY WORLDS exhibition is held for the first time at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. With further exhibitions at renowned science centres, BODY WORLDS fascinates visitors across North America.
2000
The newest developments in plastics allow for the production of mechanically resilient corrosion preparations.. In the production of venous preparations, the surrounding soft tissues is generally “corroded away” using lye or acids.
1997/98
The exhibition is shown for the first time in Germany under the title KÖRPERWELTEN [BODY WORLDS]. Unlike in Japan, the exhibition in Germany generates significant public controversy.
1995
The first public exhibition of plastinated specimens takes place at the National Science Museum in Tokyo with more than 450.000 visitors over four months.
1993
With increasing developments, plastination takes on dimensions which reach their limits within the universities. Gunther von Hagens founds the Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg.
1980s
Gunther von Hagens establishes his own cadaver donation program. Today, more than 22.600 donors have registered world wide. (as of January 2025).
1982
The first “Plastination conference” takes place in Texas and, in this context, the “International Society for Plastination“ (ISP) is founded. From now on, international plastination conventions take place every two years.
1978
His technology is being noticed at specialist conventions. In order to make the special plastic available to other universities, Dr Gunther von Hagens founds the Company Biodur, which now sells plastics and other excipients for plastination world wide.
1978
Dr.Gunther von Hagens spends the next 20 years as a lecturer and scientist at the Anatomical Institute in Heidelberg. He continued to further develop the technology for plastination during this time. Further individual inventions followed, such as slice plastination and numerous patent filings.
1977
A research project on human kidneys sparked the idea for plastination in Dr Gunther von Hagens. He held the first plastinated specimen of a kidney in his hands on 10 January 1977. This marks the invention of plastination. Gunther von Hagens saw this invention as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he would never let go of.
1970s
As an assistant at the Anatomical Institute of the University of Heidelberg, Dr Gunther von Hagens sees specimens worked into plastic blocks for the first time and wonders why the plastic has been poured around the specimen, instead of used to stabilize the specimen from the inside out.