"I have a combination of excitement and trepidation about how it's going to go and how people perceive it," exhibition curator Nancy Longnecker said yesterday.
Prof Longnecker, of the university Centre for Science Communication, said she had had "to cover so much territory" with the university's activities in the "Dare to be Wise" show that not everything could be discussed in depth.
She also praised the museum design team for transforming a "very good" show into a "beautiful" one.
Among her highlight stories in the exhibition was the work done by Otago School of Surveying researchers to create a virtual 3-D tour of the World War 1 tunnels used by New Zealand soldiers under the French city of Arras.
Prof Longnecker had also been struck by the way innovative plastic surgery undertaken by Otago doctors and dentists had transformed lives and contributed to world medicine in two world wars.
The exhibition is a highlight event in the university's 150th Queen's Birthday weekend celebrations, and its three main themes highlight the university's world-leading research, its manaakitanga (welcoming and support) for students, and the Otago student lifestyle.
"Dare", the show's first section, focuses on bold ventures while "To Be" focuses on the lived Otago experience, and "Wise" is devoted to the knowledge and wisdom gained and shared at the university.
The show runs until November 24.
