During May and June the Archives, Research Library and Fish Section will put on a new display in the Library called 'Skates, Rays and Jenny Hanivers'. The display will feature delicate watercolours of skates and rays and fascinating research notes from the papers of Gilbert Whitley. Skates and rays were once used to manufacture fake dragons and basilisks, also known as Jenny Hanivers. Rare books depicting medieval fakes will be on display as will a modern day Jenny Haniver made from a guitar fish. The Research Library is open Monday to Friday 9am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 5pm.
A further two new prizes have recently been added to this year's Australian Museum Eureka Prizes - $10,000 for lateral thinking by students, sponsored by media personality and science guru Adam Spencer and the University of Sydney; and $10,000 for information and communications technology innovation, sponsored by the Australian Computer Society.
The 2002 Eureka Prizes now have an unprecedented 18 prizes on offer worth almost $180,000. Five prizes are being offered for the first time.
You are encouraged to consider nominating or entering for these prestigious awards. Details and entry forms for all prizes can be found on the Australian Museum's website at http://www.amonline.net.au/eureka. Entries in most prizes close Friday 17 May 2002. Winners will be announced at a gala award dinner at Fox Studios on 13 August 2002 to launch National Science Week. Winners will also be profiled on Catalyst, ABC TV's leading science program, on 15 August 2002.
In July 2002, Sydney is hosting the First International Palaeontology Congress at Macquarie University with the Australian Museum as one of the participating organisations.
A special workshop for science teachers and fossil enthusiasts, 'A Festival of Fossils' will allow non-professionals to meet some of the world's leading scientists in the field of palaeontology. TAMS members are invited to participate in this workshop and to join one of the pre and post-Congress field trips.
For more information; go to http://www.es.mq.edu.au/
mucep/ipc2002/, email IPC2002@mq.edu.au or phone (02) 9850 8336.
Sydney Harbour is one of the richest estuarine areas in the world with over 580 species of fishes. Compare this to 200 fish species in all the United Kingdom and you can appreciate this amazing diversity of marine life. The Australian Museum's Fishes of Sydney Harbour exhibition, located in the permanent Biodiversity exhibition, explores the formation of this famous harbour and introduces a number of its more interesting fishy inhabitants. As part of The Australian Museum's commitment to education, a video and internet conferencing centre and activity space is featured next to the exhibition.
For further details contact Fara Pelarek at the Australian Museum on 9320 6165 or Email Fara Pelarek or go to the Australian Museum Biodiversity website - www.amonline.net.au/biodiversity/
It's official! The first stage of the Australian Museum's dig in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta (to be led by Director Mike Archer), will proceed in July 2002 as an exploratory program. The long term aim of the project is to excavate and transport to the Australian Museum one of the Park's extraordinary dinosaur specimens. Six volunteer places for 2002 have already been filled by enthusiastic Australian Museum supporters. We expect to send a number of larger volunteer groups on consecutive runs in 2003, and possibly beyond, to continue the project. So keep your eye on Muse for details of future expeditions.
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