Weird and Wonderful summer: giant squid, dinosaurs

GIANT SQUID CAUGHT ON CAMERA

A giant squid has been captured on camera amidst the pitch black of the deep ocean in waters south of Tokyo – it’s the first time a giant squid has been recorded in its natural environment.

Auckland Museum has its own connection to this amazing find because our Natural Sciences Collection Manager Severine Hannam was part of the expedition. Her lips are sealed until the footage airs but she’ll be giving talks later this year - until then you can see a sneak preview of the footage (MSN news)

We’ll also uncover lots more about the marine environment with our major exhibition opening in June 2013. Read more here

BASIL THE DINOSAUR TURNS GUIDE

Basil the museum’s resident dinosaur took up his new role as tour guide this week – and he already has many adoring fans! Read the NZ Herald article here.
Every weekday at 11.30am & 1pm Basil is introducing children and families to some of his weird & wonderful favourites around the museum. You can book your spot on one of these tours for just $10 and create a lasting holiday memory.
There’s also a free, self-guided Basil tour (highlighting some of his favourite objects like these tusked wetas on our blog) which you can pick up from our info desks.

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL SUMMER

Our newly reopened Weird & Wonderful Gallery has seen thousands of visitors come through to discover all the hands-on activities and incredible creatures.
W&W also has heaps of great activity sessions running in the space – on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays you can come and learn about reflection and refraction and create your own colourful creation, every weekend we’ve got quick creative crafts for you to make and take home and every Monday & Wednesday budding scientists can sign up for a Space in Time with Einstein session

Read more here

TOMORROW: PICTORIAL COLLECTION - THE WINNERS

Join Gordon Maitland, Curator Pictorial Collection and Shaun Higgins, Pictorial Librarian as they discuss the winning images from the museum’s pictorial collection based on the NZ Geographic Photographer of the Year Competition categories. Find out which ones made the cut and why.
Learn more about four fascinating photographers Henry Winkelmann, Olaf Peterson, Robin Morrison and George Bourne whose photography was inspired by their travels and adventures in New Zealand.

2pm, tomorrow, Saturday 12 January, FREE entry. Read more here

THE MUSEUM'S CHRISTMAS COLOURS

Christmas Night at the Museum was a huge success with hundreds of kids and families enjoying the music, games and activities around the galleries. Adding to the occasion was the festive lighting – made possible by the work of New Zealand company ECC Lighting & Furniture which has seen new LED lights installed in the museum which can achieve millions of different colour shades, literally! The LED lights also spell good news for our budget and the environment with the bulbs draining less energy and lasting longer.

Read more here

PUBLIC TALK WITH NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING SCIENTIST

A man who has been described as Britain’s most important scientist (The Telegraph UK), Sir Paul Nurse, will give a free public talk next Friday.
Sir Peter Gluckman the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and The University of Auckland have organised the talk “Making Science Work”.

The talk will be held at 2pm on Friday 18 Jan at Lecture Theatre 505-007, Building 505, 85 Park Road, Grafton.
To RSVP email info@pmcsa.org.nz. Read more here (The University of Auckland)

Copyright 2012 Auckland Museum

ENDS

© Scoop Media