Visit your local museum

We've finally hit some consistent nice weather here in Ottawa, so spending the day inside isn't at the top of everybody's list. Still, there are a couple of cool exhibits coming up at local museums that are worth a look.

First up is Living in Space which opens at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum Thursday May 12.

Be part of the adventure and learn how to adapt to the rigours of daily life in space for months at a time on board the International Space Station (ISS). Discover how astronauts in the weightless environment work, entertain themselves and tackle such basics as personal hygiene, eating and sleeping among the stars. Become inspired by the engineering of this space station that sustains life and Canadian scientific experiments that reap a myriad of benefits. This modular, highly interactive exhibit incorporates multimedia with various objects, replicas and components used daily by astronauts during a mission to present the technical, psychological and physical challenges of life in space. Experience the extreme conditions on board the ISS-an incredible ecosystem in itself. So, are you up for the challenge?

You can read more about it here. It sounds like it's worth a visit.

Later this summer, the Canadian Museum of Nature will be hosting Extreme Mammals.

From the largest land mammal, to the smallest, to the just plain weird, Extreme Mammals explores the surprising and often extraordinary world of extinct and living mammals.

Find out what makes a mammal "extreme". Learn why some species died out while others thrived. And discover what you have in common with all other mammals.

An incredible array of specimens—including the museum's own "missing link" discovery, Puijila darwini—add up to an extremely exciting experience.

I had the privilege of attending a preview of this exhibit before it first opened two years ago at the American Museum of Natural History. Since then, it's been on tour and will be in Ottawa starting June 3, for the duration of the summer and beyond (June 3 to November 6, 2011).

Extreme Mammals at AMNH

I was in New York City (and environs) this past weekend, and was fortunate enough to get an invite to a blogger preview of a new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Unfortunately, my camera battery crapped out on me in the early going but luckily the press kit included in the blogger gift bag had some photos to share, so you won't have to suffer pics taken on a camera phone.

Extreme size: Indricotherium, the largest land mammal known, greets you at the exhibit's entrance

The exhibit is Extreme Mammals and is put on in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; Cleveland Museum of Natural History; and our own Canadian Museum of Nature here in Ottawa.

As you might guess, mammals were the order of the day, from the largest to the smallest and everything in between. And in between was key - the exhibit features fossils and models of some cool transitional forms as well as those of our stranger cousins such as the extinct Macrauchenia or the familiar platypus.

Macrauchenia is straight out of a Star Wars or fantasy movie

Among the fossils, taxidermy samples and models were the stars of the show: a colony of sugar gliders. Though they were napping while we were there (extreme laziness?), the sole live animal display definitely drew a crowd, particularly among the younger attendees. There were also a few simple interactive displays.

Ambulocetus, or "walking whale" is one of the transitional forms on display

The exhibit is unapologetic about evolution, which features heavily in both the displays and the educator guide as they discuss common ancestry, evolutionary trees and adaptation among other things including the requisite 'fun facts' and trivia. Did you know that a new species of striped rabbit was first discovered for sale in an Asian food market? (extreme deliciousness?)

Overall, Extreme Mammals is a cool exhibit, worth checking out if you're in the NYC area where it will be on display at the American Museum of Natural History until January of next year. After that, it will be on tour and if you're patient it's scheduled to arrive in Ottawa June 4 to November 6, 2011.

Local content: Puijila darwini, an early fin-footed mammal, was discovered in 2007 by a researcher from the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa

Thanks to Brian from Laelaps who put me in touch with the museum for the blogger preview.

Images © AMNH

Creationist Museum Tours

This video clip has been making the rounds, so apologies if you've seen it already. Still, I think it's important and highlights a need for sound science policy and science education - particularly critical thinking skills. (On the plus side, a major news outlet featuring a story like this is definitely a good move)

Found via Sandwalk