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2010 Horizon Report Museum Edition: Commentary on significant challenges

This is the second of three posts about the 2010 Horizon Report: Museum Edition which considers technology use in museum settings. This post provides commentary on the six significant challenges identified in the report.

By: Dr Lynda Kelly, Category: Lifelong Learning, Date: 25 Sep 2010

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2010 Horizon Report Museum Edition: Commentary on the key drivers

“The Marcus Institute for Digital Education in the Arts (MIDEA), the museum-focused branch of the New Media Consortium (NMC), released the 2010 Horizon Report: Museum Edition. This specially-focused edition of the annual Horizon Report series considers technology use in museum settings. The report identifies and describes six emerging technologies that will likely have a significant impact on museum education and interpretation in the next one to five years.” As with the earlier Horizons report, it’s so full of information and ideas that have done three posts, with this first one discussing the four key trends they have identified.

By: Dr Lynda Kelly, Category: Lifelong Learning, Date: 25 Sep 2010

<em>Glenoglossa wassi</em>

This week in Fish: Eel with a 'fishing rod tongue'

It's been a massive movie week! Also featured this week are fantastic images in the Whitespotted Anglerfish gallery. The 'strangest-fish-of-the-week' award has to go to Glenoglossa wassi.  This eel lacks a common name and has a tongue like a fishing rod.

By: Mark McGrouther, Category: Science, Date: 24 Sep 2010

Blobfish, <em>Psychrolutes</em> (aka Mr Blobby)

Natural history specimens as social media stars: Mr Blobby

Natural history specimens as social media stars? How (and why) did the Australian Museum get into the social media space and what are we doing there?

By: Dr Lynda Kelly, Category: Museullaneous, Date: 24 Sep 2010

Baby Crocodile in hand

Crocodile transfers

In early September, Australian Museum’s beloved Freshwater Crocodile 'Stanley' left the Australian Museum after living for over two years in the Surviving Australia exhibition. Stan was replaced by three adorable new baby crocodiles that are now enjoying their new home.

By: Chris Hosking, Category: At The Museum, Date: 20 Sep 2010

Prickly Anglerfish, <em>Echinophryne crassispina</em>

This week in Fish: Candiru and Slingjaw Wrasse

This week we talk about the Candiru, a small fish that could give you big trouble.  You can watch the amazingly protrusible mouth of a Slingjaw Wrasse as it feeds and try to spot a newly settled Painted grinner buried in sand. Thank you as always to all our generous contributors!

By: Mark McGrouther, Category: Science, Date: 17 Sep 2010

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An introduction to Twitter

 A quick introduction to Twitter presentation, given to Australian Museum staff

By: Russ Weakley, Category: Museullaneous, Date: 16 Sep 2010

Tussock caterpillar

Pea flowers at the Field of Mars

A walk around the Field of Mars Environment Education Centre with Steve Papp and Pat Spiers last week revealed a plethora of native flowers of many colours and shapes, including pea flowers - all perfect for a field study of pollinators.

By: Sue Lewis, Category: Lifelong Learning, Date: 14 Sep 2010

A Slingjaw Wrasse at Redang Island, Malaysia

Slingjaw Wrasse feeding

The Slingjaw Wrasse is aptly named.  The video shows excellent slow-motion footage of the greatly protrusible mouth during feeding. Click on the link to the fact sheet for more information on this species.

By: Mark McGrouther, Category: Science, Date: 14 Sep 2010

Humphead Maori Wrasse

Humphead Maori Wrasse - up close and personal

This movie shows the species very nicely.  The fish swims so close to the camera it gives us a great view of its fleshy lips, colour pattern on the head and the forehead hump (click on the link to 'Hyperostosis - Swollen Bones' to find out more about this phenomenon).

By: Mark McGrouther, Category: Science, Date: 14 Sep 2010