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Go online: Natural History Museums

There are currently more than 300 scientists working at the Natural History Museum. These scientists study various fields -- from what Neanderthals eat to whether birds like finches or mockingbirds have the most impact on Darwin’s evolution theory. Some of their work can be seen in these videos:

• Deforestation  Tackles how forests help reduce global warming, and how people in turn can preserve them. This is explained by Pavan Sukhdev from the United Nations Environment Programme.
• Fate of reefs depends on Copenhagen summit  A closer look at coral reefs and how they can become extinct if world leaders cannot come to a decision on carbon dioxide emission targets.
• Why conserve biodiversity?  An interesting look at biodiversity as a fundamental part of the Earth's life support system. This video underscores how we would not survive without biodiversity,
• What is Ida's significance?  Ida is the most complete fossil primate ever discovered.  
• Darwin's mockingbirds knock finches off perch  Another look at Darwin’s evolution theory and how mockingbirds from the Galapagos Islands gave him the idea.
• Big teeth for a tiny dinosaur  A look at how the earliest dinosaurs grew into adults.
• World's longest insect revealed  The record goes to a 56.7 cm long stick-insect in Borneo, and it is now part of the Natural History Museum’s collections.

Aside from videos, another way to look into the world of natural history is to read several blog posts made by an Antarctic team. For example, what is it like to spend time in Antarctica conserving artifacts left behind by Captain Robert Falcon Scott in 1911?

The writers are members of the 2009-2010 conservation team and can give students an idea as to how these teams live and the nature of their job.

The latest entry was last November 30, 2009, with the temperature at -5 degrees Celsius, and it shared how the team was now on its next phase in the Antarctica work program. They traversed over 30 km of sea ice to the new place where they will stay for two weeks.

Their main “camp” consists of two wannigans or containers that keep the cold out. They use the same wannigan for cooking, eating and relaxing.

Despite the camping conditions in Antarctica though, the main aim was still to leave no evidence of people presence when they leave. This sustainability consciousness means they follow a successful recycling and responsible disposal policy, even with such a small camp.

The succeeding blog posts could take students on the Antarctic journey of the Natural History Museum team as they pack up 1,500 artifacts from an expedition base in Cape Evans and see Adelie Penguins and meet royalty like Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex.

Sources:

“Antarctica blog.” Retrieved December 1, 2009 from
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/antarctica/blog/
“Nature on film.” Retrieved December 1, 2009 from
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/nature-videos/index.html

(Published 07 December 2009,Smart Communications Inc.)