Museum experts offer six new sessions at McNally Robinsons Community Classroom First Class January 15! Four curators from The Manitoba Museum and the Planetariums astronomy expert will present six evening courses at McNally Robinsons Community Classroom this winter. The first five take place over consecutive Thursdays starting on January 15 and the final class is on April 10. The 2015 winter series includes: UNDERSTANDING THE NIGHT SKY Presented by Scott Young, Manager of Science Communications & Visitor Experiences Thursday, January 15, 7:00 - 9:00 pm AND Friday, April 10, 8:30 - 10:30 pm This class focuses on the planets, constellations, and other objects which can be seen in the night sky from your own backyard, with the unaided eye, binoculars, and small telescopes. It also explores what these objects really are, using images from the largest telescopes in space and on the Earth. Scott Young oversees The Manitoba Museums Science Gallery exhibits and Planetarium shows, and he collaborates on content development for the Museum Galleries. He has been an informal science educator for twenty years, working in the planetarium and science centre field both at The Manitoba Museum and also at the Alice G. Wallace Planetarium in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Scott is an active amateur astronomer and a past-President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. MANITOBAS ENCHANTED ISLES - Exploring Remote Islands in Lake Winnipegs North Basin Presented by Dr. Randall Mooi, Curator of Zoology Thursday, January 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm The North Basin of Lake Winnipeg is dotted with several islands that have received only cursory attention from biologists. Dr. Randall Mooi, Curator of Zoology at The Manitoba Museum, has surveyed a series of these islands for birds, amphibians and reptiles and has made some surprising discoveries: uniquely coloured snakes, unexpected toads, rare birds, and even spiders that live in carnivorous plants. Join Dr. Mooi on a tour of the North Basin as he introduces the what, where, when, and how of the animals living on these incredible islands and gives a taste of the adventure in exploring them. Dr. Mooi received his Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Toronto working on the evolutionary history of coral reef fishes. Dr. Mooi joined The Manitoba Museum as Curator of Zoology in 2004 focusing on fish evolution and post-glacial biogeography of snakes, toads and sticklebacks. Field work in the province has taken him across the north from York Factory to Churchill and Nueltin Lake on the Nunavut border, and down to Lynn Lake, Flin Flon, Thompson and in and around the North Basin of Lake Winnipeg. He is also adjunct professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba and serves on the steering and technical committees of the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas, as well as being regional coordinator for the Northern Interlakes region for that project. DECIPHERING THE GRANDFATHER QUARRY: GRANVILLE LAKE Presented by Kevin Brownlee, Curator of Archaeology Thursday, January 29, 7:00 - 9:00 pm The Grandfather Quarry is a large precontact quartz mine located on Granville Lake, Manitoba, first visited by the author in 2006 after an invitation by the Okawamithikani First Nation. Excavations took place at the quarry in 2009 revealing a site with complex stratigraphy and an elevated water table. Initially, these features were problematic during excavation with flooded units and the painstaking recording of layers. However, they proved beneficial in the preservation and interpretation of the site. The high water table enabled remarkable preservation of organics including wood which is exceptionally rare in the northern boreal forest. The layers suggest a complexity in cultural deposits. Two dating methods, Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), were employed to determine the time of use and subsequent retirement of the quarry. Kevin will discuss issues with excavations within quarries and provide results from dating the quarry. Kevin Brownlee obtained his Masters Degree in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba. He was hired as the Curator of Archaeology at The Manitoba Museum in 2003. His research focuses on the archaeology of Manitobas boreal forest and the emerging field of Indigenous archaeology. THE OLD PLESIOSAUR AND THE SEA: Fossil Vertebrates from the Manitoba Escarpment Presented by Dr. Graham Young, Curator of Geology & Paleontology Thursday, February 5, 7:00 - 9:00 pm This presentation will talk about how exhibits come to be, how collections arrive at the Museum, and how the work of dedicated amateur/enthusiast collectors is greatly improving our knowledge of fossils in this province. This winter, the exhibit The Old Plesiosaur and the Sea celebrates the donation to the Museum of a spectacular plesiosaur fossil from the Manitoba Escarpment, from the last part of the age of dinosaurs (Late Cretaceous Period, about 70-110 million years old). The Manitoba Escarpment is an important area for discoveries of marine fossil vertebrates of this age, and this lecture will explore some of the fascinating and varied life forms preserved in the shales of western Manitoba, and explain how they are collected and studied. Dr. Young grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick. After completing a M.Sc. in paleontology at the University of Toronto, Graham spent two years in Newcastle, England, studying fossils from the Island of Gotland, Sweden. He moved to Winnipeg in 1990 to do research at the University of Manitoba, and has worked at The Manitoba Museum since 1993. At the Museum, Grahams curatorial work involves all aspects of geology and paleontology. Over the years, his research has become broader in scope, moving from specialist studies of fossil corals towards research on ancient environments, ecosystems and unusual fossils such as jellyfish and horseshoe crabs. Most of his current field research is on sites in the Grand Rapids Uplands and elsewhere in northern Manitoba. Look Up, Way Up! An Inside Look at the Arctic Artefacts in the HBC Museum Collection Presented by Amelia Fay, Curator of the HBC Museum Collection Thursday, February 12, 7:00 - 9:00 pm This evening features a discussion on the history of the Hudsons Bay Company in Canadas north, including a presentation of artefacts that were acquired by HBC employees during their terms at remote posts. Ms. Fay will highlight one or two employees from these northern posts (using archival sources) to talk about their experiences. Amelia Fay joined The Manitoba Museum in September, 2013. Amelias job as Curator of the Hudsons Bay Company Museum Collection involves building the collection, responding to public inquiries, preparing exhibits, and conducting her own research. Her research interests centre on the intersections between Europeans (including HBC employees) and Aboriginal peoples as they negotiated space, material culture, and their daily activities. Amelias goal is to showcase this amazing collection and to highlight the important role that Aboriginal people played in the establishment of the Hudsons Bay Company. She received her BA in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba, an MA in Archaeology from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), and is currently finishing her Doctoral degree from MUN. McNally Robinsons Community Classroom provides learning for all ages at its Grant Park location. A small and intimate space, complete with cherry-panelled walls, comfortable chairs, a large-screen projection system, and good-sized workspaces, the classroom offers a soothing and aesthetic environment in which to learn and be creative. Class sizes range from 5 to 32 people, depending on the workspace required for a specific course. The cost to attend each of these sessions is $20 ($30 for the April class). To register: mcnallyrobinson/classes#.VKcFqNLF-uI -30- For more information or interviews, contact: Greg Klassen Communications and Marketing Manager The Manitoba Museum Direct Line: 204-988-0614 Mobile: 204-294-4024 Email: [email protected] The Manitoba Museum | 190 Rupert Avenue | Winnipeg | Manitoba | R3B 0N2 | Canada
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 14:54:45 +0000
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