What's On @ Otago Museum | Week of 29 July 2019

TANGAROA OPEN DAY

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live and work as a scientist at sea? Well, Saturday’s lucky visitors no longer have to! NIWA, strategic partner for our James Cameron – Challenging the Deep exhibition, brought their flagship research vessel Tangaroa to the Victoria TU Wharf and the public was given the opportunity to explore, talk to staff about science at sea, find out where crew sleeps, and hear stories of their thrilling trips through the ice in Antarctica. 

We were blown away by the number of visitors who made it to the Tangaroa Open Day and the accompanying Lab in a Box and the Otago Museum Tech Tent! We would like to send our thanks to all the NIWA staff on the Tangaroa who were incredibly informative and engaging.

JAMES CAMERON – CHALLENGING THE DEEP

THIS WEEK @ OTAGO MUSEUM

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE: THE VALUE OF VACCINES

Join Professor Sarah Hook from the University of Otago School of Pharmacy as she shares why vaccines are good and safe, and how new research holds promise to improve them further.

Learn about why we vaccinate, dispel some misconceptions around vaccination, and discover what’s new in Dunedin's vaccine research.

Free | 5.30pm, Tuesday 30 July | Ombrellos Kitchen & Bar
More information here

THE CAMERON COLLECTION: AVATAR

Don't miss the epic science-fiction film Avatar!

Join us in the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium for part one of six of The Cameron Collection, the epic science fiction film Avatar.

Set in the mid-22nd century, human beings are colonising a habitable moon within a nearby solar system, in order to mine unobtanium. The mining threatens the indigenous humanoid species, the Na’vi, and we follow a genetically engineered Na’vi body that is operated remotely by a human, as it interacts with the local Na’vi tribe.

One of Cameron’s best-known films, Avatar quickly became the highest-grossing film of all time. Enjoy the Academy Award-winning cinematography on the dome screen.

The Cameron Collection screens on the first Thursday of each month during the exhibition (except January).

iNDx – ART EXHIBITION

Now in its second year, the award winning iNDx Art Exhibition showcases the amazing depth of artistic talent in both the local and the wider autistic community.

A collaborative and thought-provoking exhibition with artworks ranging from paint on canvas to vlogs, carvings, photography, poetry, sculpture, and more.

The exhibition provides a platform for artists to display their work publicly, as well as opportunities for collaboration, partnership, community, and creativity, and a chance for voices to be heard. Alongside the art exhibition, we have a variety of public talks on the topic of autism, including:

Quiet Hour at the Museum | 9am–10am, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August\
Quiet Hour in Tūhura | 9am–10am, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August

Renew, Connect, and Reflect. | 10.15am, Saturday 3 August
Autism: My Perspective | 11.30am, Saturday 3 August
Aspiehelp | 10.15am, Saturday 10 August 
Dungeons and Dragons Helps | 11.30am, Saturday 10 August 
A Conversation on Autism | 5.30pm, Wednesday 14 August 
Autistic Identity in Art | 10.15am, Sunday 18 August 
Internet and Gaming | 11.30am, Sunday 18 August

FOOLS AND DREAMERS: REGENERATING A NATIVE FOREST

Otago Museum, in collaboration with Orokonui Ecosanctuary, invites you to discover the story of Hinewai Nature Reserve on Banks Peninsula, and its transformation from farmland back into native forest that has created a haven for our treasured endemic species.

The 30-minute documentary will be preceded by a 15 minute talk from a guest speaker who has been involved in a similar project closer to home at Orokonui Ecosanctuary.

50% of proceeds from ticket sales will go to supporting Orokonui Ecosanctuary. The total run time is approximately 45 minutes. Image supplied by Jordan Osmond.

SEA MONSTERS: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE

Go back to the time of dinosaurs! Dive into the oceans of the Late Cretaceous to follow Dolly, a curious and adventurous dolichorhynchops, as she travels through the most dangerous seas in history.

Along the way, she encounters long-necked plesiosaurs, giant turtles, enormous fish, fierce sharks, and the most dangerous sea monsters of all, the mosasaurs!