Denver Museum of Nature & Science rolls out rarely seen artifacts
September 20, 2017 | In the PressFrom The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/20/denver-museum-nature-science-new-exhibits/)
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science currently possesses 4.1 million objects and specimens, and much of that is tucked away in storage areas and research rooms.
That will change with a new program called “Science on the Spot” — pop-up exhibits on specific themes that will be displayed for a limited time to share more of the museum’s vast collection. “Science on the Spot” is part of the museum’s “Nature’s Amazing Machines” exhibit developed by The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Located on the third floor of the museum, “Nature’s Amazing Machines” explores natural engineering, such as how a giraffe’s heart pumps blood up its neck and the mechanics behind a cheetah’s speed. It includes interactive displays, such as a thermal camera that shows visitors how much heat their body loses compared to animals covered in fur.
A new “Science on the Spot” exhibit goes on display each month, said museum curator Garth Spellman.
“Really, it is simply getting people curious by exposing them to new ideas and new concepts through items from our collection, and that is what is exciting,” Spellman said.
Garth Spellman, curator of ornithology, right, hosts visitors at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s “Science on the Spot” exhibit, showing animals in the museum’s collection that are great examples of mimicry Aug. 30, 2017. The museum will host these events over the next few months with different topics for each one, including “Good Parents, Bad Parents” on Sept. 27 and “Oh the horror!” just in time for Halloween on Oct. 27.
Last month’s “Science on the Spot” exhibit showcased animals that use mimicry for survival, like the lyre bird which mimics distinct sounds such as construction noise. The next “Science on the Spot,” opening Wednesday, Sept. 27, will focus on parenting techniques across the animal kingdom.
“We’re going to be talking about all sorts of different parenting philosophies that have evolved across animals,” Spellman said.
For example, visitors will learn that hornbill mothers essentially stay glued to their nest for months at a time. The hornbill is an example of a good parent, Spellman said, but not all bird parents are so attentive. The cowbird, he said, lays its eggs in up to 40 nests.
Upcoming “Science on the Spot” exhibits will focus on holiday themes. “Oh the horror!” will be on display Oct. 27 and feature animals that were the inspiration for horror movie monsters. “Gobble, Gobble,” an exhibit focusing on turkeys and their relatives, goes on display Nov. 30. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” opens Dec. 22.
The previous “Science on the Spot” exhibit was a success and prompted a lot of family discussions, said zoology collections manager Jeff Stephenson.
“I think they were astonished. There are so many astonishing things about nature. We’re kind of born to explore nature with this curiosity,” Stephenson said.
“Nature’s Amazing Machines” is on display through Jan. 1, and entry is included with a general admission ticket.
“We have all of these things here at the museum — wonderful things that everyone who works at the museum loves to share with people,” Stephenson said.
