Celebrating the ROM
ROM Governors

November 18, 2009
Renaissance ROM became the most successful cultural fundraising campaign in Canadian history with over $282 million raised in support of the Royal Ontario Museum.

Video Podcast (7MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Landry vs Granatstein Debate: Battle on the Plains of Abraham

November 11, 2009
Was General Wolfe's victory over General Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham in September 1759 ultimately good for New France? Listen as William Thorsell, Director & CEO of the ROM, as he moderates a lively debate between Bernard Landry, former Quebec premier, and Jack Granatstein, distinguished Canadian historian. Introduction by Desmond Morton, Professor of History at McGill University.

Audio Podcast (51MB, 1 hour 50 mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

ROM Research: Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

November 13, 2009
Burton Lim, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy and bat expert, often travels to Guyana for field research. In this video he brings us to Kaieteur Falls, one of the most spectacular locations in the country.

Video Podcast (7MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Lewis Lapham on Celebrity in Contemporary Culture

October 27, 2009
The Institute for Contemporary Culture presented the fourth annual Eva Hotby Lecture on Contemporary Culture on October 27, 2009. Celebrated American writer and publishing magnate Lewis Lapham, explores the theme of celebrity in modern society. This lecture was inspired by the ICC exhibition, Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913 - 2008.

Audio Podcast (32MB, 68mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic - The Death of General Wolfe

September 12, 2009
This iconic painting recreates the pivotal moment in 1759 when Britain defeated France on the Plains of Abraham. As one of only five original versions painted by Benjamin West, it hangs in the Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada and is one of the Iconic 15: The Must-See Treasures of the ROM.

Video Podcast (17MB, 3mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Anne Tanenbaum Lecture Series: Dr. Lawrence Schiffman

October 29, 2009
Dr. Lawrence Schiffman (Edelman Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, and Chair of the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, New York University) surveys ancient Israel at the time of the Second Temple and explores how the Scrolls enrich our understanding of this momentous era.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (21MB, 45mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

An Evening with Meryl Streep

October 7, 2009
Meryl Streep, one of today's true Hollywood icons, visited the ROM for an evening of thoughtful reflection and discussion. Interviewed by Johanna Schneller, the Globe and Mail's film critic, this lecture was associated with The Question of Celebrity programming series which explores fame and the evocative allure of celebrity.

Audio of the film clips shown at the lecture are not included in this podcast.

Audio Podcast (53MB, 55mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Anne Tanenbaum Lecture Series: Dr. Eileen Schuller
Supported by the Weisz Family in memory of Margaret Weisz

October 15, 2009
Dr. Eileen Schuller (Professor, Department of Religious Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton) explores some of the key texts about women and what they might tell us about the presence and role of women in this community and more broadly in Second Temple Judaism.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (24MB, 52mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Research at the ROM: Dinosaurs in Alberta's Badlands

October 13, 2009
Follow Dr. David Evans, Associate Curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology, during his field work in Alberta's Badlands and discover what a palaeontologist job really involves.

Video Podcast (40.3MB, 4m 55s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Trees for Toronto in Queen's Park

October 06, 2009
Trees for Toronto was launched by the Royal Ontario Museum and the City of Toronto in connection with the expansion of the Museum in 2007. The purpose of Trees for Toronto is to plant trees in Queen's Park and to create a tree identification and awareness program for Toronto.

Video Podcast (11.7MB, 1m 25s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Bats!

October 06, 2009
Learn about Burton Lim's, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, Bat research in Guyana and around the world. Burton is an expert on all types of bats and studies their biodiversity and evolution.

Video Podcast (13.2MB, 1m 54s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

How does the ROM get endangered species in their galleries?

October 06, 2009
Museums are filled with species that may be endangered or extinct. ROM technician, Mary Burridge, reveals how the ROM builds its extensive collection without putting any specimens at risk.

Video Podcast (8.5MB, 1m 02s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Why do mosquito bites itch?

October 06, 2009
It's common for mosquito bites to become annoyingly itchy! Doug Currie, ROM Curator of Entomology, explains why these bites make you scratch.

Video Podcast (4.0MB, 0m 34s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Is coral a plant or an animal?

October 06, 2009
Coral is a mysterious species that is difficult to identify - is it a plant or an animal? ROM technician, Mary Burridge, reveals the true identity of these extraordinary creatures.

Video Podcast (6.0MB, 0m 48s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

How do butterflies decide what colour they'll be?

October 06, 2009
Ever wondered how butterflies choose their beautiful vibrant colours? ROM Entomology Technician Brad Hubley exposes the secret of butterflies' beautiful patterns and colours.

Video Podcast (5.0MB, 0m 37s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

The Green Screen: The Arctic

October 06, 2009
Take a closer look at how climate change is affecting the Arctic Region and what is being done to prevent irreparable impact on the ecosystem. This video explores Life in Crisis, one of the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity's themes.

Video Podcast (7.3MB, 0m 55s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

ROM Backstage Pass: The Artists' Studio

May 25, 2009
Come and have a look behind the scenes in the Artists' Studio at the Royal Ontario Museum. See how the artists created the models that are now on display in the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity.

Video Podcast (26.4MB, 2m 59s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

The Green Screen: Warblers and Blackflies

May 25, 2009
Learn more about the changing migration patterns of the warbler and how to protect yourself from blackfly bites this season. The Green Screen is your source for biodiversity news and current events from the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity.

Video Podcast (26.4MB, 3m 10s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

ROM Backstage Pass: Photography

May 25, 2009
Come and have a look behind the scene in the Photography Studio at the Royal Ontario Museum. See how the Photography department catalogs the collections of the Museum.

Video Podcast (11.4MB, 1m 23s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Schad Gallery of Biodiversity

March 27, 2009
Nature comes to life in the new Schad Gallery of Biodiversity. Travel across seven ecosystems; see the rare white rhino and a living coral reef. Explore the Earth Rangers Studio with its immersive, multimedia and live animal shows. This new gallery will present the diversity of life on earth and the significant challenges to its conservation and survival.

Video Podcast (41.4MB, 1m 04s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic Totem Poles

March 19, 2009
These four totem poles, carved by the Nisgaa and Haida peoples of Canada's Pacific Northwest Coast, commemorate family origins, rights, privileges, achievements and experiences. Standing just outside the Daphne Cockwell Gallery of Canada: First Peoples, they have been selected as one of the must-see treasures in the ROM's collection.

Video Podcast (20.4MB, 3m 02s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic Statue of Sekhmet

March 19, 2009
Dating to the reign of King Tutankhamun's grandfather, this Egyptian sculpture is a very fine example of one of the oldest known Egyptian deities, the lion-headed warrior goddess also known as Mistress of Dread and Lady of Slaughter. On display in the Galleries of Africa: Egypt, the statue is one of the Museum's iconic objects.

Video Podcast (16.9MB, 2m 27s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic Cleopatra

March 19, 2009
This granite bust is most likely a representation of one of history's most famous women Cleopatra and is on display in the Galleries of Africa: Egypt. An iconic object in the ROM's collection, only three pieces of Ptolemaic sculpture like this exist in the world today.

Video Podcast (18.2MB, 2m 38s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic Ming Tomb

March 19, 2009
Legendary in Chinese history, General Zu Dashou was celebrated for his defense of the Ming dynasty against the Manchu invasion. The Tomb of General Zu Dashou (Ming Tomb) now stands in the Gallery of Chinese Architecture and is one of the Museum's iconic objects.

Video Podcast (27MB, 3m 15s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic Barosaurus

March 19, 2009
This rare, longnecked sauropod skeleton is the largest mounted dinosaur in Canada (90 feet long) and one of the Royal Ontario Museum’s iconic objects. It stands in the James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs on Level 2.

Video Podcast (20.72MB, 2m 56s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Anne Tanenbaum Lecture Series: Dr. Steve Mason

September 16, 2009
Dr. Steve Mason (Professor, Department of History, and Canada Research Chair in Greco-Roman Cultural Interaction, York University, Toronto) takes a closer look at the Essenes, a group known since antiquity from Greek and Latin historians and largely accepted as the inhabitants of Quamran and the creators of the Scrolls during the 1950s.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (27MB, 60mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Anne Tanenbaum Lecture Series: Martin Abegg

July 16, 2009
Dr. Martin Abegg (Ben Zion Wacholder Professor of Dead Sea Scroll Studies, religious Studies Department, Trinity western University, Langley British Columbia, and Co-Director of the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute) discusses the stories of the Scrolls that made their way to Toronto.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (30MB, 61mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Anne Tanenbaum Lecture Series: Dan Bahat

July 23, 2009
Dr. Dan Bahat (former district archaeologist for Jerusalem, and currently Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Theology, University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto) explores the Jerusalem of 2,000 years ago during the time the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (18MB, 37mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Anne Tanenbaum Lecture Series: Eugene Ulrich

June 23, 2009
Dr. Eugene Ulrich (John A. O'Brien Professor of Hebrew Scriptures, University of Notre Dame, and Chief Editor of the Qumran Scrolls) discusses the similarities and discrepancies between the Massoretic Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls in the first of the Anne Tanenbaum Lecture Series. The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (22MB, 47mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Anne Tanenbaum Lecture Series: Yuval Peleg

July 2, 2009
Yuval Peleg, Israel Antiquities Authority District Archaeologist for the Jordan Valley, discusses the most recent excavations at the site of Qumran, and their effect on the understanding of the site in the second of the Anne Tananbaum Lecture Series.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (18MB, 30mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Director’s Signature Lecture Series: A.J. Jacobs

June 9, 2009
For three evenings of discussion and debate, noted authors and thinkers analyze the Ten Commandments and share their ideas for a moral code for our own time. Listen to A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (18MB, 20mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Director’s Signature Lecture Series: Christopher Hitchens

June 2, 2009
For three evenings of discussion and debate, noted authors and thinkers analyze the Ten Commandments and share their ideas for a moral code for our own time. Listen to the opening lecture with Christopher Hitchens, author of the New York Times bestselling book God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (21MB, 45mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead

February 27, 2009
Travel to Egypt, the land where the Book of the Dead of Amen-em-hat was written over 2,300 years ago and uncover the story of this mystical scroll. Acquired in the early 20th century, this beautiful papyrus scroll was recently restored and temporarily brought out of the vaults for display. Visitors can still see fragments of the Scroll and this video installation in the Galleries of Africa: Egypt.

Video Podcast (28.34MB, 1m 28s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Returned to Former Splendour: Painting, Conservation & Dyes

January 13, 2009
Heidi Sobol, Senior Paintings Conservator, offers a peek at the exhibition Returned to Former Splendour which explores the conservation process involved in preparing the historical paintings now on display in the Wilson Canadian Heritage Exhibition Room in the Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada.

Video Podcast (9.6MB, 10m 57s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Housepaint, Phase 2: Shelter

December 12, 2008
A time-lapse montage captures the set up of Housepaint, Phase 2: Shelter, a ground-breaking exhibition of street art in the Roloff Beny Gallery. Presented by the Institute for Contemporary Culture, ten street artists created colourful canvas house responding to issues of poverty and homelessness in memory of the former residents of Toronto's Tent City.

Video Podcast (20.88MB, 1m 28s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Oil and Sugar: Contemporary Art and Islamic Culture

November 20, 2008
The Institute for Contemporary Culture presented the third annual Eva Holtby Lecture on Contemporary Culture on November 20, 2008. Glenn Lowry introduces his lecture, Oil and Sugar: Contemporary Art and Islamic Culture, examining relevant and topical cultural issues of international scope.

Video Podcast (151.4MB, 10m 57s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Marie-Antoinette’s Dress

October 14, 2008
Embellished with silk embroidery, ribbon appliqués, spangles and glass stones, follow the journey of Marie-Antoinette's lavish dress from ROM's vault to the gallery. Discover the delicate conservation methods, innovative mounting techniques and the mesmerizing history of the woman who once wore this dress.

Video Podcast (27.2MB, 4m 14s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Lang Lang Q&A at the ROM

September 25, 2008
Meet Lang Lang and discover the inspiration, personality and appeal of this celebrated young pianist. Lang Lang performed at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and on September 21, 2008 Peter Oundijian of the Toronto Symphony interviewed him at the ROM.

Audio Podcast (155.9MB, 56m 24s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Chief Sitting Bull’s Headdress

September 24, 2008
Chief Sitting Bull was a great leader, a holy man and a central character in North American history. Discover how Sitting Bull's headdress, shirt and other personal artifacts were prepared for display in the Daphne Cockwell Gallery of Canada: First Peoples.

Video Podcast (52.5MB, 4m 06s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

ROMkids weekends: Sculpting with Sandi

July 25, 2008
Ten feet tall and fifteen tons of sand! Learn how sand artist, Sandi ‘Castle’ Stirling, sculpts a shapeless sand pile into a stunning Egyptian inspired work of art. The sand sculpture stands on the ROM Plaza until Sunday, July 27, 2008.

Video Podcast (52.5MB, 2m 40s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Bringing the Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead to Life

June 23, 2008
Roberta Shaw, Assistant Curator of Egyptian Arts & Culture, introduces the restoration project of the ROM’s Book of the Dead of Amen-em-hat. A team from the University of Bonn worked throughout May 2008 to piece together this rare ancient Egyptian papyrus dating to about 320 BC.

Video Podcast (21.4MB, 6m 03s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Shanghai Kaleidoscope's Dynamic View

May 30, 2008
Christopher Phillips, curator of Shanghai Kaleidoscope, shares his passion for Shanghai art, architecture and fashion design and introduces some of the most provocative pieces on display in the Institute of Contemporary Culture's Roloff Beny Gallery until November 2, 2008.

Video Podcast (12.5MB, 3m 44s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Shanghai Kaleidoscope: Fashion Forward

May 30, 2008
Sally Wu introduces the work of some of Shanghai's leading fashion designers on display in the Institute of Contemporary Culture's Shanghai Kaleidoscope until November 2, 2008. These compelling pieces convey much more then just personal fashion.

Video Podcast (19.7MB, 5m 32s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Fact? or Fiction?

April 23, 2008
The Royal Ontario Museum's devious curatorial staff attempt to outwit participants at a game of Fact? or Fiction?. The annual fundraising event is renowned for fantastic food, great beverages and tantalizing tales of mysterious objects from the collections.

Video Podcast (13.3MB, 4m 44s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Stavros: Master Tailor

April 11, 2008
Lights, camera, fashion. Explore the extensive transformations in textile design and technology throughout the past three millennia in the Patricia Harris Gallery of Textiles & Costume, opening April 16, 2008. See the full Stavros: Master Tailor video and more in the gallery.

Video Podcast (4.5MB, 1m 14s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Women in South Asian Art

February 15, 2008
Dr. Deepali Dewan, Curator of South Asian Arts and Culture, discusses representations of women in South Asian Art using artifacts on display in the Sir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian Gallery.

Video Podcast (19.3MB, 5m 06s)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Constructing the Barosaurus

January 4, 2008
Watch the construction of Gordo, the Barosaurus skeleton mounted in the James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs. The real fossil specimen is the largest dinosaur ever to be mounted in Canada at almost 27.5 metres (90 feet) in length.

Widescreen Video Podcast (4.2MB, 2m 04s)
Written Transcript (PDF)