Research

Monthly Archive: December Rese

Life in the ROM DNA Lab

Posted: October 3, 2012 - 12:30 , by royal
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By Oliver Haddrath, Ornithology Technician

DNA testing over the last 30 years has revolutionized many different fields ranging from health care to law enforcement to the study of human civilization and natural history.  The ROM was quick to adopt techniques such as DNA sequencing and genetic fingerprinting as powerful tools to help study its collections.

ROM Mycologists in the field

Posted: September 24, 2012 - 13:20 , by royal
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Posting by Kirstin Bourne

Mushroom season has only just started and already ROM mycologists have been out in the field conducting research and searching for new specimens to add to the museum collection. Last week I got the chance to join Jean-Marc Moncalvo, the ROM’s Senior Curator of Mycology, along with Ph.D. Candidate Santiago Sanchez and Josie Carding, a summer intern in the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity for a few days of foraging and camping in Ontario’s Awenda Provincial Park.

A surprise photograph from India

Posted: September 20, 2012 - 15:53 , by Deepali Dewan


Mystery portrait in the ROM's collection, later revealed to be Sunder Shyam Chadha in the film “Chhottii Babhi,” 1951

Gem of the Month: Canadian Diamonds

Posted: September 20, 2012 - 13:00 , by royal
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Posting by Brendt Hyde, Mineralogy Technician

The discovery of diamonds in the 1990’s marked a beginning for Canada’s first diamond mine, the Ekati Diamond Mine, located in the Northwest Territories.  It also marked the beginning of the, still relatively young, diamond mining industry in Canada.

Curiosity Makes Tracks on Mars

Posted: September 13, 2012 - 10:44 , by royal
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Posting by Brendt Hyde, Mineralogy Techncian

Pronghorns and Prickly Pears and Bison…oh my! Thoughts on Grasslands National Park

Posted: September 11, 2012 - 17:48 , by Nicole Richards

Submitted by Alexander Muth, winner of the Find the Baby Bison Contest

Alexander loving the view from the top of 70 mile Butte

We’re back.  We all had a great trip out west. It’s hard to pick out highlights, as it all seems like highlights to me.

Facebook Features A Fishy Story!

Posted: September 11, 2012 - 10:30 , by ROM
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When ROM Ichthyologist Dr. Hernan Lopez-Fernandez was unable to attend a 2011 expedition to the Cuyuni River in Guyana, he found other creative ways to collaborate with fellow scientists. Dr. Lopez-Fernandez enabled Devin Bloom, a U of T graduate student with extensive experience in Guyana through previous joint expeditions, to attend in his place and share the specimen collections and tissue samples with the ROM.

Go West Young Man, and take a ROM Employee with you

Posted: September 6, 2012 - 10:47 , by Nicole Richards

I’ve just come back from Grasslands National Park with the Grand Prize Winner of the Find the Baby Bison contest, Alexander Muth. I’m the lucky ROM employee chosen to accompany him and his family on the trip (actually no luck involved at all, it was an arm wrestling competition and I’m stronger than I look).

Fantastic Folding Fan Leaf

Posted: August 31, 2012 - 10:32 , by royal

By Ka Bo Tsang, ROM Assistant Curator, Chinese Pictorial Arts

Overview image of fan.

Wu Huizhang wrote Tang-dynasty poems onto this folding fan, showing exceptional levels of concentration, writing skill, and compositional skill.

ROM Research: Weighing Giants

Posted: August 24, 2012 - 08:25 , by royal
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by Nicolás Campione, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto