Author Archive: ROM
Monthly Archive: December ROM
Let’s talk about this
The Friends of the Institute for Contemporary Culture are a group of ROM members with an affinity for the ICC and its activities. The ICC seeks to stimulate “diverse audiences to think creatively, understand and change the world,” and when the FICC committee first came together just under a year ago, we wanted to find new ways to support this intention.
More Butterfly Migrants arrive
A second impressive ‘wave’ of butterfly migration has been taking place the last few days. More Red Admirals have been joined by some other migratory butterflies: Painted Lady (saw one in the schoolyard yesterday), American Lady, Common Buckeye, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, Cloudless Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, Variegated Fritillary, Little Yellow, American Snout, Dainty Sulphur, etc. The list is a long one. The occasional Monarch has already been recorded as well!
A Super Event and a Super Moon
The libration of the Moon over a single lunar month. Image credit: Tom Ruen
For all the space junkies and aspiring astronauts, the ROM is holding its first ever Space Weekend on May 5 and 6…it’s going to be out of this world!
Monday’s Massive Migration
For some more info on the butterfly migration see Antonia’s blog plost from May 4, 2012.
“What is it with you gringos and 2012?”
Dr. Anthony Aveni uses what we have learned about the Maya calendar and what we know about astronomy to debunk irrational predictions about the year 2012
The question above was asked of Colgate University professor Dr. Anthony Aveni, one of the pioneers in the field of archaeoastronomy (the study of the astronomy and related beliefs of ancient cultures), when he was talking to a Maya friend in the course of his research.
A Magical Place named Wide Waters
On a chilly February evening, Dr. David Stuart of the University of Texas at Austin shared his enthusiasm for the Maya site of Palenque, and took the ROM audience to a very different time and place.
Biodiversity Series wins award!
Last week, the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects recognized the City of Toronto Biodiversity Series of booklets with their Service to the Environment award. The award is “In recognition of the recipient’s ongoing contribution in supporting sensitive, sustainable stewardship of the environment.”
Science, Art and Technology: An Interview with Deborah Samuel
Lizard.I © Deborah Samuel 2012/Courtesy of the Royal Ontario Museum.
Does a mild winter mean more insects?
Given our warmer-than-average winter this year, ROM entomologists have fielded numerous enquiries about whether mild winter temperatures will result in more bugs this spring and summer. Unfortunately, there is no simple “yes” or “no” answer to this question — the best response is “It depends”.
A Tale of Two Cities
Dr. Helen R. Haines has discovered many things in her years of digging, measuring and mapping the remnants of the ancient Maya culture. However, it would be a mistake to assume that what she uncovers relates only to peoples of the distant past. Sometimes, what we learn about them reveals equally as much about us.
