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History Museum (history + museum)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Humanities and Social Sciences41%
Life Sciences35%
Earth and Environmental Science11%

Kinds of History Museum

  • natural history museum
    		•

    Selected Abstracts

    PLANNING FOR A NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN A UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY

    CURATOR THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, Issue 2 2000
    Scott M. Lanyon
    First page of article [source]

    THE ART AND SCIENCE OF SEEING: APPLYING VISUAL LITERACY INTERPRETATION IN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS

    CURATOR THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, Issue 4 2002
    Johanna Jones Senior Associate
    First page of article [source]

    Geology Today and the Natural History Museum: a statement

    GEOLOGY TODAY, Issue 2 2003
    Article first published online: 10 NOV 200
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    Last-century changes of alpine grassland water-use efficiency: a reconstruction through carbon isotope analysis of a time-series of Capra ibex horns

    GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
    INÊS C. R. BARBOSA
    Abstract The ecophysiological response of an alpine grassland to recent climate change and increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration was investigated with a new strategy to go back in time: using a time-series of Capra ibex horns as archives of the alpine grasslands' carbon isotope discrimination (13,). From the collection of the Natural History Museum of Bern, horns of 24 males from the population of the Augstmatthorn,Brienzer Rothorn mountains, Switzerland, were sampled covering the period from 1938 to 2006. Samples were taken from the beginning of each year-ring of the horns, representing the beginning of the horn growth period, the spring. The horns' carbon 13C content (,13C) declined together with that of atmospheric CO2 over the 69-year period, but 13, increased slightly (+0.4,), though significantly (P<0.05), over the observation period. Estimated intercellular CO2 concentration increased (+56 ,mol mol,1) less than the atmospheric CO2 concentration (+81 ,mol mol,1), so that intrinsic water-use efficiency increased by 17.8% during the 69-year period. However, the atmospheric evaporative demand at the site increased by approximately 0.1 kPa between 1955 and 2006, thus counteracting the improvement of intrinsic water-use efficiency. As a result, instantaneous water-use efficiency did not change. The observed changes in intrinsic water-use efficiency were in the same range as those of trees (as reported by others), indicating that leaf-level control of water-use efficiency of grassland and forests followed the same principles. This is the first reconstruction of the water-use efficiency response of a natural grassland ecosystem to last century CO2 and climatic changes. The results indicate that the alpine grassland community has responded to climate change by improving the physiological control of carbon gain to water loss, following the increases in atmospheric CO2 and evaporative demand. But, effective leaf-level water-use efficiency has remained unchanged. [source]

    Brief communication: The London atlas of human tooth development and eruption

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
    S.J. AlQahtani
    Abstract The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive evidence-based atlas to estimate age using both tooth development and alveolar eruption for human individuals between 28 weeks in utero and 23 years. This was a cross-sectional, retrospective study of archived material with the sample aged 2 years and older having a uniform age and sex distribution. Developing teeth from 72 prenatal and 104 postnatal skeletal remains of known age-at-death were examined from collections held at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Natural History Museum, London, UK (M 91, F 72, unknown sex 13). Data were also collected from dental radiographs of living individuals (M 264, F 264). Median stage for tooth development and eruption for all age categories was used to construct the atlas. Tooth development was determined according to Moorrees et al. (J Dent Res 42 (1963a) 490,502; Am J Phys Anthropol 21 (1963b) 205,213) and eruption was assessed relative to the alveolar bone level. Intraexaminer reproducibility calculated using Kappa on 150 teeth was 0.90 for 15 skeletal remains of age <2 years, and 0.81 from 605 teeth (50 radiographs). Age categories were monthly in the last trimester, 2 weeks perinatally, 3-month intervals during the first year, and at every year thereafter. Results show that tooth formation is least variable in infancy and most variable after the age of 16 years for the development of the third molar. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    Sex determination of adolescent skeletons using the distal humerus

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
    Tracy L. Rogers
    Abstract Accurate determination of the sex of immature skeletal remains is difficult in the absence of DNA, due to the fact that most sexually dimorphic features of the human skeleton develop as secondary sex characteristics during adolescence. Methods of assessment of adult skeletons cannot reliably be applied to adolescent skeletons because of the transitional nature of the skeleton at puberty and the variability of the adolescent growth spurt. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of Rogers's method of morphological sex determination using the distal humerus (Rogers: J Forensic Sci 44 (1999) 55,59) to assess the sex of adolescent skeletons. The sample consists of 7 documented adolescent skeletons from the Christ Church Spitalfields collection at the British Museum of Natural History and 35 from the Luis Lopes skeletal collection housed in the National History Museum (Museu Bocage) of the University of Lisbon, Portugal. Ages range from 11 to 20 years. The technique achieved an accuracy of 81% on the combined sample of 42. This method can be applied to adolescent skeletons once the trochlea begins fusing to the humeral diaphysis, which occurred by age 11 years in the test samples. Am J Phys Anthropol 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

    The distribution of circularly polarized light reflection in the Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera)

    BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2010
    J. DAVID PYE fls
    The light reflected from many scarab beetles is strongly circularly polarized, a phenomenon that may be unique in nature. Approximately 1500 genera and more than 19 000 species/subspecies of scarab beetles (Scarabaeoidea) in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London, were surveyed with circularly polarizing filters to assess how widespread this effect is and how it relates to colour patterns in the individuals concerned. Over 1100 measurements were made of the strength of the circular polarization, in some cases registering 97%. Circular polarization had been previously described from five subfamilies of Scarabaeidae and, in the present study, was found in three further subfamilies: Phaenomeridinae, Dynastinae and Euchirinae, as well as in the subfamily Ceratocanthinae of the family Hybosoridae, comprising the first records outside the Scarabaeidae. The results may have implications for the taxonomy of the group, for visual discrimination, and for the behaviour of the species themselves. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100, 585,596. [source]

    Eckfeld Maar: Window into an Eocene Terrestrial Habitat in Central Europe

    ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 4 2010
    Herbert LUTZ
    Abstract: To mark the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the Rheinische Naturforschende Gesellschaft in 2009 and of the centennial of the Mainz Natural History Museum in 2010, we present a short account of our present knowledge of the Eckfeld Maar after 20 years of continuous research. This paper does not attempt to include all of the detailed results on the geology of the Eckfeld site or its biota. To date, nearly 250 papers and books have been published since the start of our project An up-to-date list of these publications can be found at http://www.eckfeldermaar.de. [source]

    Marius Tscherning (1854,1939): his life and work in optical physiology

    ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 5 2004
    Mogens Norn
    Abstract. Background:,This article is based on Tscherning's papers, scientific protocols and letters and the many original instruments kept in the Medical History Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. History:,In 1884, after his thesis concerning the frequency of myopia in Denmark, Tscherning became adjunct director of the ophthalmological laboratory at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He was called back to Denmark in 1910 and appointed professor of ophthalmology and head of the Eye Department, Rigshospitalet. He continued to work scientifically as emeritus from 1925. Achievements:,Tscherning published about 100 scientific papers, mainly concerning optical physiology (i.e. the aetiology of myopia, entoptic phenomena, Purkinje pictures, the polygonal pattern provoked by corneal rubbing, etc.). He studied the law of Listing and projections depending on torsion of the eye and invented the ophthalmophacometer, which measures the changes that occur in the front and back curvatures of the crystalline lens during accommodation. Tscherning also studied aberration and calculated and constructed forward bulging periscopic (punctal) spectacle lenses. In addition, he studied colour sense, dark vision and adaptation. [source]

    Evaluating the Conservation Mission of Zoos, Aquariums, Botanical Gardens, and Natural History Museums

    CONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
    BRIAN MILLER
    Many of these institutions emphasize a mission of conservation, and, undeniably, they do contribute directly to conservation education and conservation science. They present an exceptional opportunity for many urban residents to see the wonders of life, and they can contribute to education and habitat preservation. Because many collection-based institutions now hold a stated mission of conservation, we suggest eight potential questions to evaluate actions toward that mission: (1) Does conservation thought define policy decisions? (2) Is there sufficient organizational funding for conservation activities? (3) Is there a functional conservation department? (4) Does the institution advocate for conservation? (5) Do conservation education programs effectively target children and adults? (6) Does the institution contribute directly to habitat protection locally and internationally? (7) Do exhibits explain and promote conservation efforts? and (8) Do internal policies and activities protect the environment? These questions are offered as a place to begin discussion. We hope they will help employees and administrators of a collection-based institution (and citizens of the surrounding community) think about and support their institution's conservation activities. Public support and praise for institutions that are striving toward solutions for conservation problems and pressure on organizations that are moving more slowly toward a conservation orientation can help shift more resources toward saving nature. Resumen:,Las instituciones basadas en colecciones (zoológicos, acuarios, museos y jardines botánicos) exhiben vida silvestre. Por lo tanto, tienen una conexión especial con la naturaleza. Muchas de estas instituciones destacan una misión de conservación y, sin duda contribuyen directamente a la educación y la ciencia de la conservación. Brindan una oportunidad excepcional para que muchos residentes urbanos vean las maravillas de la vida, y pueden contribuir a la educación y a la preservación del hábitat. Debido a que en la actualidad muchas de las instituciones basadas en colecciones tienen una misión de conservación manifiesta, sugerimos ocho preguntas potenciales para evaluar las acciones hacia el cumplimiento de esa misión: (1) ¿Las consideraciones sobre la conservación definen las decisiones sobre políticas? (2) ¿Hay suficiente financiamiento organizacional para las actividades de conservación? (3) ¿Hay un departamento de conservación que funcione? (4) ¿La institución aboga por la conservación? (5) ¿Los programas de educación en conservación se enfocan eficientemente sobre niños y adultos? (6) ¿La institución contribuye directamente a la conservación del hábitat a nivel local e internacional? (7) ¿Las exhibiciones explican y promueven los esfuerzos de conservación? y (8) ¿Las políticas y actividades internas protegen el ambiente? Estas preguntas se ofrecen como un marco para iniciar la discusión. Esperamos que ayuden a los empleados y administradores de una institución basada en colecciones (y a los ciudadanos de la comunidad en la que se encuentra) a reflexionar sobre las actividades de conservación de su institución y lograr que las apoyen. El apoyo y el reconocimiento público de aquellas instituciones que pugnan por soluciones para los problemas de conservación y la presión sobre aquellas organizaciones que se están moviendo más lentamente hacia una orientación de conservación pueden ayudar a destinar más recursos para salvaguardar la naturaleza. [source]

    Selecting the Past: The Politics of Memory in Moscow's History Museums

    CITY & SOCIETY, Issue 2 2000
    Anatoly M. Khazanov
    Moscow's historical museums reflect a complex interrelationship of power, knowledge, and memory in contemporary Russia. Social and political changes in the country have produced enormous rifts between new and old values and memories, and the museums as mediums for the interpretations of die past are prone to manipulation by different political forces. History is contested. However die Moscow historical museums, especially those that belong to die state, still do not demonstrate a fundamental break from Soviet interpretation of the past. At best they are only beginning to develop a multi-focused approach to the Russian and Soviet past. (Moscow, museums, politics, contested history, collective memory] [source]

    At Hospitality's Threshold: From Social Inclusion to Exilic Education

    CURATOR THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009
    Edith Doron
    Museums have strived to be valued resources in an increasingly diverse society. In aspiring to broaden their audience base, their work has shifted from developing educational policies that are "object-centered" to those that are "community-centered" , a change of strategy affecting everything from programs to exhibit design. Children's museums , distinct (if not marginalized) from the serious work of the traditional art or ethnographic or natural history museum , know and indeed say in their very name , "children's museum" , that they are for the sake of someone and not about something. They have always already been attuned to the visitor at the threshold. [source]

    Writing the History of Humanity: The Role of Museums in Defining Origins and Ancestors in a Transnational World

    CURATOR THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, Issue 1 2005
    Monique Scott
    ABSTRACT This article explores the question of how transnational audiences experience anthropology exhibitions in particular, and the natural history museum overall. Of interest are the ways in which natural history museums reconcile anthropological notions of humanity's shared evolutionary history,in particular, African origins accounts,with visitors' complex cultural identities. Through case studies of British, American, and Kenyan museum audiences, this research probed the cultural preconceptions that museum visitors bring to the museum and use to interpret their evolutionary heritage. The research took special notice of audiences of African descent, and their experiences in origins exhibitions and the natural history museums that house them. The article aims to draw connections between natural history museums and the dynamic ways in which museum visitors make meaning. As museums play an increasing role in the transnational homogenization of cultures, human origins exhibitions are increasingly challenged to communicate an evolutionary prehistory that we collectively share, while validating the cultural histories that make us unique. [source]

    How Europe is portrayed in exhibitions

    MUSEUM INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2001
    Jean-Yves Marin
    Jean-Yves Marin is director of the Museum of Normandy in Caen and president of the International Committee of the Museums of Archaelogy and History of ICOM. With a long international and European experience in the organization of exhibitions, he is also a renowned medievalist and general superintendent of a large number of archaelogical and history exhibitions. In this article, he describes the forces behind the growth in the European public's desire to know their shared past and understand their origins, and the corresponding trend to identify and recognize the intermixing of the peoples of Europe in all their complexity. He believes that this evolution encourages a revision of the concept of the history museum and recommends an example that would integrate objects and work with the historical dimension , including the delicate political aspects of the origins of modern Europe , to enable the creation of a global museographic discourse on European history. [source]

    Writing the History of Humanity: The Role of Museums in Defining Origins and Ancestors in a Transnational World

    CURATOR THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, Issue 1 2005
    Monique Scott
    ABSTRACT This article explores the question of how transnational audiences experience anthropology exhibitions in particular, and the natural history museum overall. Of interest are the ways in which natural history museums reconcile anthropological notions of humanity's shared evolutionary history,in particular, African origins accounts,with visitors' complex cultural identities. Through case studies of British, American, and Kenyan museum audiences, this research probed the cultural preconceptions that museum visitors bring to the museum and use to interpret their evolutionary heritage. The research took special notice of audiences of African descent, and their experiences in origins exhibitions and the natural history museums that house them. The article aims to draw connections between natural history museums and the dynamic ways in which museum visitors make meaning. As museums play an increasing role in the transnational homogenization of cultures, human origins exhibitions are increasingly challenged to communicate an evolutionary prehistory that we collectively share, while validating the cultural histories that make us unique. [source]

    What determines conformity to Bergmann's rule?

    GLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
    Shai Meiri
    ABSTRACT Aim, Bergmann's rule, the tendency of body size within species in bird and mammal populations to be positively correlated with latitude, is among the best known biogeographical generalizations. The factors behind such clines, however, are not well understood. Here we use a large data base of 79 mammalian carnivore species to examine the factors affecting latitudinal size clines. Location, Worldwide. Methods, We measured the skulls and teeth of carnivores in natural history museums, and calculated the amount of variation in size explained by latitude, supplementing our measurements with published data. We examined the effects of a number of variables on the tendency to show latitudinal clines. Results, We found that geographical range and latitudinal extent are strongly related to size clines. Minimum temperatures across the range, net primary productivity and habitat diversity also have some, albeit much less, influence. Main conclusions, We suggest that species with large geographical ranges are likely to encounter significant heterogeneity in those factors that influence body size, and are thus likely to exhibit size clines. However, the key factors that determine body size may not always operate along a latitudinal (or other geographical) cline, but be spatially linked to patches in the species range. One such important factor is likely to be food availability, which we show is a strong predictor of size in the brown bear (Ursus arctos) but is not associated with a latitudinal cline. We argue that the spatial distribution of key resources within the species range constitutes a significant predictor of carnivore body size. [source]

    Dinosaurier-Skelette als Kriegsziel: Kulturgutraubplanungen, Besatzungspolitik und die deutsche Paläontologie in Belgien im Ersten Weltkrieg,

    BERICHTE ZUR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE, Issue 1 2004
    Christoph Roolf
    Abstract The paper deals with the unnoticed and sweeping activities of German scientists and university disciplines in the context of German occupation policy and plannings of plundering cultural assets as war pillage during the First World War. It exemplarily shows the case of palaeontologists in occupied Belgium: Their main project was the famous excavation site of skeletons of the dinosaur Iguanodon in the small town Bernissart. After a new excavation between 1915 and 1918 they planned, with the support of occupation authorities, the transportation of dinosaur skeletons into German natural history museums and collections as war pillage. [source]