Summary

Abstract: Lousiana State University (LSU) Museum of Natural Science brings Antarctica to Baton Rouge. A new hands-on permanent exhibit "Experience Antarctica". BATON ROUGE - It's the world's coldest and most mysterious continent, its many layers of ice holding secrets that only the bravest and most resourceful scientists seek to uncover. While Antarctica may be the world's final and most inaccessible frontier, visitors to Louisiana State University (LSU) can experience some of its wonder firsthand at the LSU Museum of Natural Science in Foster Hall. "Experience Antarctica" is the first new exhibit in more than 40 years at the Museum of Natural Science. Featuring displays of rare treasures from the ice continent, "Experience Antarctica" is a glimpse into rugged life of Antarctic researchers studying the origin and history of our planet. "Experience Antarctica" is a highly-detailed exhibit which can satisfy the curiosity of both young and old. Antarctica has a reputation for being almost uninhabitable, but at one time it boasted an environment teeming with life. Visitors are immediately drawn to the main evidence of this biological abundance through a replica of a Cryolophosaurus skull dominating the center of the exhibit. Cryolophosaurus was one of the dinosaurs which once lived in Antarctica in warmer times. There are also numerous displays of plant life, various types of rocks, and rare meteorite samples from both the moon and Mars. Interactive video displays show LSU geology researchers conducting sea and land research in Antarctica, illustrating the difficulties involved in gathering information in the world's most hostile natural environment. "It is our hope that this new exhibit creates a spirit of enthusiasm and excitement for our museum and for Earth Science research" says Dr. Sophie Warny. Dr. Warny is the education director of the MNS and she is responsible for raising the funds, designing and implementing the new exhibit. "We are very proud of the high level of quality scientific research we conduct here at LSU and our goal is to share the excitement we have for our research with the public. What better way to do so than by translating LSU research into exhibits. Hopefully, this will only be the beginning of a new generation of K-12 outreach programs to generate more interest in the world of science, particularly among our young people" says Warny. The exhibit was built originally as the outreach component of Warny's NSF research grant with the support of the MNS's director, Fred Sheldon. The panels are created to mirror some of the fundamental principles taught in the undergraduate curriculum in geology (Physical and Historical), but these fundamental parameters are exemplified by the research of colleagues such as Judith Schiebout and William Hammer (macropaleontology), Huiming Bao (stable isotope geochemistry) and David Marchant (glacial geology), Gary Byerly (meteorites), Barbara Dutrow and Darell Henry (petrology and volcanology), Barun Sen Gupta (forams) and John Wrenn (palynology) contributed to the exhibit. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday. "Experience Antarctica" is made possible through support and funding by the National Science Foundation, the Louisiana Board of Regents, and the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation.

Related URL

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE Description: This website contains all exhibit panels including text and pictures and all the exhibit videos and animations.

Service Citation

Title: Experience Antarctica Provider: Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University URL: http://appl027.lsu.edu/MNSEducation/exp_antarctica/index.html

Service Keywords

EDUCATION/OUTREACH >EXHIBIT MATERIALS >MUSEUM EXHIBITS   [Definition]

EDUCATION/OUTREACH >EXHIBIT MATERIALS   [Definition]

EDUCATION/OUTREACH >EXHIBIT MATERIALS >SCIENCE CENTER EXHIBITS   [Definition]

Science Keywords

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS >WETLANDS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >VEGETATION >POLLEN   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >VEGETATION   [Definition]

CRYOSPHERE >SEA ICE   [Definition]

HUMAN DIMENSIONS >ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS   [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >EROSION/SEDIMENTATION   [Definition]

LAND SURFACE >GEOMORPHOLOGY   [Definition]

PALEOCLIMATE >ICE CORE RECORDS   [Definition]

PALEOCLIMATE >LAND RECORDS   [Definition]

SUN-EARTH INTERACTIONS >SOLAR ACTIVITY   [Definition]

SOLID EARTH >ROCKS/MINERALS/CRYSTALS >METEORITES   [Definition]

SOLID EARTH >ROCKS/MINERALS/CRYSTALS   [Definition]

SOLID EARTH >TECTONICS >EARTHQUAKES   [Definition]

SOLID EARTH >TECTONICS >VOLCANIC ACTIVITY   [Definition]

CRYOSPHERE >FROZEN GROUND   [Definition]

CRYOSPHERE >SEA ICE >ISOTOPES   [Definition]

CRYOSPHERE >GLACIERS/ICE SHEETS   [Definition]

BIOSPHERE >AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS >WETLANDS

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE ENVIRONMENT GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION INLAND WATERS OCEANS

Access Constraints

Panels are available on-line.

Keywords

Antarctica

Greenhouse

Icehouse

Dinosaurs

Solar System

Rocks

Animation

Space

Service Provider

Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana Museum of Natural History, Louisiana State University Service Provider Personnel Name: SOPHIE ARMANDE WARNY Phone: 225-578-5089 Fax: 225-578-2302 Email: swarny at lsu.edu Contact Address: Louisiana Museum of Natural Science 119 Foster Hall City: Baton Rouge Province or State: LA Postal Code: 70803 Country: USA

Personnel

SOPHIE ARMANDE WARNY Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT Phone: 225-578-5089 Fax: 225-578-2302 Email: swarny at lsu.edu Contact Address: Louisiana Museum of Natural Science 119 Foster Hall City: Baton Rouge Province or State: LA Postal Code: 70803 Country: USA

Creation and Review Dates

SERF Creation Date: 2005-12-16 SERF Last Revision Date: 2005-12-16