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  1. Homepage
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  3. Archive December 2021

Blog archive: December 2021



  • The Australian Museum
    At the Museum

    This year, in our brimming biome home

    Discover the Australian Museum's extraordinary achievements in the face of a testing year.

    Written by Kim McKay, AO / Category At the Museum / Published 23 December 2021
  • Saltbush dominated habitat of Aridulodrilus molesworthae.
    AMRI

    Earthworms can sometimes surprise us

    Australia is richly endowed with earthworm biodiversity, but of the 750 or so named species of earthworm in Australia, very few have been found in arid environments. The Broken Hill earthworm, a new genus and species, was a serendipitous find in an unexpected location. Find out more at the AM!

    Written by Dr Geoff Dyne / Category AMRI / Published 21 December 2021
  • Stigmatopora harastii The Steps
    AMRI

    Discoveries and disruptions: 2021 in AMRI

    2021 was an unprecedented year for many: despite COVID-19 disruptions and restrictions, AMRI scientists discovered an unprecedented number of species, published at a new record, carried out fieldwork, and engaged with the public in our citizen science programs.

    Written by Meagan Warwick, Professor Kristofer Helgen / Category AMRI / Published 20 December 2021
  • Manoela at Lizard Island.
    AMRI

    News from LIRS: Marine pollution research

    Each month, a selected blog from Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation (LIRRF) is featured at the AM. LIRRF supports scientific research & education at the AM’s Lizard Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef. For this month, we feature: Marine pollution research.

    Written by Elliot Connor / Category AMRI / Published 16 December 2021
  • Dr Laetitia Gunton digitising sponge specimens.
    AMRI

    Digitising the treasures of the sea

    The Australian Museum is digitising its collections, including the historic and diverse Marine Invertebrate collection. We explain how the Museum is opening up its treasure trove of specimens to the world and the discoveries we are making along the way.

    Written by Dr Laetitia Gunton, Dr Stephen Keable / Category AMRI / Published 14 December 2021
  • Digivol Projects
    AMRI

    Celebrating a decade of DigiVol!

    DigiVol, the World’s first citizen science website for digitising museum collections, turns 10! Today we celebrate our volunteers, staff and all the brilliant collections that make this project so unique.

    Written by Meagan Warwick, Paul Flemons, Adam Woods, Leonie Prater / Category AMRI / Published 09 December 2021
  • Jonathan D. - Finalist, 2021 University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize — Secondary
    Science

    The teenage filmmaker with a flair for science communication

    In conversation with Jonathan D., winner of the 2021 University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize – Secondary.

    Written by Kate Smith / Category Science / Published 08 December 2021
    Eureka Prizes Sleek Geeks Rewilding Climate Change
  • Clare Kim and Rebecca Jones carefully moving some items into the CC&C lab via the service lift. Photos taken prior to Covid-19 mask restrictions and lockdown.
    Science

    Digitising and conserving fragile materials: the Australian Museum archaeology collection

    We take a behind the scenes look at the process of digitising and conserving fragile objects in the First Nations Archaeology collection – an ongoing collaborative project with the AM's Collection Care and Conservation team.

    Written by Rebecca Jones, Clare Kim / Category Science / Published 07 December 2021
  • Man who uses a wheelchair and friend in Hintze Hall
    Museullaneous

    Game changing moments: celebrating International Day for People with a Disability

    I’ll never forget the day that I saw subtitles on an English language movie the first time.

    Written by Sabrina Houssami / Category Museullaneous / Published 03 December 2021
    Accessibility
  • Palm forest on Norfolk Island.
    AMRI

    More than a snail’s pace: Progress on Norfolk Island’s threatened snails

    There have been moments of excitement and moments of despair along the way, but six months after starting a zoo-based breeding program for two Critically Endangered land snail species from Norfolk Island, the population is stable and progressing well.

    Written by Dr Isabel Hyman / Category AMRI / Published 01 December 2021

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The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.
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We pay our respect to Aboriginal Elders and recognise their continuous connection to Country.
This website may contain names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Photo of two painted shields

The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.

Image credit: gadigal yilimung (shield) made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden