Nature
Monthly Archive: December natu
Museums and Climate Change: Two Easy Steps and One Provocative Move
![#COP21 logo at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris. Photo by @COP21 on twitter #COP21 logo in the public access area for the 2015 UN Paris Climate Change Conference](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/cop21_from_twitter.png?itok=hoNAV2Ss)
Our world leaders converged on Paris yesterday for the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, or #COP21. During the opening ceremonies we heard from the top dogs, including US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and China President Xi Jinping. None of them explicitly called out to the museums of the world, but certainly we are ALL implied in the action required to battle our rapidly changing climate.
Women in Wildlife Photography
![Britta Jaschinski, the only female photographer amongst the winners of the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Photo by Mark Hamblin Britta Jaschinski, the only female photographer amongst the winners of the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Photo by Mark Hamblin](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/brittabw.jpg?itok=iTdF2ysu)
Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Krystal Seedial
Only eleven finalists and one winner of the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest are women. Why are there so few female photographers involved in WPY? Environmental Visual Communication student Krystal Seedial explores this question further.
WPY - The Proof is in the Picture
![“Tundra Buggy and Sun Dog” Don Gutoski’s snowy view on a photography adventure in Cape Churchill, Manitoba. “Tundra Buggy and Sun Dog” Don Gutoski’s snowy view on a photography adventure in Cape Churchill, Manitoba.](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/153665194.ldxedivv.capechurchill20137372-2.jpg?itok=zpZ0Vxnf)
Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Kendra Marjerrison
For some wildlife photographers, a kill shot is the ultimate goal. It creates compelling photographs that highlight moments people don’t often get to see. For others, it’s a difficult scene to witness from behind the lens. Don, the 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year, had no idea that the predatory behaviour captured in the photograph he took on the last day of his northern adventure would be more than just an interesting shot. It’s a powerful story about what can happen when the Earth becomes warmer and two competing predators, the red fox and the Arctic fox, are driven to cross paths...
Nature Stories through Photography: Insights from Connor Stefanison
![Connor Stefanison at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Natural History Museum, UK Connor Stefanison at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Natural History Museum, UK](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/connor_stefanison_wpy-2.jpg?itok=K61LH9XD)
Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Sean de Francia
Connor Stefanison is this year’s recipient of the Rising Star Portfolio Award, given to outstanding photographers 18-25 for images that will be featured at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibit. He was also awarded the Eric Hosking Portfolio Award in 2013. Here he shares his insights into producing powerful narratives through nature and wildlife photography.
BioBlitz Bits: Liking Lichen
![A type of shield lichen demonstrates the beautiful patterns of these complex organisms. Photo by Austin Miller A type of shield lichen demonstrates the beautiful patterns of these complex organisms. Photo by Austin Miller](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/austin_miller_lichen_blog_6-2.jpg?itok=Y-94uYge)
Guest Blog written by 2015 Environmental Visual Communication student Austin Miller and Lichenologist Dr. Troy McMullin of the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO)
Ever wondered what a lichen is? The story that is coming to light about the species diversity in and around Toronto for this unique group of organisms may surprise you.
The ROM's Very Own Batman Returns
![the ROM’s very own ‘Batman’, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, Dr. Burton Lim. Credit: Vincent Luk The ROM’s very own ‘Batman’, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, Dr. Burton Lim with "bat wings" outlined with light in a long exposure photo. Credit: Vincent Luk](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/2015-09-08_srilanka_vince-3-2.jpg?itok=UNT6bP2W)
ROM Biodiversity (@ROMBiodiversity) was in the fields and forests of Sri Lanka for an intense four weeks between Aug 23 - Sept 19, 2015, completing the first comprehensive survey of bats and other small mammals that live on the island in close to 80 years.
Hopping Their Way to Your Heart
![a toad sits patiently in the hand of a naturalist who holds it out for a young person to explore. Photo by Tallie Garey a toad sits patiently in the hand of a naturalist who holds it out for a young person to explore](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/2015-06-13-bioblitz_tallie_garey-17-2.jpg?itok=otuNEMUG)
Guest Blog written by 2015 Environmental Visual Communication student Lian Jong
Lian sat down with ROM Herpetology technician Amy Lathrop to get some insight into the museum's vast Natural History collections, in particular, its reptiles and amphibians.
Blue Whale Update: A Whole Lotta Heart
![Jacqueline Miller, Robert Henry and Paul Nader putting plugs in the major vessels of the blue whale heart. Photo by Sam Rose Phillips Jacqueline Miller, Robert Henry and Paul Nader putting plugs in the major vessels of the blue whale heart. Photo by Sam Rose Phillips](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/blue_whale_heart_1-smantha_phillips.jpg?itok=6avOTSLm)
Guest Blog written by 2015 Environmental Visual Communication student Sam Rose Phillips
ROM in the Field: Bats, Barcoding, and a Baby
![A tube-nosed bat (Murina cyclotis) in flight. Photo by Vincent Luk A tube-nosed bat (Murina cyclotis) in flight. Photo by Vincent Luk](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/2015-08-31_srilanka_tubenosedbat_murinacyclotis04_vl-2.jpg?itok=-YG8Qwti)
ROM Biodiversity (@ROMBiodiversity) is in the fields and forests of Sri Lanka for an intense four weeks doing the first comprehensive survey of bats and other small mammals in close to 80 years. Follow the South Asian adventure on social media with #ROMSriLanka, and join Burton Lim and the Team LIVE from the field on September 10 at noon: https://www.rom.on.ca/en/activities-programs/events-calendar/hangout-with-our-rom-biodiversity-team-in-sri-lanka
#ROMSriLanka Kicks off Month-long Expedition
![Scenic view of Yala National Park in Southern Sri Lanka, one of the destinations for Burton's team. Photo courtesy of Balou46 via Wikimedia Commons photo of a an elephant standing in a wetland in Yala National Park in Sri Lanka with jungle and a mountain in the background](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/lk-yala-elefantenfels_by_balou46_cc_wikimedia-2.jpg?itok=rWIy5P3_)
Guest blog written by #ROMSriLanka Communication team member Deirdre Leowinata
The ROM’s own Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, Burton Lim, along with his ROM Biodiversity team, are traversing the planet’s surface to reach the small and mysterious country of Sri Lanka between August and September for one purpose and one purpose only… to study the island's small mammals.