Access All Areas

Hey podcast listeners, it’s been a while but we are back on the safari intrepidly exploring behind the scenes at Museum Victoria. A mammoth thank you to all of who have been involved with and listen to Access All Areas Podcast Adventures because thanks to you we won an international award - the Best Audio/Visual/Podcast category in the MW2011 Best of the Web awards! Thank you! In this episode, we deviously gatecrash the opening of the Explore-a-saurus dinosaur exhibition at Scienceworks. We hunt down dinosaur experts and dig up interesting science. We dance with animatronic dinosaurs and hang with dino enthusiasts whilst foraging for finger foods. I still find it amazing that chickens are modern-day dinosaurs. Do the chicken dance, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode27.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes Dr Andi sneaks into the exhibition opening via one of the dinosaur crates | Mother Maiasaura with her clutch of babies | Dr Tim 'ask me about dinosaurs' Holland. Photos by Dr Andi. Show notes Museum Victoria Resources Explore-a-saurusSomeone’s Gotta Do It podcast: Dr Tim HollandMV Blog: Access All Areas Awarded Interviewees and voices Dr Tim HollandDr Tom RichDave PickeringDr Patrick Greene, CEO Museum VictoriaGenevieve Fahey, Manager of ScienceworksVisitors to Scienceworks and dino enthusiastsAnd a cast of dinosaurs Interviews and production by Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services

This episode tours the museum’s Natural Sciences Department via poetry by Ogden Nash (1902-1971). Like the scientists, he clearly loved to ponder our natural world as he wrote many memorable poems about animals and creepy crawlies. Poets are allowed poetic licence, but pedants like me will still want to seek out the scientific line. So in this episode, we count the ribs of pythons, discuss the mating habits of shrimps, sniff out information on squashed ants, try to convince my cubicle buddy to do duck impersonations, find out the difference between centipedes and millipedes and reveal that Melbourne Museum has a an eel whisperer. Animatedly yours, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode26.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes Simon Hinkley sniffs out information on ants | Kate Philips counts python ribs | Jo Taylor discusses shrimp mating behaviour and shows us some of her research specimens Show notes Museum Victoria Resources Reticulated Python showcaseWhat's the difference between a prawn and a shrimp?Fish EvolutionFeeding the eels in the Milarri Garden pond More information Poems sourced from the book Candy is Dandy, The Best of Ogden NashOgden Nash on Wikipedia Interviewees and poetry readers Thanks to 3RRR for lending us radio announcers to read poems.The Python read by 3RRR’s BiggsyCommentary: Kate Philips, Senior Curator Science CommunicationThe Shrimp read by 3RRR’s BiggsyCommentary: Dr Joanne Taylor, Continental Margin Ecosystems Research fellow, Sciences DepartmentThe Ant read by 3RRR’s Jacinta ParsonsCommentary: Simon Hinkley, Collection Manager Entomology & Senior information officerThe Coelacanth read by Bernard CaleoCommentary: Wayne Gerdtz, Curator Science and Life galleryThe Duck by Ogden Nash read by Tracey-Ann HooleyCommentary: Tracey-Ann Hooley, Curator Science and Life GalleryThe Centipede read by 3RRR’s Simon WinklerCommentary: Jess Sinclair, Coordinator, Live ExhibitsThe Eel by Ogden Nash read by Bernard Caleo (MV) Interviews and production by Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services

Optical illusions are always great entertainment. It’s so amazing that our eyes and brains distort signals to the point where seeing is no longer quite believing. You’ll never guess what I found in the museum collections stores; a cassette tape of auditory illusions, among the files of a retired curator. When you listen to this podcast you will need stereo headphones or stereo speakers to get the full effect of the auditory illusions. One illusion is so amazing that everyone in the room hears something different. Enjoy the trip these sounds will take you on... they are un-real. Sounding out the truth, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode25.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes Download audio illusion ringtoneDownload Federation Bells playing Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 ringtone(Not an auditory illusion, but aren’t the bells pretty?) Boy listening to a crystal set radio through head-phones in his backyard, 1925 | Visual illusion from The Mind: Enter the Labyrinth | Geoff Holden (retired curator) Show notes Museum Victoria Resources The Mind: Enter the Labyrinth exhibition More information You can down load illusions from various sites Prof Diana Deutsch’s site Deutsch’s Musical Illusions More audio illusions Tonal language and pitch Interviewees (in order of appearance) Geoff Holden – Former MV Curator of Science & Technology (Retired 1996)Prof Diana Deutsche – Professor of Psychology, University of California, San Diego USA Interviews and production by Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services

Since doing podcasts, I have become more aware of the soundscapes and rhythms of various environments. Can you guess this mystery sound? This may not work in non-audio medium like print, but try it anyway ... b’loop, b’loop... b’loop... ...b’loop, b’loop... That’s five items at the supermarket checkout. Okay can you guess this one? Kashunk, wrrrrr, kashunk ,wrrrrr, kashunk... That’s hand luggage rolling over pavement. I’ve been searching for a new personalised ringtone for my mobile phone; naturally I turned to the museum collections as self-appointed curator of culturally significant ringtones. In this episode we launch our first two Museum Victoria mobile phone ringtones: the imagined squawks of extinct Qantassaurus dinosaurs and the 1885 mechanical coin-operated Symphonion music machine. May it ring true to you too, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode24.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes Download Qantassaurus ringtoneDownload Symphonion ringtone Animatronic models of Qantassaurus. Image: Jon Augier | Symphonion. Image: Jon Augier | Dr Andi and a banana, but no banana box frog. Image: Sarah Mulvey Show notes Museum Victoria Resources Qantassaurus linkKoala linkSymphonion linkLightning room link More information Amphibian Research Centre Interviewees (in order of appearance) Wayne Gerdtz – Curator, Science and Life GalleryTracey-Ann Hooley – Curator, Science and Life GalleryClaire Steel – Keeper, Live ExhibitsMichael Butson – Presenter, Public Programs, Scienceworks Interviews and production by Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services

I was in the museum’s collection store the other day, the one that houses a lot of technology items, and wondered what it would sound like if it came alive at midnight. Would it be a noisy place? The historic clocks would chime, the wind-up toys would clatter and buzz, the industrial machines would hum a rhythmic bass and some old computers game would beep and bop while the phonograph players would wind-up waltz. Then again, it might be such a cacophony that it would sound like the pots and pans cupboard collapsing. In this episode, we ask one of the Museum Victoria curators to activate objects that usually lie silent so we can celebrate the sounds of some unusual collection objects. Of sound mind, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode23.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes Detail of the music box showing metal pins. | David Demant with the music box. | David demonstrating the cardboard phonograph. Photos by Andi Horvath. Show notes Mr David Demant, Senior Curator, Information and Communication Production Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services

Ever wondered why so many Australians pay homage to Phar Lap the racehorse at Melbourne Museum? Is your knowledge of Phar Lap simply that he lived fast, died young and left a beautiful corpse? Here is your opportunity to get versed up with Jackie Kerin, the author of Phar Lap the Wonder Horse. Incidentally, Phar Lap’s skeleton is exhibited at Te Papa Museum in New Zealand, his preserved heart is at the National Museum in Canberra and his beautiful hide is on display at Melbourne Museum, but his tale (irresistible pun intended) is right here. Championing your trivia quiz cause, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode22.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes Phar Lap at Melbourne Museum, photo by Earl Carter | Jockey Silks, Telford Colours, worn by Phar Lap’s jockey in the 1930s, photo by John Broomfield | Storyteller and author Jackie Kerin in her finest racewear, photo courtesy of Jackie Kerrin Show notes Voices Jackie Kerin – author, actor and storyteller (http://www.jackiekerin.com.au/) Production Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services

The ‘relics’ of history have been housed in museums for hundreds of years. Museum Victoria was officially started in 1854 by British colonialists who collected items deemed to be significant to the nation’s identity, culture, and education.  Today the tradition of acquiring and housing what is significant to the nation’s culture continues but it’s performed by representatives of the broad Australian public, in the form of historians, scientists, and indigenous consultants, collectively known as curators.  While Phar Lap is one of Museums Victoria’s most famous relics, it’s the succession of three Phar Lap curators that we explore in this podcast.  Their research and interpretation has allowed the stories of Phar Lap to be gathered, authenticated, understood, preserved and enjoyed. Curating the curators, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode21.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes The three curators, left to right: Eddie Butler-Bowdon (photo by Jon Augier) | Elizabeth Willis (photo by John Broomfield) | Michael Reason (photo by Andi Horvath) Show notes Interviewees Elizabeth Willis – Curator EmeritusEddie Butler-Bowdon – Program Manager, Collections, at the City of Melbourne Art and Heritage CollectionsMichael Reason – Curator, History and Technology, and Phar Lap’s present-day ‘cultural strapper’ Production Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services

The great thing about museum objects at Scienceworks is you don’t have wait til midnight for them come alive. You can attend one of their seasonal Machines in Action days (‘MAD’ events as they call it) to experience the sights, sounds and smells of old giant steam engines, a gold and money van from the 1930s, and vintage motors on four wheels. That day the Mini car club were out there celebrating their 50th birthday. When it comes to motor vehicles, I have to ‘fess up the only thing I was really interested in was the sound of their ‘toot’, but after meeting the people who know their machines inside and out, I got excited about them too. Rolling on, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode20.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes Visitors checking out a Mini car. | The Super Sentinel Steam Waggon in action. | Matthew Churchward with the 1930s van for transporting gold and money. Photos by Andi Horvath Show notes The Machines in Action Day (MAD) people Matthew Churchward – Senior Curator, Engineering & TransportDavid Crotty – Curator, EngineeringDes Lang – Supervisor, Engineering Work shop ScienceworksMembers of the mini car club Production Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services

Where you find the wild things is right here at Melbourne Museum! There is a new exhibition called Wild: amazing animals in a changing world. There are over 700 specimens on display and it’s a wonderful zoo of animals playing 'freeze'. The extinct Tasmanian Tiger specimen is on display but what you become sadly aware of is so many endangered creatures may join him. The exhibition also celebrates amazingly effective conservation efforts and climate change awareness. Let’s act so museums and zoos are not the last places we find our wild friends. In fine furriness, Dr Andi podcasts/access_all_areas_episode19.mp3 Download MP3 | Subscribe via RSS | Subscribe in iTunes Red-crowned Barbet. Photo: Heath Warwick | Tracey-Ann Hooley in the exhibition gallery. Photo: Andi Horvath | Malayan Civet. Photo: Heath Warwick Show notes Interviewees Tracey-Ann Hooley – Curator, Science and Life GalleryKate Philips – Lead Curator, Science and Life GalleryIngrid Rule – Designer, Wild exhibitionThe Hon Lynne Kosky MP – Minister for the Arts Production Dr Andi Horvath – Senior Curator, Museum VictoriaArch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services