QUÉBEC CITY, May 15, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - In the 18th and 19th centuries, some of the greatest scientific minds joined British expeditions that travelled across the world, sailing the oceans. Through the thousands of specimens they collected and studied, they changed the way their contemporaries viewed the natural world forever. Québec City's Musée de la civilisation retraces the fascinating journeys of many of these great naturalists in the exhibition Curiosities of the Natural World. After Tokyo, Singapore, and Taipei, this exhibition from the Natural History Museum of London?one of the world's premier natural science museums?is making its North American début. Musée de la civilisation has adapted the exhibition for its run in Québec City until January 5, 2020.
This exhibition features over 200 pieces from the London Natural History Museum's immense collections, a veritable repository of the world's natural treasures, as well as a carefully curated selection of Canadian specimens. Thanks to the exhibition's sophisticated design, for the first time ever, visitors will be able to admire the objects from every angle. From the unique or extremely rare to the mysterious and astonishing, each and every one of these invaluable objects has been carefully selected for its historical and scientific importance and its contribution to the advancement of natural science.
A fantastic journey full of fascinating objects
Charles Darwin marks the starting point of this remarkable exhibition, which includes specimens that he himself collected on his travels and that later influenced his research and the writing of On the Origin of Species, many years later. Visitors will see a rare page from the original handwritten manuscript of this famous work by the father of the theory of evolution. The journey continues with a multitude of exceptional objects that attest to the research and discoveries of various explorers, artists, naturalists, paleontologists, geologists, and collectors, including a large starfish collected by the crew of the Challenger between 1872 and 1875, a magnificent blown-glass octopus by model makers Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, the skeleton of a moa found by paleontologist Richard Owen (who coined the term "dinosaur"), and the head of a giraffe acquired by renowned collector Walter Rothschild. Of all the objects included in this exhibition, only a handful were not taken directly from nature, such as the impressive terracotta lion from the majestic Natural History Museum building, which opened in 1881.
To draw a parallel between British discoveries and those made closer to home, the Musée de la civilisation has included various pieces from its own collections and from other Canadian institutions. They demonstrate that homegrown scientists such as William Dawson, a geologist and the first principal of McGill University, and naturalist Léon Provencher also had a significant impact on the advancement of natural sciences in Canada. These outstanding local specimens also illustrate that North America is full of natural treasures. This is particularly evident at Miguasha National Park on the Gaspé Peninsula, where paleontologists have found numerous fossilized specimens of tetrapod fish, ancestors of terrestrial vertebrates from millions of years ago.
Preserving biodiversity: a hot topic
A natural history exhibition like this would not be complete without addressing the timely topic of protecting biodiversity. Species that we've lost such as the saber-toothed tiger, Tasmanian tiger, and dodo, or those which are endangered, such as the Bengal tiger and beluga whale force visitors to take a hard look at the impact that climate change, pollution, and deforestation has on nature.
Quotes:
"Raising visitors' awareness about their environment is part of our DNA at Musée de la civilisation. This exhibition introduces us to individuals who, through their curiosity and determination, completely changed the way we look at the world. And our vision continues to change. Judging by the alarming report recently submitted by UN experts on the future of biodiversity, millions of species are in danger, including our own. At the end of the exhibition, we want our visitors to realize the importance of even the smallest contribution and the urgent need for action."
Stéphan La Roche, Executive Director, Musée de la civilisation
"By sharing these treasures beyond London, we aim to inspire a wider audience and encourage global scientific collaboration. At a time when humanity needs to answer important questions regarding our impact on the planet, we believe that an understanding of the natural world is key to protecting it. We hope that visitors to the exhibition will enjoy viewing some of the most iconic and scientifically valuable examples of the London's Natural History Museum's collection and perhaps be inspired to become the scientists of tomorrow working on a sustainable future for us all."
Sir Michael Dixon, Director, Natural History Museum
Highlights:
Designed and produced by the Natural History Museum of London, the exhibition Curiosities of the Natural World was adapted by Musée de la civilisation with financial support from the Government of Québec and the City of Québec as part of the Entente de développement culturel. Presented with the participation of Radio-Canada and in cooperation with Québec City Tourism and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (as official hotel).
Related links:
Musée de la civilisation: www.mcq.org and www.youtube.com/user/mcqpromo
SOURCE Musée de la civilisation
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