Blog archive:
September 2012

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. With their equipment still being processed by Customs, our marine scientists got inventive.

Arrive in Dili? Check. Pick up the ethanol? Check. Collect freight? Not yet. What do scientists do when they can't do what they usually do?

The marine stage of the Museum's expedition to Timor-Leste has begun, with the team arriving safely in Darwin.

With the terrestrial trip completed, the Museum is about to embark on the marine stage of its expedition to Timor-Leste.

What have we been up to on Facebook and Twitter? Online Producer Michael Hugill cuts out the stats and pastes in the more interesting social media stories (in a picture book format no less).

Boats in the bay, wrecks in the water and paperwork to process. Entomologist Jacquie Rescei recounts the very beginning of the Museum's terrestrial expedition to Timor-Leste.

While the road conditions in Timor-Leste might be something to try and forget, the friendliness of the people lingers long in the mind. Entomologist Jean Weiner recalls some of the contrasts he noticed during the Museum's terrestrial expedition.

Working with local guides, our scientists were also helped by passers-by, especially curious kids. Entomologist Jacquie Rescei recalls some of her encounters with the people of Timor-Leste during the Museum's terrestrial expedition.

The humble land snail can be an important environmental indicator. Malacologist Dr Frank Kohler reports on the first ever land snail survey in Timor-Leste, conducted during the Museum's terrestrial expedition.

Mountains are always exciting places for zoologists. Entomologist Dr Chris Reid revisits his climb up Mt Tatamailau during the Museum's terrestrial expedition to Timor-Leste.

Somewhat notorious due to their sinister appearance, it's a mystery why death's-head hawkmoths do not occur in Australia. Entomologist Dr Dave Britton discusses the specimens he found during the Museum's terrestrial expedition to Timor-Leste.

Catching butterflies hasn't changed much in a hundred years: you still need a good net, keen eyes and quick reflexes. Entomologist Dr Dave Britton describes one of the amazing catches he made during the Museum's terrestrial expedition to Timor-Leste.

We didn't do a summary post last Friday, so this 'week' is a double-whammy.  There is some brilliant new content, the highlight for me was the underwater footage of Orange Roughy. Fantastic stuff! Thank you as always to all contributors.

This year, DigiVol has been digitising the Malacology Collection which is one of the largest Collections in the Australian Museum. Read Dr Mandy Reid's account of her experience with the project.

When Technical Officer Jacquie Resci asked Research Associate Jean Weiner to relocate the foreign grasshoppers inside the Museum's Entomology Collection, she didn't expect him to find an unusual specimen with a very unusual history. Jacquie explains...