Hands-on photography workshops, solstice stargazing and the opening of a new exhibition that delves into the memories of The Chills’ lead singer and songwriter Martin Phillipps – June at the Otago Museum is shaping up to be a busy one!
Saturday 16 June: An Introduction to Macro Photography
Macro photography doesn't have to be expensive! Come and learn the art of extreme close-up photography with internationally award-winning photographer Allan Cox. Gain an introduction to this niche photography genre, and learn tricks and ideas that will inspire you to take your photography further. Please note: this workshop is for DSLR cameras only. Strictly no point-and-shoot cameras please.
Kākāpō Room, 9am and 11.30am. Suitable for ages 14 and over. $15 per session, bookings essential. Book at www.otagomuseum.nz or the Info Desk.
Thursday 21 June: Our Otago Mummy: The Clues that Revealed her Face and the Life she Lived
Last year, Dr Louisa Baillie completed a facial approximation of our Egyptian mummy. With the use of new medical imaging software, she and other scientists were able to re-examine digital scans that were taken of the mummy in 2001. More clues about this woman’s age and health at the time of her death were revealed, as well as more detail about particular features of her facial bones and soft tissue.
These new details helped Louisa predict a face shape for the mummy with more accuracy than previously possible. The face was modelled using standard, internationally accepted protocol, and its final form was presented in skin-like silicone.
In this talk, Louisa will present anthropological and archaeological clues that give insight into the sort of life this woman was living before she died. She will also describe the process of facial approximation, and how she justified the decisions that were made to create the mummy’s face.
Barclay Theatre, 5.30pm. Free.
Thursday 21 June: Solstice Stargazing
Join us under the dome for a special look at the night sky on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Then hop on our bus for a stargazing trip with the Otago Museum and Dunedin Astronomical Society. (A wet-weather alternative is available if the weather is unsuitable.)
Perpetual Guardian Planetarium, 7pm–9pm. Adult: $30, child: $15. Limited numbers, bookings essential. Admittance to planetarium restricted to ages 3 years and over.
Saturday 23 June to Sunday 15 July: Things Change: Martin Phillipps and The Chills
The Chills were at the forefront of the musical movement "The Dunedin Sound". Late in 2017, The Chills’ lead singer and songwriter Martin Phillipps was given a dire medical prognosis resulting in a desire to preserve his, and the band's, legacy. Martin has picked apart a lifetime of memories and discovered precious items to showcase in the exhibition. The exhibition, and the process of its creation, is being captured by Notable Pictures as part of a theatrical documentary expected to premiere internationally early in 2019.
H D Skinner Annex, 10am–4pm daily. Free.
Sunday 24 June: Live @OM - The Resonance Trio
An acoustic ensemble performing original compositions and novel arrangements of jazz standards.
Atrium Level 2, 1pm. Free.
Tuesday 26 June: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Is It All In Our Heads
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of female infertility. But how is the brain involved? Associate Professor Rebecca Campbell from the Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Physiology provides an exciting insight into how changes in the brain are associated with the pathology of PCOS.
Ombrellos Kitchen & Bar, 5.30pm. Free.
Thursday 28 June: Digital Breaths: The Benefits of Bioengineering
With an ageing population and chronic disease on the rise, new healthcare approaches are needed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. In this talk, MacDiarmid Medal winner Professor Merryn Tawhai will discuss how her own computer modelling of the human lung has provided new tools for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of lung disease, particularly in the older generation, and why New Zealand has the capability to become a world leader in reducing the burden of chronic disease.
Hutton Theatre, 5.30pm. Book at Eventbrite
Looking to escape the cold? Come and experience the 28°C warmth of Tūhura’s Tropical Forest, and encounter exotic butterflies, giant stick insects, tarantulas, terrapins and other rainforest dwellers. If you join us at 11am (weekdays and weekends) or 1.30pm (weekends and holidays), you’ll get to witness our newly-emerged butterflies take flight for the very first time. You can buy your Tūhura science centre tickets at the Otago Museum Shop.