- By Jim Harper
- Entertainment
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The current special exhibit at the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, New York, is "Bees! Diversity, Evolution, Conservation", and while the Museum has made the decision to keep the physical building closed until further notice, it announced yesterday that an engaging and informative online version of the exhibit is now available.
This online version of the exhibit takes you through the fascinating world of bees and reveals amazing facts and new insights into an insect which is vital to the cultivation of the food we eat. Discover the diversity of the over 20,000 species of bees from all over the world. Learn about their co-evolution with the flowers they pollinate. Explore bee biology and behaviors. Find out what threats bees currently face, and what you can do to help.
Macro photography, videos, and illustrations of bee anatomy and behavior are all part of the exhibit, and a closeup look at 100 million-year-old ancestors of bees preserved in amber, videos of bee scientists at work.
The original physical exhibit was developed in conjunction with Bryan Danforth, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology at Cornell University with grant support from the National Science Foundation and the Tompkins County Tourism Program. The closing date for the Museum's physical exhibit has been extended to August 30, 2020.
The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI), along with its Museum of the Earth and Cayuga Nature Center venues, also continues to develop their Learn at Home offerings which include great resources for Earth, life, and climate science education.
Highlights including the Digital Encyclopedia of Ancient Life, 3D fossil images that you can look at close up and rotate fully, the Teacher Friendly Guides to Earth and Climate Sciences, nature guides, coloring pages, and a rapidly expanding list of You Tube videos on a number of topics.
PRI's scientists and educators are also reaching out with fun activities, and updates on their virtual offerings, through social media.
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