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Lynn,

Thank you for recommending the contact through the Museum of Science in
Boston.  I just listened to an interesting podcast on their site of an
interview with Walter Tschinkel talking about subterraneous ant colony
structures.  http://www.mos.org/node/99840  I'll contact Sue to see if she
can generate some leads.


Jennifer,

Thank you for suggesting the E.O. Wilson Biophillia Center.  I just spent
some time looking through their online gallery and, wow, what a beautiful
facility.  So open to the natural setting surrounding it.  It seems that FL
is the place to be for ant research.  Hoping that Christy has some wisdom
to impart in relation to all of this.


Jeremy



Jeremy Stone
Exhibits and Facilities Manager
WonderLab Museum
308 West 4th Street
Bloomington Indiana 47404
PH:812.337.1337x22
PX:812.330.1337
[log in to unmask]
http://wonderlab.org


On Sun, Dec 22, 2013 at 3:52 PM, Jennifer Petro <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
> The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at the Nokuse Plantation in Freeport, FL
> have a Harvester Ant colony cast.  The researchers are out of UF in
> Gainsville.  They have a video that is beside the cast as well as a giant
> ant statue that the kids can climb on.  The directors name is Christy
> Scally and she can get you the name of the folks at UF.  I think they used
> an abandoned mound to create the cast.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Jennifer Petro
>
> 850-218-7661
> [log in to unmask]
>
> --------------------------------------------
> On Sun, 12/22/13, Jeremy Stone <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>  Subject: Ant Colony Castings
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Date: Sunday, December 22, 2013, 5:40 PM
>
>  ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the
>  Association of Science-Technology Centers
>  Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and
>  related institutions.
>
>  *****************************************************************************
>
>  Hi all,
>
>  Sending this through the old channels since it appears that
>  my first
>  attempt through the new forum was preemptive.  Thanks
>  to those of you I've
>  heard from already and hopefully you can share your thoughts
>  with the
>  larger community now.
>
>  We are in the process of developing an exhibit to showcase
>  our developing
>  pheidole rhea, Big Headed Ants, colony.  Recently we've
>  seen some news
>  regarding ant colony castings made by pouring melted
>  aluminum into the
>  ground and then digging up the solid form.  It seems
>  that something like
>  this would be a great way of showcasing the hidden intricacy
>  and structure
>  of an ant colony.  Feeling a little weary as there has
>  been some recent
>  controversy in which this is being considered a form of
>  animal cruelty.  It
>  seems that many of these that are being sold are cast from
>  fire ant
>  colonies and I suppose one could consider it an unusual form
>  of combatting
>  an invasive pest.  Although on the other hand, as it
>  was recently pointed
>  out to me, this is certainly "terminally invasive" for the
>  colony from
>  which the cast is made.
>
>  Have any of you had experiences with showcasing these types
>  of structures
>  in a museum or educational setting?
>
>  Thoughts on the moral question and or public perception of
>  the process?
>
>  Are there alternative versions to these types of casting
>  that do not
>  involve the extermination of the colony?
>
>  Below are a few links to this type of work and recent news:
>
> http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/15/ant-colony-artist-responds-to-fierce-insect-killing-criticism-4231049/
>  http://youtu.be/eevrq7OPqbE
>
> https://www.google.com/search?q=ant+colony+casting&safe=off&sa=X&espv=210&es_sm=91&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=YSu2UriWG8jL2QXzloCQCA&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1437&bih=886
>
>  Thanks much and I'm truly interested in hearing any and all
>  takes on this.
>
>  Jeremy
>
>  --
>
>
>  Jeremy Stone
>  Exhibits and Facilities Manager
>  WonderLab Museum
>  308 West 4th Street
>  Bloomington Indiana 47404
>  PH:812.337.1337x22
>  PX:812.330.1337
>  [log in to unmask]
>  http://wonderlab.org
>
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