Sharks are fierce, apex predators that have dominated Earth’s oceans for 450 million years.
Today, they’re under threat.
In the Australian Museum’s new exhibition, Sharks, visitors can explore the diversity of these ancient predators with 11 life-size shark models, interactive experiences and specimens from the Australian Museum collection. With cultural connections reaching back countless generations, visitors can also discover how First Nations’ and Pasifika Peoples’ knowledge of sharks can help us protect them.
Sharks opens to the public on Saturday September 24, 2022, and runs through to Tuesday January 31, 2023, with tickets on sale now.
The opening weekend offers an array of free performances and talks.
Exhibition highlights include:
- The biggest fish – a life-size model of a Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), which can grow to up to 16m.
- Other life-size models including the 50cm Epaulette Shark and the 270-million-year-old Helicoprion, known as the Buzzsaw shark.
- Augmented reality interactives where visitors can See with 360-degree Hammerhead vision, play with a Whale Shark and explore the contents of a shark’s stomach.
- Real, touchable shark specimens from the Australian Museum collection.
Jaw-dropping history and future
To accompany the exhibition, the Australian Museum in Darlinghurst is hosting a series of program events including talks, workshops and activities for visitors to further engage with the history, science, cultural connections, and the future of sharks.
The spring school holiday program features a stack of shark-themed events, including:
- Cool Sharks: Clay Sculpting Workshop: Crafty kids will learn all about sharks and sculpt their own out of clay in these school holiday workshops for children.
- The Tooth About Sharks: What makes a shark, a shark? Join shark expert Dr Amy Smoothey from the NSW Department of Primary Industries to bust myths and learn the “tooth” about sharks.
- Nature Photography Workshops: Young photography buffs can jumpstart their creativity and learn how to capture nature’s best angle in these school holiday workshops guided by photographer Tom Covell.
Twilight Bites is a monthly after-hours talk and tour series with renowned shark scientists and cultural experts. They include, pioneering diver, conservationist and filmmaker Valerie Taylor, award-winning photographer and filmmaker Michaela Skovranova, and Principal Research Scientist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Dr Paul Butcher.
Experience this brand-new exhibition first in Sydney before it tours the world!
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https://australian.museum/exhibition/sharks/
