Umina resident helps museum

Umina resident Ms Em Blamey has been working on coordinating the Deep Oceans exhibition to be held at the Australian Museum from June 16 until October 14.

As the exhibition project coordinator, Ms Blamey is responsible for delivering the exhibition on time and on budget, planning, seeking approvals from stakeholders, sourcing content and materials and purchasing.

Along with Australian Museum scientists, she has been curating the content of the exhibition, "working out which of the many wonderful stories to tell, and writing the exhibition text".

"So I've been pretty busy," said Ms Blamey.

From the Vampire Squid and Dragonfish to the Sea Mouse, Fangtooth and Squat Lobster, the Deep Oceans exhibition will showcase all the weird and wonderful animals that make their homes 4000 metres below the sea.

Ms Blamey said Deep Oceans would unravel the mysteries that have fascinated people for generations.

"More people have walked on the surface of the moon than have descended to the deepest ocean trench.

"The deep ocean makes up over 95 per cent of the living space on earth yet less than 10 per cent of it has been explored, leaving our imaginations to fill in the blanks.

"Deep oceans are already under threat from pollution, ocean acidification, trawling and mining but we don't know enough to fully appreciate their impacts.

"We really need to understand, appreciate and protect this unique environment before it's too late," she said.

The family-friendly exhibition features interactive exhibits, multimedia and real specimens collected by Australian Museum scientists.

Elyse Gunner, 23 May 2012

Interviewee: Em Blamey

Media Release, 23 May 2012

Michelle Van Doninck, Australian Museum