Sharks: Predators through Time — An exhibit that highlights active NSF-funded research

January 1st, 2007 - December 31st, 2007 | PROJECT

This Communicating Research to Public Audiences (CRPA) proposal is based on current NSF-funded research, EAR 0418042, on the evolution of giant Cenozoic sharks, including the C. megalodon that lived worldwide during the Neogene from 2 to 15 million years ago. The project is the development of a 3,000 square-foot traveling exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History (University of Florida), with subsequent venues at the Miami Museum of Science and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Tampa. The exhibit, "Megalodon -- The Largest Shark That Ever Lived," includes specimens from the museum's collection and many rare specimens that have been donated to the museum recently. Exhibit activities will focus on (1) the process of science, in particular how the PI studies major factors that could have contributed to the extraordinary size of these sharks, and (2) on public misconceptions about sharks, as identified in front-end research already conducted.

Project Website(s)

(no project website provided)

Project Products

Megalodon: Largest Shark That Ever Lived

Team Members

Bruce MacFadden, Principal Investigator, University of Florida
Darcie MacMahon, Co-Principal Investigator, University of Florida

Funders

Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0638810
Funding Amount: 75000

Tags

Audience: General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals
Discipline: Life science | Nature of science
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits