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Around the Museum

Around the Museum

Kim McKay AO Director & CEO

Sydney’s hub of science and cultural leadership

As our nation’s first natural history museum and the second oldest science institution in Australia, it is fitting that much of this issue of Explore focuses on the research and conservation efforts of the scientists and experts at the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI).

Despite the challenges of the last 18 months, the work of our scientists has forged ahead — in the last financial year, AMRI described a record-breaking 218 new species and our staff and honoraries produced 255 publications. That is a huge achievement representing over 25% of all natural history museums’ output in Australia. The work also has global significance, with the conservation of wildlife during a time of drastic climate shifts, at the heart of what we do.

Now that we are once again welcoming visitors back into our award-winning Museum, exhibitions will play an important role in communicating our science and engaging the community in First Nations cultures. As part of our commitment to cultural leadership, the groundbreaking Unsettled exhibition has been extended until the end of January 2022, giving more visitors the chance to see this powerful exhibition, which recently won Best Exhibition in NSW at the 2021 IMAGinE Awards. The spectacular 2021 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition is in Hintze Hall until 30 January 2022, provoking us to better understand the changing nature of our environment. And there is much to come: the AM’s homegrown blockbuster Sharks is scheduled to premiere at the AM in summer 2022, and the international blockbuster Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs is scheduled to open at the end of 2023.

It’s my privilege to continue as Chair of the Museums and History Artform Advisory Board, contributing to the direction and priorities of the NSW Government’s investment in the arts and cultural sector. As trusted sources in the community, museums and cultural institutions are more important now than ever, providing lifelong learning opportunities and inspiration for curious minds of all ages.

It’s also great to see our state opening back up and we’re thrilled to welcome you into our treasured space, offering the transformed museum as a place for decompression, socialisation and an opportunity to expand our understanding of the world around us.

I hope the stories of science and culture in this issue provide you with inspiration and I look forward to seeing you at the AM soon.

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