Extra! Extra! Live (broadcast) giant squid event coming up on 18 June

[Jean]

Hi everyone,

So... we have some giant squid in the freezer (four, to be exact) that we need to examine, and we're planning to do them across the week of June 16-20. With a little luck, we'll be able to have a live video feed of the event (which will take place here at AUT) for some or most of the day on June 18 (for most of the world; it will be June 19 here). We're also hoping to have some kind of a live chat going so people can ask questions. One of the specimens will be going to Auckland Museum for fixing and display; we'll be getting what information we can from the others, sampling them, and preserving some pieces.

I'll post updates here when I know more about the mechanics of the online interactive stuff. Stay tuned!

Will Tyler be coming up for that???

 

[Jean]

D, I can't imagine to what you might be referring

Yes, perhaps the title was slightly misleading--sorry! I'll update it now. We're making progress on the video feed planning and I should be able to post the link soon!

In the meantime, I'm putting together a list of FAQs to try to pre-answer some of the most common public questions we're likely to get via chat on the day. I'd love to hear your input on other questions that would be sensible to include... so far I have:

Is this the “real” giant squid?
How big does it get?
What does it eat?
How smart is it?
Where did these specimens come from?
Where will the specimens go after they’re examined?
What kinds of analyses are you doing?
Can I see the eye?
Is it edible?
Where can I find out more?

Thanks guys!

Can I/we get our mits on the beak/statoliths??????

 

[DWhatley]

OK, I have you scheduled as 5:00 PM June 18 US Eastern Daylight time. About how long do you expect to be live? Looks like sandwiches for dinner

 

[OB]

Oh goody!

 

[beingevolved]

This sounds amazing! I work for a small, non-profit maritime museum in Massachusetts and the staff absolutely LOVES squid. Would we be allowed to show the broadcast as a free public event?

 

[tonmo]

affirmative... as far as TONMO is concerned. Would appreciate some TONMO promotion, as I'm sure as TePapa would... I'll leave that to Kat!

 

[beingevolved]

Thank you! Has an exact time been finalized, and how should I phrase the TONMO/TePapa sponsorship?

 

[Tintenfisch]

Hi guys, anyone, anywhere is welcome to view this live event. It's being hosted by Auckland University of Technology (AUT), with the squid specimens donated for research by NIWA's invertebrate collections and the Scientific Observer Programme (funded by NZ's Ministry for Primary Industries and Dept of Conservation). Te Papa is not actually involved in this one.

Jean, yes, Tyler will be here and will be put to work

I am adding the link to the live feed at the top of this thread!

 

[Tintenfisch]

Also, meet the contestants... Note that Bachelor #2 is a case of mistaken identity but still very cool and still going to be examined!

 

[beingevolved]

The Maritime Gloucester museum in Massachusetts will be having a viewing party! If there are any ceph heads in the area, drop by!