Looking for Leviathans

Sunday 31 July 2005

Ever wondered how scientists estimate the number of whales and other deep sea life, or the reality behind stories of sea monsters?

Budding scientists will be given the opportunity to discover just what lies beneath in a special ‘Science and Sea Monsters’ exhibition in the Lake District. Organised by scientists and statisticians from the University of St Andrews, the exhibition will run at Keswick Museum for one month (3rd – 31st August).

Visitors will get the chance to see how sharks decay and can even be transformed into sea-monster look-alikes.

During the month-long exhibition, the collaboration will offer two days of discovery with special talks by St Andrews researchers. During the special events, Drs David Borchers and Charles Paxton of the University’s Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) will offer demonstrations and prizes.

Dr Borchers will explain how marine biologists estimate the number of whales from surveys in “Looking for Leviathans” on Saturday 6th August. Later in the month, Dr Paxton will explain the history and science behind sightings of sea monsters and freshwater monsters like the Loch Ness Monster in “Science and Sea Monsters” on Monday 29th August.

ENDS

For further information contact:

CREEM : Dr Charles Paxton, email [email protected] or tel 01334 461811 Keswick Museum: Jamie Barnes, email [email protected]

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews

Contact Gayle Cook, Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email gec3@st- andrews.ac.uk Ref: Leviathans in the Lakes 010805.doc View the latest University press releases at http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk


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