Natural History Museum's Dinosaur To Be Replaced.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/natural-history-museum-to-replace-its-diplodocus-fossil-with-giant-blue-whale-skeleton-10008837.html

Should 'Dippy' the Diplodocus, be removed from it's prominent position in the Natural History Museum, all in the name of some 'threat of extinction' message?

[Baldric]

Sounds like Dippy is going to have a 'Fun Time' and be seen by a lot more people in the future

///There are plans to make a weather-proof resin copy of Dippy so that it could be placed outside in the museum’s garden. Sir Michael said that the original replica might also be taken “on tour” around the UK so that it can be seen by a wider audience.///

[sandyRoe]

They'll be able to put a sign up, 'One of our dinosaurs is missing-it's on tour'.

[Gromit]

It is just a refresh.

All galleries and museums turnover exhibits to maximise visitors.

A bit of a non story.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// A bit of a non story. ///

Should we all put our questions up for Gromit's approval, to save us the embarrassment that we have dared to enter a 'non-story?

Well at least this time he can't blame it on the Daily Mail.

[jim360]

Dippy isn't a fossil, so the Independent's got that one wrong.

Seems like a good move since it's part of a whole refresh. I expect there is a place for Dippy elsewhere.

[EcclesCake]

Sandy, is Dippy joining up with the Rolling Stones?

[anotheoldgit]

jim360

Where does the Independence say it's a fossil?

/// Dippy is composed of plaster casts of 356 bones, including the 70 vertebrae in its long tail. It is a near replica of a Diplodocus carnegii skeleton unearthed in the United States in 1898 and it first went on display in 1905. ///

[EcclesCake]

Have a look at the wording of your link AOG.

[ummmm]

Lol...I was just about to post the same, Eccles.

[anotheoldgit]

And who says it is all part of an overall refresh.

It is in fact a replacement to make way for giant blue whale skeleton so as to give out a certain message.

/// However, the museum’s director Sir Michael Dixon said that it was time to recognise the importance of the living species in the world today that are under threat of extinction. ///

[Marshwarble]

What else could they replace it with? Pterodactyls hanging from the ceiling? A woolly mammoth?

[sandyRoe]

EcclesCake, surely you're not suggesting that the Stones are too old to be going on tour? ☺

[anotheoldgit]

EcclesCake

/// Have a look at the wording of your link AOG. ///

Yes can't deny that, I must learn to read the small print, as some apparently do.

However It often puzzles me why they have to put in so much information when they are creating a link, no mention of fossil in the main text.

[jim360]

When I heard the item being discussed on the Today programme it seemed to be part of a series of changes being made, updating displays etc.

[Gromit]

AOG

A museum is changing an exhibit - non story.

[Canary42]

Sounds like a win-win-win situation to me.

1. The current model going on tour
More people will see it.

2. A waterproof copy to be erected outside the NHM
Image still available at the NH Museum

3. A real whale skeleton to take its place inside.
Important threat of extinction message conveyed visually.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// A museum is changing an exhibit - non story. ///

Discussed on the Today programme.

In the Independent, plus these others, seems very much a story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31025229

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/natural-history-museum-is-replacing-109yearold-dippy-the-dinosaur-with-more-relevant-installation-10009868.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/dinosaur-forced-retire-natural-history-5061638

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-01-29/dippy-the-dinosaur-forced-into-retirement-at-natural-history-museum/

*** The plaster dinosaur skeleton has been a fixture of the London museum for 109 years but is not considered relevant enough to what is happening to the natural world today. ***

There is more interest in a dinosaur, especially by today's children, than can ever be shown towards a giant blue wale.

Why not remove Lord Nelson from his lofty position in Trafalgar Square in case that he is not relevant enough to what is happening in the World today?

[EcclesCake]

The children are not going to be denied Dippy though, a new one is going to be erected outside so they can still get their dinosaur fix and children who can't get to London will have Dippy on tour.

It is a very valuable lesson for us all the harm mankind inflicts on the planet and having the blue whale there is an excellent idea.

It strikes me as a win win situation.

[Ellipsis]

> There is more interest in a dinosaur, especially by today's children, than can ever be shown towards a giant blue wale.

The blue whale is an awesome creature and it's going to make an awesome sight. It's the largest creature ever known to have lived on earth - larger than any dinosaur ever discovered. Unlike dinosaurs it still exists, for now; if we want that to continue then it needs protecting.

Awesome: http://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/question687.htm