The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History is currently planning an
exhibit about sounds in nature.  We're interested in looking at how
sounds are produced and received by living organisms, and their
functional significance.  We'll also be including ambient sounds - like
waves breaking on a beach - and exploring the incorporation of natural
sounds into human culture.  We intend to make the exhibit as interactive
and "hands-on" as possible to give visitors an opportunity to hear,
manipulate and produce sounds and to compare visually the spectral
qualities of different organisms.
     To avoid re-inventing too many wheels, I would appreciate hearing
about exhibits that you have seen (or made) that have incorporated
sound in an interactive way, any presentations you felt were effective,
and any information you could supply about sources of natural sound.
We're also interested in discovering durable (and inexpensive)
technologies for digitally recorded sound that would survive intensive
use.  I'd be pleased to hear of any current research in this field that you
think would lend itself to an interactive exhibit and any creative ideas you
might have about one.
        Thanks,         Janet Godsell

Janet Godsell
Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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