Law and War in the Making of the Chinese Empire

July 06, 2010
China's terracotta army is internationally recognized, but the legal documents are only known by small group of specialists. Robin D. S. Yates, James McGill Professor of History and East Asian Studies at McGill University, explores what these documents tell us about the administrative, organizational and legal advances of the Qin state at the time of the First Emperor.

The opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Audio Podcast (52MB, 57min 37sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic: Earl of Pembroke's Armour

January 11, 2010
Made in King Henry VIII's royal workshop, this suit of armour is one of only three of its kind on display in the world. One of the ROM's iconic objects, see the suit in the Samuel European Galleries.

Video Podcast (15MB, 2min 37sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Conversations: Dr. Chen Shen

July 14, 2010
Dr. Chen Shen is the Bishop White Chair of East Asian Archaeology at the ROM, and is the senior curator who developed the exhibition The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army.

This exciting series offers a behind the scenes look at the various curatorial research, education, and programming that is currently happening around the Museum.

Video Podcast (22MB, 2min 23sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Building Up and Digging Down: New Archaeological Evidence for Construction of the Tomb Complex of the First Emperor

June 24, 2010
Explore the construction of the First Emperor's vast tomb complex and how recent discoveries have changed our understanding its construction. Dr. Chen Shen, Senior Curator and Bishop White Chair, East Asia Art & Archaeology and curator of The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army, is the first speaker in The Enduring Genius of China Lecture Series.

Audio Podcast (40MB, 58min 11sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Palaeontologists solve mystery of 500 million-year-old squid-like carnivore

May 26, 2010
A study by Martin Smith of the University of Toronto and Jean-Bernard Caron of the Royal Ontario Museum sheds new light on a previously unclassifiable 500 million-year-old squid-like carnivore known as Nectocaris pteryx. The new interpretation became possible with the discovery of 91 new fossils that were collected from the Burgess Shale site in the UNESCO World Heritage Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, BC.

The findings are presented in "Primitive soft-bodied cephalopods from the Cambrian", published in Nature(May 27, 2010).

> Jean-Bernard Caron
> Burgess Shale Projects

Video Podcast (17MB, 3min 11sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Isadore Sharp: Motel to Mogul

May 18, 2010
Isadore Sharp, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, spoke at the Royal Ontario Museum on May 18 as the first in the Director's Signature Lecture Series. Listen as he shares his thoughts on leadership, success and accomplishment. Introduction by William Thorsell, Director and CEO of the ROM.

Audio Podcast (28MB, 24min 24sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Robert Mankoff: The Ethos and Ethics of The New Yorker Cartoons

April 13, 2010
Listen as Robert Mankoff, the cartoon editor of The New Yorker, discusses how the Magazine deals with topical issues in its cartoons compared to newspaper editorial cartoonists. The evening was moderated by The Globe and Mail's Margaret Wente.

Audio Podcast (40MB, 57min 55sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Conversations with Archaeologists and Researchers: Dr. Eileen Schuller

May 07, 2010
Dr. Eileen Schuller, scholar and professor at McMaster University, talks about her personal journey as a Dead Sea Scrolls researcher and the opportunities she has had along the way.

This unique video series, Conversations with Archaelogists and Researchers, explores the careers and experiences of five individuals associated with with the Royal Ontario Museum.

Video Podcast (7MB, 2min 13sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Conversations with Archaeologists and Researchers: Dr. Peter Storck

May 07, 2010
Dr. Peter Storck, ROM Archaeologist and author of Journey to the Ice Age, discusses his contributions to the study of Paleo-Indians, the first people to migrate into Ontario.

This unique video series, Conversations with Archaelogists and Researchers, explores the careers and experiences of five individuals associated with with the Royal Ontario Museum.

Video Podcast (10MB, 2min 45sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Conversations with Archaeologists and Researchers: Roberta Shaw

May 07, 2010
Roberta Shaw, Assistant Curator of Egyptology at the Royal Ontario Museum, talks about how she got into Egyptology, projects she has completed in her career, and her favourite object at the ROM.

This unique video series, Conversations with Archaelogists and Researchers, explores the careers and experiences of five individuals associated with with the Royal Ontario Museum.

Video Podcast (9MB, 2min 10sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Conversations with Archaeologists and Researchers: Dan Rahimi

May 07, 2010
Dan Rahimi, Vice President of Gallery Development at the Royal Ontario Museum and archaeologist, talks about his archaeological career and what he believes to be the focus of archaeology.

This unique video series, Conversations with Archaelogists and Researchers, explores the careers and experiences of five individuals associated with with the Royal Ontario Museum.

Video Podcast (8MB, 90sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Conversations with Archaeologists and Researchers: Dr. Dan Bahat

May 07, 2010
Former District Archaeologist of Jerusalem and current professor at Bar-Llan University and St. Michael's College at University of Toronto, Dr. Dan Bahat talks about his renowned archaeological career.

This unique video series, Conversations with Archaelogists and Researchers, explores the careers and experiences of five individuals associated with with the Royal Ontario Museum.

Video Podcast (12MB, 2min 10sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

David Evans in South Africa

May 03, 2010
On location in South Africa, David Evans, Associate Curator Vertebrate Palaeontology, shows us where he discovered and collected the dinosaur nest in 2005 that is on display at the ROM May 8 to June 4, 2010.

Video Podcast (10MB, 30sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Jane Goodall: 50 Years of Chimps and Change

April 12, 2010
On April 9, 2010, Jane Goodall, Ph. D., DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN messenger of Peace, spoke to a sold-out audience in Toronto. Listen as she reflects on her research over the past five decades.

Co-presented by the Royal Ontario Museum and the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (www.janegoodall.org) in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Centre for Environment, University of Toronto, as part of the ROM's Slice of Life: Biodiversity Lecture Series.

The audio podcast is no longer available on the ROM website. Visit the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada to listen to the full lecture.

Audio Podcast (Not Downloadable, 55min)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Finding Your Inner Fish

April 09, 2010
Listen as Neil Shubin of the University of Chicago tells the 3.5-billion-year history of the human body through the fossils and DNA of our cousins in the living world.

Audio Podcast (32MB, 50min)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Artist Talk: Dan Perjovschi

April 09, 2010
On February 17 2010, following his week-long stay drawing directly on the walls of the ICC's Roloff Beny Gallery, Dan Perjovschi shared his thoughts on his work, his practice, and his experiences of working in museums and galleries all over the world.

Video Podcast (42MB, 10min)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Biodiversity with David Suzuki

March 29, 2010
Preserving the diversity of life on earth has never been more important. Dr. David Suzuki discusses the significant role biodiversity plays in maintaining the health of our planet.

Video Podcast (2MB, 1min)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Brave the New Bat Cave

March 22, 2010
Bigger, better and scarier than ever! See what kids are saying about the revamped Bat Cave.

Video Podcast (2MB, 1min)
Written Transcript (PDF)

The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army

February 10, 2010
The ROM is please to bring The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army to Toronto. Opens June 2010.

Video Podcast (8MB, 90 sec)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Bat Cave: Underground

February 5, 2010
ROM Video Producer, Elaisha Stokes, visits Jamaica's St. Clair Cave. A Toronto team from went to Jamaica in January 2010 to gather footage of the inhabitants of the underground structure in preparation of the opening of the new bat cave.

Video Podcast (14MB, 2min)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Prom Noir:
The Young Patrons' Circle (YPC)

January 28, 2010
The Young Patrons' Circle (YPC) invites you to a thrilling night of dark glamour and cinematic fantasy for PROM Noir. The YPC's fifth annual fundraiser takes place Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Video Podcast (12MB, 1min)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic - Tagish Lake Meteorite

January 15, 2010
The ultimate deep-space time capsule, this small black rock plummeted from space carrying organic material dating back 4.5 billion years. Much of the meteorite remains frozen in the ROM's vaults for research, but a sizable piece is on display in the Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth’s Treasure and is one of the ROM’s iconic treasures.

Video Podcast (16MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic - Striding Lion

January 15, 2010
A city known for many of the great wonders of the world, the striding lion of Babylon once adorned the citadel of the Nebuchadnazzar castle. Found in the throne room, the decorated relief on clay bricks is extremely rare and is one of the ROM’s iconic, must see treasures.

Video Podcast (16MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic - The Paradise of Maitreya

January 14, 2010
This temple wall painting installed in the Bishop White Gallery of Chinese Temple Art forms the centrepiece of one of the world’s most important collections of Chinese temple art. Learn about this iconic ROM object, one of the best-preserved examples of its kind, and why it is a must-see treasure of the ROM.

Video Podcast (16MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic - "Kunti" (Blue Lady)

January 14, 2010
Listen as artist, Navjot Altaf, speaks about the sculpture "Kunti" (blue lady) from the series "In Response to," one of the ROM's iconic treasures. A modern twist on conventional South Asian art, the larger than life sculpture is inspired by village witch-trials and fertility goddesses. Its brilliant blue references the indigo trade and the traditional Hindu colour of divinity.

Video Podcast (16MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Opening of Fakes and Forgeries: Yesterday and Today

January 08, 2010
At the opening of Fakes and Forgeries: Yesterday and Today, Dan Rahimi, Vice President, Gallery Development, introduces this interactive, new ROM exhibition that challenges visitors to find the fakes.

Video Podcast (10MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)

Iconic - White Rhino

December 14, 2009
This white rhino is a rare specimen and the centerpiece of the Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity. Born in South Africa, "Bull" was a mighty 4,500 pounds and is one of the Iconic Objects of the ROM.

Video Podcast (18MB, 3mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)