Have you ever seen ants dancing the tango, fish smiling toothily, or a giraffe compromising a sister’s portrait? And while we’re at it, do you know what a kingfisher and a Japanese high-speed train have in common? These scenes and unsophisticated information can be unearthed at the Montreal Science Center, as part of a new double exhibition demonstrating that animals and nature can be as much a source of comedy as of technological inspiration.
Laughter is characteristic of man, said good old Bergson with great seriousness. Certainly, but our bipedal species does not have the prerogative of triggering hilarity. We will have seen this clearly throughout our social networks; who has never come across one of the winning photographs in the humorous wildlife photography awards, where specimens strike the most unusual poses? Among the 300 photos resulting from this international competition, which has existed since 2015, the Montreal Science Center has selected around sixty to showcase them as part of a new exhibition which will be held until March 24.
From Indonesia to Ontario, we discover all kinds of scenarios in which animals, small or large, common or exotic, find themselves in unfortunate, charming or improbable situations, sometimes seeming to strike a pose. So, is this turtle really sending everyone to waste with an unsightly gesture?
Family-friendly, the exhibition is aimed at everyone, but we don’t go there “just for laughs”. Species are classified according to habitats, which are described and demystified, and some of which see their balance threatened. “We wanted to make our visitors smile, but we also saw the potential to raise awareness of the importance of preserving biodiversity and the fragility of these habitats. These animals are friendly, but they often live in fragile habitats, or even in danger,” explains Cybèle Robichaud, director of the Science Center, charmed by the photo of a deer who would benefit from taking some camouflage courses with the army .
After these “appetizers” which put you in a good mood, we can jump on the bandwagon of the second exhibition inaugurated this week, focusing on technologies developed under the influence of biomimicry. In French please ? In short, it explains how plants and animals have served as inspiration for scientists and innovators, by transposing some of their characteristics or some of their natural principles into technological applications, particularly in the field of transportation.
“For example, the skin of a shark appears smooth, but on a microscopic scale, we see that it is made up of tiny hooks, which could be applied in the creation of materials for aviation.” , illustrates Ms. Robichaud.
Through several dozen concise and illuminating stands, while being illustrated by models, photos, videos or objects, we discover how the nature of mother-of-pearl, the gripping legs of the gecko or even the capabilities of fireflies were able to light the lantern technological creators. Everything was developed by the J. Armand Bombardier Museum of Ingenuity in Valcourt, in collaboration with several Quebec partners. This shows that man sometimes thinks he has invented everything, when nature has already patented it.
