ANT EXHIBITION 2005

Date : 30th November 2005 – 15th December 2005
Place : Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur
Time : 9.00 am until 6.00 pm (everyday)
Organizing : Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Department of Museum and Antiquities

UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd Noh Dalimin launched this ant exhibition on 30th November 2005 at the Middle Gallery of National Museum, Kuala Lumpur. The Launching ceremony was attended by almost 100 guests including participants of ANeT 5th Seminar and Meeting. ANeT is an international network for ant research (myrmecology) in Asia, and aspires to promote this field of science in Asia through research and development.

A total of 8 484 visitors were recorded during this exhibition. One of the guests of honor is our Pro Chancellor, Ybhg. Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay, which visited the exhibition on 6th December 2005.

The purpose of this exhibition is to provide opportunity to the public to learn more about the world of ant. Ant is one of the insect groups with high species diversity and abundant. It comprises about 20 000 species and 350 genera of the world. 11 000 have been identified. 1 200 species of ants are recorded from Malaysia. The three main objectives of this exhibition are;
To attract public to the ants world by showing the diversity of ants and to explain its importance to humankind
To provide information of ants and its function to the environment in an attractive manner
To nurture the public interest to appreciate the richness of ant fauna; creation of God.

The exhibition showed interesting information about ants such as its diversity, importance to human, function and relationship with nature and life cycle. A total of 40 posters on ants have been displayed. In addition, two models of ant (the giant ant (Camponotus gigas) and Odontomachus rixoxus), 48 examples of related publication and documentation, illustration on ants, ants nests, diorama of Camponotus gigas crawling up to the dipterocarp tree and diorama of relationship between ants and Nepenthes, video on ants and specimen of ants also have been exhibited. Activities for school children and visitors have been organized. 40 children under 10 years old participated the Coloring Contest, while 221 peoples participated the Ants Quiz. The Ants quiz were divided into three categories, namely Adult’s Category, Secondary School’ Category and Primary School’ Category.
Overall, this exhibition has been successful and some visitors suggested to prolong the exhibition until 2006.

BY:PETHERINE J & MARYATI M