Smithsonian 'Animal Connections' exhibition will be at Purdue Sept. 26-27
September 18, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A traveling Smithsonian exhibition developed to mark the 150th anniversary of the American Veterinary Medical Association will be on display Sept. 26-27 at Purdue University.
"Animal Connections: Our Journey Together," is housed in an expandable 18-wheel truck and introduces visitors to the complex bond between humans and animals.
The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will be parked on the south side of Memorial Mall, adjacent to State Street between Stewart Center and Stone Hall. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 26 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27.
Divided into five sections, the exhibition focuses on animals in the home, on the farm, at the zoo, in the wild and at the veterinary clinic. Visitors are offered a variety of ways to learn through displays, videos and interactive experiences. In the home section, visitors will learn how to select the right pet and the possible dangers to pets, such as household items like plants and holiday decorations, and giving them food prepared for family members. A display in the farm section highlights the mobile clinics that large-animal veterinarians stock with a variety of tools to ensure they are prepared for any procedure. A virtual clinic at the center of the exhibition provides visitors the opportunity to play veterinarian. Through touch screens, they can examine and diagnose what ails their virtual patients - a dog, a piglet and a cheetah.
The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service created the exhibit in 2013 for the AVMA's 150th anniversary convention in Chicago. The AVMA, Smithsonian Institution, American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Zoetis sponsor the mobile museum.
"The affection that people everywhere have for animals sparked our enthusiasm for an exhibit about veterinary medicine that would inspire lively conversations about the human–animal bond," said Myriam Springuel, interim director of SITES.
The exhibition also explores the shared responsibility for animals' health and well-being and highlights the varied roles veterinarians play in the health of animals. Videos show that even suburban areas have a great diversity of wildlife - from the squirrels trying to break into a birdfeeder to a bear lounging in a hammock.
For more on the exhibit, visit http://vet.purdue.edu/newsroom/2014/avma-animal-connections-exhibit-bound-for-purdue-university.php
Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu
Source: Kevin Doerr, director of alumni relations and public affairs for College of Veterinary Medicine, 765-494-8216, doerrk@purdue.edu
