TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama’s Alabama Museum of Natural History will host a new traveling exhibit, “Skulls and Skeletons,” Feb. 1-May 15 in Smith Hall, 427 Sixth Ave., on the UA campus.

Featuring mounted skeletons and model reconstructions, “Skulls and Skeletons” is an interactive educational exhibit designed to inform viewers about the various and unique ways in which animals, plants and other organisms deal with gravity.

Starting with the basic notion of bones and frameworks, the exhibit explores the diverse and interesting forms of support in the living world – from the most primitive organisms to the most complex vertebrate skeletons.

“There is an enormous variety of life on earth, from microscopic plankton in the ocean to eleven foot elephants weighing several tons,” said Randy Mecredy, assistant director of the UA’s Alabama Museum of Natural History. “Biologists consider Alabama to be a hot-spot of biodiversity. Studying the things that make each creature unique, helps us to discover what makes all of us connected.”

Those who would like to discover Alabama’s diverse natural history first-hand are invited to take part in the 27th annual Museum Expedition camp. Participants will have opportunity to work with scientists and conduct fieldwork in paleontology and ecology as part of actual scientific research to examine Alabama’s intriguing natural heritage.

The Museum Expedition camp will offer three, one-week sessions and a mini-week during the month of June. The cost is $400 per week per person; $200 for the mini-week. Accommodations, meals and scientific equipment are provided. To register, or for more information, phone 205/348-7550 or e-mail museum.programs@ua.edu. Other field trips during the summer include canoeing, hiking, and fossil collecting.

Operating hours for UA’s Museum of Natural History are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children and retirees. To schedule a guided tour for a group, or for more information, phone 205/348-7550, or visit the web site, www.amnh.ua.edu.