Dear TONMO members,
I am a researcher at the BBC, where we are in the process of making a documentary about mathematics in the world around us. We're keen to include a sequence in which our presenter dives to see chambered nautilus, to accompany a discussion of logarithmic spirals in the programme.
I have started looking into this, but I have three questions in particular that I'd be very keen to hear your thoughts on:
- Has anyone gone diving with chambered nautilus before? Do you have any advice on the best places to go to film them? I'm particularly interested in looking at the Philippines and Fiji (for logistical transport reasons), but am open to any location in theory!
- I understand that the nautilus are caught at night, and brought up to near-surface level for study. Does this harm or disrupt them in any way?
- We're hoping to film this in conjunction with scientists conducting field research on the chambered nautilus. I.e. we want the nautilus to be caught for scientific purposes (and we just happen to have the cameras there), rather than purely for the purposes of making television. Do you know of any such research that may be going on now?
Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give!
All the best,
Leili
I am a researcher at the BBC, where we are in the process of making a documentary about mathematics in the world around us. We're keen to include a sequence in which our presenter dives to see chambered nautilus, to accompany a discussion of logarithmic spirals in the programme.
I have started looking into this, but I have three questions in particular that I'd be very keen to hear your thoughts on:
- Has anyone gone diving with chambered nautilus before? Do you have any advice on the best places to go to film them? I'm particularly interested in looking at the Philippines and Fiji (for logistical transport reasons), but am open to any location in theory!
- I understand that the nautilus are caught at night, and brought up to near-surface level for study. Does this harm or disrupt them in any way?
- We're hoping to film this in conjunction with scientists conducting field research on the chambered nautilus. I.e. we want the nautilus to be caught for scientific purposes (and we just happen to have the cameras there), rather than purely for the purposes of making television. Do you know of any such research that may be going on now?
Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give!
All the best,
Leili