Dear Supporter,
This is not an April Fools' Day joke. The Panorama is now open and ready for public viewing once again!
Since the gallery closed on September 8, 2025, the space has received several much-needed updates, including a fresh coat of paint, new lighting in the gallery, theatrical lighting in the exhibit spaces, new safety glass, and a new climate control system, all thanks to the generosity of Tom and Jan Hardy. One of our favorite updates, and one we are especially excited to show you, is the installation of theatrical lighting, which adds a new layer to the Panorama experience. We can now adjust the lighting settings so visitors can view the different biomes at daybreak, high noon, and nighttime. You can even catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis in the Arctic!
These updates make this historic space even more immersive than before, and we are thrilled to welcome visitors back to experience one of their favorite exhibits in a new way. The Panorama remains one of only three historic panoramas of its kind in the world, and we are so glad to continue sharing this iconic exhibit with the community.
If your weekend plans include visiting the KU Natural History Museum, please note that the building will be open Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but will be closed on Sunday, April 5, for the Easter holiday.Â
We look forward to seeing you at the museum soon.
Sincerely,Â
Natalie Vondrak
Communications CoordinatorÂ
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Science on Tap with K. Christopher Beard
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April 15 | 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Free State Brewing Company
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Grab a pint and learn about KU Vertebrate Paleontology's expeditions to Turkey. In this talk, Dr. Beard will highlight the unique mammalian fauna of Balkanatolia, a former island in the Tethys Sea.
Read More »
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| K-POP: Pollinator Palooza!
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April 19 | 1:30-3:30 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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Learn about the important roles of pollinators with members of the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project. Create your very own busy bee, explore diverse insect shapes, and more at this family-friendly, drop-in style event. Read More »
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| Member Event:
Night Explorers
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April 25 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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Become a Night Explorer and discover the source of nature sounds at this exclusive after hours museum member event. Guided by lantern light and sound, you’ll explore our galleries looking for several learning stations where you’ll connect one-on-one with scientists. Read More »
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Curating Collections: Entomology
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The Biodiversity Institute houses over 11 million biological specimens and 2 million archaeological artifacts from around the world—each with a story just waiting to be shared!
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Spot the Difference: Monarch vs. Viceroy
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In September, Kansas is a major stop for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) heading south during their fall migration, but they can also be seen in smaller numbers during April and May. These monarchs are part of the spring migration and are looking for milkweed on which to lay their eggs. But don't expect every orange butterfly with dark markings to be a monarch. Similar in color and wing pattern, viceroy butterflies (Limenitis archippus) also call Kansas (and most of North America) home. But how can you tell these butterfly species a part?Â
One major indicator is size, as viceroys are generally smaller than monarchs. Another simple way to tell the difference is to look for the extra horizontal black line across the lower wing. If you see this marking, it’s a viceroy. How they fly is another helpful clue. Monarchs glide through the air with their wings in a shallow V shape, while viceroys flap their wings several times before entering a flat-winged glide.
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See a full list of recent publications at the end of this newsletter.
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| KU Botany releases an updated checklist of North American lichen
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In collaboration with American lichenologist Theodore L. Esslinger, Caleb Morse, KU Botany Collection Manager, has released Version 25 of the North American Lichen Checklist, now available on the KU Botany website as a free download. The count for this recent version is 6,097 species in 871 genera, with an additional 64 subspecies, 88 varieties, and 8 forms. Read More »
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| How natural history collections and data mining inform the phenology and flower preferences of North American bees
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Despite bees being widely studied pollinators, little is known about most species. In a recent study, KU Entomology graduate student Wyatt Zabinski addresses this issue by analyzing historical data from the diverse genus Andrena. The study reveals that five species have overlapping but distinct phenologies from spring through summer and were found to be polylectic — feeding on a variety of plants.
Read More »
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| Three KU professors in paleontology, medicinal chemistry, and microbiology named AAAS fellows
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Congratulations to K. Christopher Beard, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology and Foundation Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, who is one of three KU professors named 2025 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows. Read More »
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One Day One KU is almost here — and we want YOU to be a part of it! 
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The countdown to One Day One KU has begun! This year, your contribution directly supports our Visitor Experience student hourly employees and helps sustain the care of our live exhibits, including our beloved observational bee hive, reptiles, insects, and paleo garden. This 24-hour campaign will take place from noon April 28 through noon April 29, 2026. To donate or learn how your contribution makes a difference, visit our One Day One KU campaign webpage.
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Member Event: Student Showcase
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Save the date! On Thursday, May 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., museum members are invited to the Panorama for our first-ever student showcase event. Undergraduate students play a big role in current research projects, educational programs, and more, and we want to recognize their contributions. This event is open to current museum members only. Not a member yet? Learn how to join here.
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| Community poll: What should our next tour theme be?
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Take our quick, one-question survey and help shape our next tour! Topics explore current research driving our displays, Kansas stories and symbols, and how research and museums help protect our natural world. Complete the survey »
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Staff & Student Spotlights
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Stay up-to-date with current activities and events by following us
on your favorite social media channels.
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Several community members gathered in Marvin Grove on March 30 for an engaged reading of Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature. The discussion was led by Brian Atkinson, KU paleobotany curator, and Abraham Weil, professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies. Interested in learning more about this book? Hear from the author, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, on April 7 at Liberty Hall. Full event details here »
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In March, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator Eleanor Gardner was the proud recipient of the City of Lawrence’s 2026 Women’s History Month Proclamation. Eleanor's work connecting STEM research with the public—particularly her leadership in organizing the museum's annual Celebrating Women in Science event—helped earn her this well-deserved recognition.
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In early 2026, KU Entomology staff and students spent two weeks in Panama visiting the Smithsonian Tropical Institute on Barro Colorado Island. Their research project focused on studying nocturnal pollinators and provided a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration, discovery, and long nights exploring the rainforest. Support for student travel and lodging were paid in part by the KU-STRI partnership fund from the KU Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. See more photos »
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A big congratulations to KU Paleobotany graduate student Kelly Pfeiler on accepting a position as Assistant Professor of Botany at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. On behalf of the entire BI/NHM community, we wish Kelly all the best in this exciting new chapter and thank her for her many contributions over the past few years.
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Remembering KU alumnus Paul Ehrlich.Â
On March 13, Paul Ehrlich, a world-class ecologist, winner of the Tyler Prize, and a professor at Stanford University, died at 93. Ehrlich was well known for his famous books, some of them predicting a disastrous future that never came to be (The Population Bomb, 1968). Ehrlich was also a graduate student at the University of Kansas, and earned his PhD in Entomology in 1957 under the direction of Charles D. Michener. At that time, Ehrlich published seminal work on the systematics of butterflies. After his time at KU, he moved to the University of Stanford, where he published with Peter Raven a famous paper, cited close to 7,000 times, on the coevolution between plants and butterflies.
With hindsight, Paul Ehrlich was wrong about many things. However, his first-class scientific work, his commitment to teaching, and his tireless efforts in favor of the environment made him a hugely influential biologist. May he rest in peace. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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Celebrate Biodiversity Day with the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project
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Sunday, May 24 | 1:30-3:30 p.m.Â
KU Natural History Museum
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Celebrate Earth’s amazing biodiversity at the KU Natural History Museum! Enjoy hands-on activities for adults and kids alike. Identify wetland mammals by their tracks and scat, explore how animals use camouflage in different habitats, and discover the hidden life inside a single drop of water under a microscope.
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The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or online and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator or online.
©2026 The University of Kansas
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