Dear Supporter,
Spring is here, and research at the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum is in full bloom—on campus, across Kansas, and around the world. There’s so much happening that I had to add a few extra sections to this newsletter to highlight all the impressive work of our staff and students.
One example of state-wide research comes from members of the KU Mammalogy and Ornithology divisions, who spent their spring break surveying bird and mammal diversity in Lane County, Kansas. This is part of an ongoing initiative to resurvey sites sampled over 100 years ago. These local expeditions are vital as they provide undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on training in field methods before embarking on longer, international fieldwork. You can read more about both divisions' recent fieldwork in the Philippines in the "Student and Staff Spotlights" section below.
Another exciting research project happening locally involves KU Entomology Research Associate Victor Gonzalez. This spring, he and a group of students will be researching and collecting solitary bees on the KU Lawrence campus. These native Kansas pollinators only emerge in spring, making this an exciting seasonal study. Be sure to check out next month's newsletter to learn about their findings!
Sincerely,Â
Natalie Vondrak
Communications CoordinatorÂ
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Pop Up Science: National Be Kind to Spiders Week
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April 5 | 2-4 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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Examine spiders up close, discover how both spiders and humans use silk and venom, and explore the wonderful world of these creatures through specimens and activities. This event is free and fun for all ages.
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| Science on Tap with PhD candidate Sarah Lamm
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April 16 | 7:30-8:30 p.m.Â
Free State Brewing Company
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This month, KU Geology PhD candidate Sarah Lamm will share her incredible three-year journey with NASA’s Curiosity Rover team and her experience as a crew geologist at the Mars Desert Research Station.
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National Tapir Day with K-POP
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April 27 | 2-4 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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Learn all about Tapirs with the help from our friends K-POP, the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project. Tapirs are an ecologically important and highly vulnerable animal found in South America and Southeast Asia.
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Curating Collections: Paleobotany
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Did you know there are over 11 million biological specimens and 2 million archaeological artifacts in the Biodiversity Institute's worldwide collection? And, each one has a story just waiting to be shared with you!
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Cross-section of a Cordaites trunk found in Kansas
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The Cordaites are gymnosperms, or seed-bearing plants. They grew at the edges of swamps in conditions similar to those of the modern-day Florida Everglades and were widespread in southeastern Kansas during the Carboniferous period, 359-299 million years ago. Cordaites had dense wood and resembled modern conifers, such as pines and junipers, growing up to 98 feet tall. To see a rendering of Cordaites and view the specimen above in person, visit the 6th floor of the KU Natural History Museum.
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| James Saulsbury receives a Research Postdoctoral Achievement Award
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Congratulations to James Saulsbury, postdoctoral researcher at the KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum and the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, for being honored with the KU Postdoctoral Research Achievement Award. His work sheds light on how species adapt or succumb to extinction, particularly in the context of environmental change. Read More »
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KU awarded NSF grant for workshop on best practices for sharing paleontology data
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Director of the Paleontological Institute Bruce Lieberman and Digital Resources Manager of the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Natalia LĂłpez Carranza are leading an NSF-funded workshop that explores innovative approaches to gathering and sharing paleontological data. Their goal is to ensure that valuable data is accessible and effectively utilized by both researchers and the public.
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| After 80 years stumping scientists, strange Philippine frog unmasked as hybrid
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Read the latest KU news article featuring the research of Kin Onn Chan, postdoctoral researcher in the Biodiversity Institute's molecular lab, who solved an 80-year-old mystery using new genomic technologies and biological legacy specimens deposited in collections at KU, UT Austin, and the Field Museum. Read More »
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How Old Photos, Recaptured, Reveal a Shifting Climate
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Read the New York Times article featuring the research of KU Ornithology Curator Town Peterson, along with graduate students Joanna Corimanya and Anahi Quezada. The article follows the team’s journey through Utah’s Uinta Mountains to better understand how ecosystems are changing—and how quickly—using repeat photography.Â
Read More »
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Celebrating Women in Science event draws hundreds to the museum
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Over 350 people attended our Celebrating Women in Science event on March 22, where they met inspiring scientists from KU and beyond, including Anna Klompen, a postdoctoral research associate. Pictured, Dr. Klompen shows visitors tiny jellyfish in a test tube. She studies the evolution and diversification of venoms within the phylum Cnidaria, which includes jellyfish, hydroids, sea anemones, and corals. See more photos »
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New Attendance record in March
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Thank you to everyone who visited the museum last month and helped us set a new attendance record, especially KU students Cooper Masek and Ava Meinke, who were our 4,000th visitors and received a swag bag in celebration of their visit.
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Membership changes in 2026
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Starting next year, there will be changes to our membership structure due to our participation in the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport Program. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months. Not a member?
Join today!
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| Members Event: Night in the Museum
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Over 55 members enjoyed a fun evening exploring the galleries, talking with KU researchers, and watching a screening of Night at the Museum. A huge thank you to City Wine Market and Johnny's Tavern in North Lawrence for sponsoring this unforgettable night.
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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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KU Botany Collection Manager Caleb Morse, an expert in lichen flora, taught two Lichenology workshops at the KU Field Station last month. Did you know the KU Botany collection houses the sixteenth largest lichen collection in North America?
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In February, Joanna Corimanya and Nikki Lemus, KU Ornithology graduate students, showcased their bird expertise by teaching middle and high school students how to identify native bird species using museum study skins at the KU Field Station.
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Teresa MacDonald, associate director of informal science education, and Eleanor Gardner, outreach & engagement coordinator, are preparing for the ARISE Annual Symposium. They’ll be presenting a poster on their program, “Build Your Future,” which provides essential STEM opportunities for youth and families in Wyandotte County, Kansas.
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KU Mammalogy, Ornithology, and Herpetology teamed up this spring for an expedition on Mt. Isarog on the Philippine island of Luzon. Before heading into the field, the group met with officials from Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) and Partido State University (ParSU) to kick off Curator Rafe Brown's 2025 Fulbright award. Read more »
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Congratulations to Mammalogy PhD student Mackenzie Grover and current Master's student Alex Hey for being selected for the prestigious Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship Program at KU. This fellowship provides four years of funding and offers them additional opportunities to grow as leaders in the fields of Parasitology and Wildlife Genomics.
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Caroline Kisielinski, a postdoctoral researcher in KU Mammalogy, helps lead K-POP, the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project, which engages the public through interactive science activities. Last month, the museum saw a surge in Sunday visitors thanks to their event on animal adaptations.
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International Day for Biological Diversity with K-POP
May 25Â | 2-4 p.m.Â
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Join us at the KU Natural History Museum, in collaboration with the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project, to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity! Hone your skills in spotting camouflaged serpents, discover how scientists use animal tracks and scat to understand behavior, explore the fascinating diversity of insects, and more. This free event promises fun and learning for all ages!
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