Dear Supporters,
In January, KU launched a new approach to how it presents itself to Kansans and people across the nation. The branding campaign, titled “Towering Toward the Blue,” highlights the university’s contributions to teaching, research, and economic development both within the state and beyond. This initiative involves updated messaging and a refreshed visual style, which is why our newsletter looks a little different than before.
We’re excited to align with these new branding priorities because for over a century, the BI/NHM has been committed to advancing both local and global research, fostering education through public programs and higher education, and driving tourism to Lawrence—all thanks to the impact of our Natural History Museum.
Last year alone, the BI/NHM managed $12 million in active grant budgets, supported 35 graduate students conducting research on topics ranging from parasites to prehistoric vertebrates, and engaged in active research programs across the world. Additionally, with over a dozen research divisions utilizing our extensive collection of 11 million specimens of plants, animals, and fossils, and 2 million archaeological artifacts, our discoveries continue to drive progress in conservation, evolutionary biology, climate change research, disease tracking, and more.
Our research and educational impact is also felt deeply right here in Kansas. Last year, the Natural History Museum welcomed close to 35,000 visitors, further enriching the state’s identity by showcasing the rich biodiversity of both our planet’s past and present.
We look forward to sharing our stories and impact using this branding campaign with dedicated supporters like you!
Sincerely,
Natalie Vondrak
Communications Coordinator
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Wild Adaptations with K-POP
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March 16 | 2-4 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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Sharp teeth, webbed feet, quills, and so much more. Learn about the amazing ways animals use adaptations to survive in the wild with the help from our friends K-POP, the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project.
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| Celebrating Women in Science
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March 22 |11 a.m.-2 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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Meet inspiring scientists from KU and beyond and discover cutting-edge scientific techniques, while engaging with fascinating specimens. Whether you're a curious mind or an aspiring scientist, there's something for everyone.
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| Science on Tap with Dr. Glor
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March 26 | 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Free State Brewing Company
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Enjoy a pint of beer while learning the latest scientific discoveries. This month, Herpetology Curator Richard Glor will explain the secret lessons about nature that Hollywood doesn't want you to know.
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Curating Collections:
Invertebrate Paleontology
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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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Laudonia bispinata – a trilobite that was just a big baby
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Trilobites are an entirely extinct group of marine arthropods that were at one time, the dominant animal life form. They first appeared in the fossil record about 525 million years ago, during what’s known as the Cambrian radiation – a time when most major animal phyla started to diversify and became abundant in the fossil record. The specimen illustrated here, which is the head (cephalon) of an adult animal, was photographed by Invertebrate Paleontology Collection Manager Natalia López Carranza, and it is one of the earliest trilobites, being about 515 million years old. Read More »
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SPNHC registration is now open
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Join professionals from around the world in advancing the preservation, conservation, and management of natural history collections during the 40th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, happening in Lawrence, KS, in May 2025.
Register Here »
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| Deforestation enables hybridization in Philippine frogs
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Postdoctoral researcher in the Biodiversity Institute's molecular lab, Kin Onn Chan, 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. The results revealed that deforestation enabled hybridization, resulting in a unique-looking frog that confused researchers for decades. Read More »
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The consequences of budding speciation on trees
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James Saulsbury, a postdoctoral researcher in KU Invertebrate Paleontology, has published new findings on how different modes of speciation, particularly budding, influence the structure of evolutionary trees for both fossil and living species. The study shows that many marine invertebrate clades likely have over 80% of their ancestors represented in fossil records, with some clades having nearly complete representation.
Read More »
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Celebrating a successful One Day One KU
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We are thrilled to share the incredible success of last month's One Day One KU campaign, where we raised a total of $1,045,397! Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, we received 158 gifts from 143 unique donors, and through your kindness, we were able to unlock additional bonus dollars from winning leaderboard and power hour challenges. We are deeply grateful for your support, which made all of this possible.
Here is a look at our achievements:
- 2nd in amount raised ($1,023,997), earning a generous $8,500 bonus
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2nd in the percent increase in gifts (153.4%), with an additional $8,500 bonus
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1st in the faculty/staff power hour challenge, securing a $2,000 bonus
- 24 new donors who contributed at least $25, resulting in a total of $2,400 from Board Member Tom Hardy's new donor challenge.
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Looking for spring break plans? Come play the Natural History Mystery game! Explore museum exhibits while solving puzzles to uncover the mystery! This game is free, family-friendly (suitable for children 7+), and designed for groups of two to five players. Learn More »
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The next Member Event will feature exhibits come to life and a showing of the movie Night at the Museum from 6-9:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 18. This event is full, but members can be added to the waitlist. To be added to the waitlist, register here.
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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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Staff and students gathered last month for the annual Darwin Party to celebrate a year full of remarkable achievements. The evening featured lively music, delicious food, and even some fun line dancing!
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Entomology Collection Manager Rachel Osborn partnered with the KU Field Station for an outreach event at the Lawrence Public Library called the Seed Library Launch. Rachel showcased dozens of insect specimens that play a vital role in pollinating local crops and flowers.
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KU BI/NHM graduate students Joanna Corimanya, Kevin Mulcahy, and Alex Maile made Valentine's Day unforgettable by hosting a "Collections Up Close" event at the KU Memorial Union. Visitors had the chance to view museum specimens and learn about the fascinating world of animal courtship.
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In early February, several BI/NHM staff and faculty attended the KU Indigenous Futures: Data Sovereignty Capacity Building in the Southern Plains Conference, including Director Nico Franz and Archaeology Curator Carlton Shield Chief Gover, who spoke on an interdisciplinary panel focused on data sovereignty.
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Pop Up Science in honor of “Be Kind to Spiders Week”
April 5 | 2-4 p.m.
Whether you’re a spider fan or an arachnophobe, join us in honoring "National Be Kind to Spiders Week" at this special Pop Up Science event. Examine spiders up close, discover how spiders and humans use silk and venom, and explore the wacky and wonderful world of spiders through specimens and activities. This event is free and fun for all ages.
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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.
©2024 The University of Kansas
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