Dear Museum Supporter,
This month, we have a fun and full lineup of events for every biodiversity enthusiast. In fact, we have so many events that weâre hosting or tabling at in September that I couldnât fit them all into this newsletter...but fear not. To see full event descriptions, dates and times, click September Events below. To get the highlights, keep reading!
To kick off the month, a team from the Natural History Museum will be tabling on Ascher Plaza outside the Kansas Memorial Union for Jayhawk Fridays on Sept. 4. Weâll be welcoming KU alumni back to campus for the football season opener game and encouraging visitors to visit the museum while in town. Plus, weâll have plenty of gift shop items to show off!
For our graduate student supporters, donât miss the opportunity to connect with fellow researchers at the Spencer Museum of Art on Sept. 10 during the Graduate Student Welcome Back Event, hosted by The Commons.
For our families, or frankly anyone who loves bugs, donât miss our co-sponsored event with the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Program (K-POP) on Sept. 20. Their drop-in event, K-POP: Bugginâ Out, will cover a range of topics related to insect diversity and offer plenty of opportunities to learn more about the fascinating world of bugs.
I hope to see you at the Natural History Museum soon!
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Sincerely,Â
Natalie Vondrak
Communications CoordinatorÂ
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Sept. 11 | 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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Calling all KU Students! Whether you're a first-time visitor or a frequent flyer in our galleries, you're invited to Dyche Hall to test your Triceratops knowledge. Ace our quiz and win a prize! Visit the museum, which is always FREE for KU students, and find our Triceratops skull to participate. Read the full event description »
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| Sept. 16 | 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Free State Brewing Company
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For the first time ever, Science on Tap will feature two presenters! Grab a pint and learn how graduate students play a pivotal role advancing collection-based biodiversity research as Curatorial Assistants at the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. Please note that seating is limited, so we encourage you to arrive early! Read the full event description »
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| Sept. 25 | 6:00-9:00 p.m
KU Conference Center
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Celebrate our mission during Biodiversity Bash, our first fundraiser since 2018! This vibrant event will bring together community members, scientists, and graduate students for a night inspired by the wonders of the natural world. This year, funds raised through the Biodiversity Bash will support our Curatorial Assistant positions. Read the full event description »
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Curating Collections: Paleobotany
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The Biodiversity Institute houses over 11 million biological specimens and 2 million archaeological artifacts from around the worldâeach with a story just waiting to be shared!
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The Cretaceous diversification of Lauraceae
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General morphology of Extroparvum occidentale
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Research led by recent KU graduate Keana Tang and her advisors, Paleobotany Curators Kelly Matsunaga and Brian Atkinson, examined the fossil record of Lauraceae, which extends back to the Early Cretaceous and consists of numerous flowers. Using phylogenetic analyses of living and extinct members of the family, the team described a new fossil flower from the Coniacian of British Columbia, Canada â Extroparvum occidentale.
Sections of the new fossil flower were prepared and used to create a threeâdimensional reconstruction, see image above. Read the full article »
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See a full list of recent publications at the end of this newsletter.
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| African plant biodiversity project brings international scholars to KU
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The Biodiversity Institute and the Missouri Botanical Garden welcomed four visiting African scholars from Aug. 5-22 as part of a National Science Foundation-funded effort to build one of the most comprehensive digital resources ever assembled for tropical African seed plants. During their visit, scholars met with BI/NHM collections managers, discussed biodiversity informatics and visited the Missouri Botanical Garden, home to the largest collection of African plant specimens in the United States. Read the full article »
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| KU Paleobotany earns top student award at annual conference
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The KU Paleobotany Division was well represented at Botany 2026, an annual meeting comprising six leading professional botanical societies. All curators and graduate students presented talks or posters, with Morgan Mathison, the newest member of the Matsunaga Lab, taking home the Cookson Award for best student presentation in paleobotany. Undergraduate researcher Joyce Cortez also attended through the PLANTS program (Preparing Leaders and Nurturing Tomorrowâs Scientists), which funded her trip.
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| Community science helps KU Entomology student find rare weevil
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KU Entomology masterâs student Madeline Shaw recently used a 2022 iNaturalist observation to locate and collect fresh specimens of the uncommon weevil Mitostylus tenuis at a public park just north of Oklahoma City. Madeline is studying the genus Mitostylus for her masterâs thesis and will use the new specimens for DNA research. The find highlights how community science can help researchers locate and study uncommon species.
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Biodiversity Bash live auction items you don't want to miss!
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We have an amazing selection of live auction items for Biodiversity Bash. From a grotesque concrete replica to a signed copy of Ponds, Pond Fish, And Pond Fish Culture by Lewis Lindsay Dyche to fieldwork experience with KU scientists, there is something for everyone to bid on â plus the list keeps growing!  Read auction item descriptions »
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- Live Auction Items:
- Signed Jaydreaminâ Print, signed by five legendary KU basketball coaches
- Cocktail Party at Alberts
- Lion Grotesque Replica
- Ponds, Pond Fish, And Pond Fish Culture, signed by Lewis Lindsay Dyche
- Kansas Fieldwork Expedition
- Name a New Bee Species
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Main entrance to remain open throughout construction
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Dyche Hall looks a little different these days but for a great reason. Thanks to the generosity of Jann and Tom Rudkin, construction has begun on a new accessible entrance to the KU Natural History Museum! Now all of our visitors can experience being greeted by staff and seeing two of our most iconic and impressive displays, the Bunker Mosasaur and the Panorama, at the start of their visit. The front entrance will remain open throughout the majority of construction. Watch the video »
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A memorable UnionFest 2026
with KU undergrads
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We want the KU Natural History Museum to be a part of every KU studentâs college experience! Thatâs why our Outreach and Engagement team pulled out all the stops during UnionFest, talking with hundreds of undergraduate students. There were bioluminescent fish and insects, fluorescent fossils on display, microbe plating, T. rex racing, and even a student dressed up as a Pteranodon â a crowd favorite. Watch the video »
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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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Members of our Outreach and Engagement team tabled at Free Stateâs Eastside Brewery to celebrate the start of a new mural showcasing past and present Kansas biodiversity. The 20-foot mural, titled âEstamos AquĂ / We Are Here,â was created by local artist Dave Loewenstein and features a giant mosasaur at its center. Read more about the project »
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Congratulations to Lori Schlenker on her Unsung Hero award! Behind every museum collection is someone working to ensure the specimens, artifacts and records that researchers rely on remain accessible for generations. At the BI/NHM that responsibility falls to Lori Schlenker, associate director of collections and facilities. Read the full article »
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After a successful month of collecting and visiting regional insect collections, KU Entomology Collection Manager Zach Falin is back on campus with a variety of beetles and bees for the division! Zach spent time in three Colorado counties and camped for four days collecting in subalpine conifer forests at elevations reaching 10,000 feet.
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Welcome to the BI/NHM! This academic year we have five new graduate students and six BioGEM Postbaccalaureate scholars joining our community. These students and scholars will be working closely with our researchers and collections in several divisions and buildings across campus. Weâre grateful to welcome them to our team and excited for the discoveries ahead!
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Make the Natural History Museum part of Family Weekend
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Participating in KUâs annual Family Weekend? Make the most of your time together with a visit to the KU Natural History Museum! This year, weâre offering 30-minute museum tours every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. Prior registration for Family Weekend is required to participate.
Not registered for Family Weekend? No problem! We offer a variety of museum and educational tours throughout the year.
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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 universityâs 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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