Dear Supporter,
School may be out for summer, but the learning continues this July!
At the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to explore the wonders of the natural world. That's why, starting July 1, we are launching a monthlong campaign to support K-12 school scholarships for low resource schools. Over the past two years, our scholarship program has grown to support more than 1,000 students annually from schools representing eight counties across Kansas and Missouri.
You can support this effort by making a gift today or by visiting the museum throughout July to see our K-12 programs in action! Education Coordinator Tracey Funk will be stationed at our Curiosity Cart on four occasions this month, sharing activities from our educational programs for K-12 schools. Explore topics including mammal vision, geology, scientific names, and more!
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Friday, July 10 | 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 16 | 9:00 a.m.-noon
Wednesday, July 22 | 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28 | 9:00 a.m.-noon
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Sincerely,Â
Natalie Vondrak
Communications CoordinatorÂ
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July 19 | 1:30-3:30 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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Get ready for some out-of-this-world fun with the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project. Learn about the phases of the moon, build straw rockets, and more at this family-friendly, drop-in style event. Read the full event description »
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| Science on Tap with Ana Rita C. Morais
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July 22 | 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Free State Brewing Company
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Join us for a pint and learn how KU engineers are rethinking our use of Polyethylene (PE), the most common plastic used in the United States, by using CO₂ to help chemically process plastic waste. Read the full event description »
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From Synapses to Circuits: Exploring Brain-Inspired Computing
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July 24 | 1:00-3:30 p.m.
KU Natural History Museum
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At this drop-in event, high school and undergraduate students will share activities that examine different aspects of brain-inspired computing. Visitors can make circuits, test their brain’s memory, and more. Read the full event description »
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Curating Collections:
Biodiversity Modeling & Policy
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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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Enhancing island biogeography by identifying potential species pools
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Figure 1. How climate helps decide which mainland butterflies could live on Caribbean islands
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Why do island species matter? A recent study published in Scientific Reports by members of the KU Biodiversity Modeling & Policy Division explored this question by asking: given the climate of an island, which species from nearby regions are truly capable of making a home there?
Using butterflies from two families — sulphurs and swallowtails — across the Caribbean, the team combined biodiversity records with climate data to identify potential colonizers that have not yet arrived or become established. Their findings provide a new framework for understanding how species spread to islands, improving conservation planning, and anticipating future changes in biodiversity as climates shift. 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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KU Botany collection project re-houses 2,000 fungus specimens
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This summer, KU Museum Studies graduate student Marty Arnold is rehousing nearly 2,000 fungal specimens collected by renowned Kansas mycologist Elam Bartholomew between the late 1890s and 1920s. Marty is transferring each specimen from its original paper packet to standard archival housing that includes a new packet with a felt and a backer board to ensure its long-term preservation. Once rehoused, the specimens will be digitized and made available to researchers worldwide.
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| Exploring archaeological evidence for historic smallpox epidemics
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A study by Archaeology Assistant Curator Carlton Shield Chief Gover and colleagues compares historical accounts of smallpox epidemics in the Americas with the archaeological record. The research proposes a framework for evaluating burial sites and skeletal remains that may be associated with historic smallpox outbreaks, helping archaeologists better understand the impacts of disease during the colonial period. Read the full article »
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KU paleontologist uncover rare Paleocene mammals in Wyoming
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During two weeks of fieldwork in Wyoming, members of the KU Vertebrate Paleontology Division recovered 175 fossil specimens from sites dating to the Paleocene Epoch, about 56 million years ago. Their discoveries, including rare mammals such as Planetetherium and Acmeodon will lead to better understandings of how mammals evolved leading up to a period of rapid global warming and major faunal change at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary.
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Explore the Natural History Museum for FREE this Summer
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This summer Kansas Tourism is encouraging Kansas families to explore their state with free admission to more than 200 attractions, including the KU Natural History Museum! The Sunflower Summer program runs from July 9 to Aug. 2 and is eligible for Kansas students ages pre-K through 12th grade. One adult ticket is provided per transaction.
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Biodiversity Bash website is LIVE
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Mark your calendar for Sept. 25 as we celebrate our first fundraiser since 2018.
This vibrant evening will bring together community members, scientists, and graduate students for a night inspired by the wonders of the natural world. Our fundraising priority? Raising money for Curatorial Assistant positions who play a critical role in a wide range of collections activities. Learn more by visiting the Biodiversity Bash website.Â
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Visit us this Independence Day
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Celebrate the Fourth of July with a little discovery! The KU Natural History Museum will be open Saturday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by and spend part of your holiday exploring past and present life on Earth. Want to take your visit up a notch? Try one of our Discovery Guides or tackle our new Panorama Puzzle! Ask for details at the front desk.
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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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Cheers to Kelly Pfeiler for successfully defending her dissertation in June! The room was packed with friends and colleagues eager to listen to her research on reconstructing the evolutionary history of Cupressaceae — a widely distributed group of cone-bearing evergreen trees and shrubs. Way to go, Kelly!
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Outreach and Engagement Coordinator Eleanor Gardner and her team of students have been busy visiting nearly a dozen libraries this summer connecting young readers to the state's paleontological history. This year, the Kansas City metro-wide summer reading theme is "Read, Score, Roar!" which combines three powerful concepts–reading, soccer, and dinosaurs–into a jam-packed summer.Â
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Archaeology Curator Carlton Shield Chief Gover spent time in western Kansas last month at the Kansas Anthropological Association's 2026 Kansas Archaeological Training Program. There, he helped demonstrate portable 3D scanning technology on pre-contact Pawnee rock art. This technology allows archaeologists to quickly share 3D models with collaborating institutions and American Indian cultural resource staff.
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Halló from Iceland! Members of the Invertebrate Zoology Division attended the 11th International Workshop on Cestode Systematics and Phylogeny in Reykjavik, Iceland last month, joining many of the world's leading scientists studying tapeworm systematics. Graduate students Molly Sims and Katherine Hanselman both presented posters and had the opportunity to connect with Kaylee Herzog, Jensen Lab and KU alum.
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Lori Schlenker wowed this year's participants in KU Mini College with a presentation on the history of the Panorama. The exhibit first debuted at the World’s Fair Columbian Exposition in 1893, and today we are working to ensure its legacy lives on through a capital campaign to restore our iconic wildlife displays. Visit our campaign webpage and learn more about Panorama.
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Congratulations to BI/NHM alum Fernando Machado-Stredel for winning the 2026 Florence Merriam Bailey Award from the American Ornithological Society (AOS). The award recognizes an outstanding article published in an AOS journal by an early-career member of the society. Fernando, now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of New Mexico, earned his doctorate from the University of Kansas in 2023.
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Celebrate Hawk Week with the KU Natural History Museum
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We know you're still dreaming of summer, but we're already of thinking about ways to connect with new and returning students during KU's Hawk Week! Join us at two events in August as we introduce students to our exhibits, programs, and opportunities to get involved.
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Union Fest | August 22 | 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Join us outside the KU Natural History Museum to learn about our exhibits, explore fluorescent minerals and bioluminescent organisms, and pick up some free museum swag! More details to follow.
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Biology Welcome Back | August 23 | 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Interested in natural history? Visit us outside Haworth Hall and discover undergraduate opportunities at the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum and learn about ways to get hands-on experiences working with our collections. More details to follow.
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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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