Past Events 2011
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Rocks & Minerals
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
What is the difference between a rock and a mineral? What causes them to glow, crystallize, or take on vibrant colors? Visitors will learn answers to these questions and more from scientists in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, the University of Maine, and members of the Lincoln Gem and Mineral Club. They will also discover how we encounter minerals in our daily lives. Visitors are encouraged to bring a rock or mineral to the museum to be identified.
'Sunday with a Scientist' is a series of presentations that highlight the work of museum scientists and those from other institutions, while educating kids and families on a variety of topics related to science and natural history. Presenters share scientific information in a fun and informal way through demonstrations and activities or by conducting their science on site. 'Sundays with a Scientist' takes place from 1:30-4:30 pm at Morrill Hall on the third Sunday of each month.
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Viruses
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
What is a virus? Viruses come in all shapes and sizes. Some can harm us, while others can help us. We explored how viruses develop, multiply, interact with hosts, and impact our lives from scientists in UNL's Nebraska Center for Virology.
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Grete Bodøgaard |
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Naturally dyed porcupine quills |
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with Grete Bodøgaard
Saturday, November 12, 2011
10:00 am-noon and 12:30-4:00 pm
The museum presented an informal natural dyeing art program for families. Visitors had the opportunity to dye porcupine quills using native dyes made from plants. Tapestry artist Grete Bodøgaard of South Dakota demonstrated the natural dye process used in traditional quillwork, as well as the embroidery techniques Native Americans of the Great Plains use on different media to create colorful patterns.
This event was held in support of the museum's new Native American exhibit, "First Peoples of the Plains: Traditions Shaped by Land & Sky." This modern exhibit explores Native American cultures of the Great Plains, including quillwork and natural dyeing techniques.
Support for this event was provided by a grant from the Cooper Foundation.
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Sunday, November 6, 2011
1:30-4:30 pm
"NaturePalooza Nebraska" provided a day of discovery and hands-on activities throughout the museum. Scientists from the UNL School of Natural Resources operated interactive stations that explained the science behind Nebraska's water, weather and wildlife. Activities and games helped visitors explore Nebraska's rich natural resources and ways to help protect them
Event: Fright at the MuseumOctober 26 & 27, 2011
5:00-9:00 pm (both nights)
Fright at the Museum was Morrill Hall's first-ever Halloween celebration for Lincoln families. There was something for everyone on the Three Tiers of Terror! This two-day, spook-tacular event included games, music, zombies, mad scientists, planetarium shows, live animals and bugs, and more.
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Fossils
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
Paleontologists from the University of Nebraska State Museum's Division of Vertebrate Paleontology provided fossil fun through demonstrations and hands-on activities in Elephant Hall. Visitors learned about Nebraska fossils, along with how scientists identify, prepare, and study them. Children also sorted gravel for microfossils and investigated them through a microscope. Visitors were encouraged to bring in fossils to be identified. This event is held in conjunction with the American Geological Institute's National Earth Science Week (Oct. 9-15) and National Fossil Day (Oct. 12).
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Irene White Eyes |
Beadwork Demonstration
by Renee Geller & Irene White Eyes
Saturday, October 1 , 2011
10 am-4 pm
The museum presented an informal Native American art program for families. Visitors had the opportunity to make dream catchers with Artists Renee Geller of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Irene White Eyes of the Lakota/Omaha Tribes of Nebraska who also demonstrated beadwork. Support for this event is provided by a grant from the Cooper Foundation.
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First People of the Plains:
Traditions Shaped by Land & Sky
September 30, 2011
Morrill Hall re-opened its Native American gallery with the newly renovated exhibit, "First Peoples of the Plains: Traditions Shaped by Land & Sky." The First Peoples of the Great Plains lived upon and moved across the "land beneath the sky." They transformed the natural products of this diverse region into tools, food, clothing, and shelter. In turn, their solutions to the challenges of life on these vast grasslands became cultural traditions that also shaped language, marriage, artistic expression, and religion. Discover these enduring traditions in this contemporary exhibit that celebrates Native American cultures of the past and present.
The exhibit and gallery renovation were funded through generous support from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Class of 1987 Fund, Dr. Anne M. Hubbard, and the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation.
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Museum Day 2011
September 24, 2011
Morrill Hall participated in Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day 2011 on Saturday, Sept. 24. Visitors who presented a Museum Day ticket got free admission to the museum on this day.
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Plant Science: Feeding the
World in the 21st Century
Sun, September 18, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
Researchers from the UNL Center for Plant Science Innovation (CPSI) provided hands-on activities to help explain the important role of plant science in addressing the world's food demands. Plants are a critical part of human and livestock nutrition. Today's crop varieties and growing technologies are not sufficient to meet our future needs, as the global population is expected to reach over 10 billion by 2050. Visitors explored the different methods scientists use to find solutions to this problem, such as improving plant quality and crop yield. They also learned the basics of how scientists develop genetically modified crops and the steps required to move them safely from the laboratory to the marketplace.
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Climate Change
Sun, August 21, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
We unlocked clues about Earth's ever changing history by studying rocks and fossils collected in rock cores from Antarctica. Scientists from the ANDRILL Program (ANtarctic geological DRILLing) and the UNL Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences shared "cool" things they have discovered about past climate change and how projections are made about the future. Scientists also shared engaging educational materials from ANDRILL's Education and Outreach program.
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Fishes of Nebraska
Sun, July 17, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
Fisheries Ecologist Mark Pegg from the UNL School of Natural Resources helped visitors learn about the diversity of fishes in Nebraska and how to identify common sport fish. He also investigated the techniques fisheries biologists use to gather data from fish to determine the status and health of Nebraska's fish populations.
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Engineering Better Heart Health
Sun, June 19, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
Scientists explained how they are working to save lives using engineering technologies known as tissue mechanics. Advances in tissue mechanics help to prevent and treat cardiovascular problems. Visitors learned about common heart issues such as hardening and narrowing of the arteries through fun, hands-
on activities. A heart simulator, stent, and heart valve device were on hand to demonstrate blood flow, and what happens when that flow is interrupted. Led by UNL Department of Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Linxia Gu, Lincoln Public Schools science teacher Mark James, Nebraska Heart Institute staff, and various graduate students.
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Extreme Weather
Sun, May 15, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
Interactive activities and demonstrations helped visitors learn the basic causes of extreme weather phenomena, such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, hurricanes, and blizzards. Visitors also learned about the tools and methods scientists use to observe, study, and predict extreme weather. Featuring Adam Houston, Clint Rowe, Deborah Bathke, and graduate students from the UNL Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
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Saturday, May 7, 2011
9:30 am-4:30 pm
Prizes and a variety of family activities about space, science and astronomy were featured at this fun-filled event for all ages. Activities and demonstrations were on planets, space travel, physics, telescopes, meteorites, optics, the moon and more. Other attractions include the fulldome show "Touching the Universe."
Astronomy Day concluded in the evening with an open house "star party" during the regular open hours of Hyde Memorial Observatory.
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Sun, April 17, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
We explored the fascinating world of fruit. Scientists from the UNL School of Biological Sciences demonstrated the amazing things fruit can do (fly? explode?) and explained the important role they play in diet, the environment, and the plant life cycle.
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Saturday, April 2, 2011
1:00-4:30 pm
Colorful Creature Day was a fun-filled event for children and families featuring live animals and hands-on art activities at Morrill Hall.
The "Colorful Creature" art exhibit opened, displaying all of the entries received from our statewide art contest this spring. Visitors had the opportunity to interact with live animals in the museum, including alpacas, llamas, owls, birds, rabbits, turtles, reptiles, and others. Artists provided children's art activities and demonstrated their creative talents. Children were also able to paint and enter to win artistic rain barrels.
Participating organizations included the Lincoln Children's Zoo, Pioneers Park Nature Center, Raptor Recovery, Capital Humane Society, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon, Nebraska Parrot Rescue, Star City Llama and Alpaca 4-H Club, Rabbits R Us 4-H Club, Great Plains Chapter of the Guild of Natural Scientific Illustrators, Watershed Management Division of City of Lincoln Public Works and Utilities, UNL Department of Art and Art History, UNL Department of Entomology and more!
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Sun, March 20, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
Scientists in the UNL Department of Electrical Engineering provided fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations to help visitors learn how lasers and optics work and impact our lives. Visitors had the opportunity to tune and generate lasers, while exploring the fascinating properties of light and optics. The scientists also explained the many ways in which we encounter lasers and optics in daily life, from sunglasses, TV remote controllers, LCD displays, DVD players, to hologram art.
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The Nebraska Highway Paleontology Program
Thur, February 24, 2011
5:30-7:00 pm
News release »
The museum hosted a family-friendly event about the Nebraska Highway Paleontology Program at Morrill Hall. Museum visitors went on a virtual "road trip" through the state as they investigated prehistoric animals uncovered during road construction over the past 50 years.
The presentation, "Nebraska's Highway Paleontology Program: Road to destruction or path to preservation?" was given by highway paleontologist Shane Tucker, who has worked for the State Museum for 15 years. He highlighted the spectacular discoveries unearthed through the program, a collaborative effort between the museum and the Nebraska Department of Roads. The program has salvaged more than 200,000 irreplaceable scientific treasures that would have otherwise been paved over. The Highway Paleontology Program was established in 1960 and was the first of its kind in the United States.
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Sun, February 20, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event web page »
Did you know that there are more species of parasites than any other animals or plants on Earth? Every living organism contains parasites at some point during their life--including you! The museum presented a program for children and families about parasites. Led by the museum's Parasitology Division, the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology.
Dinosaurs & Disasters
Saturday, February 5, 2011
9:30 am-4:30 pm
A day of discovery and hands-on activities throughout the museum with more than 30 stations. This year's theme was "Earth, Wind, Fire and Water." Visitors explored the forces behind hail, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other weather-related disasters. They learned all about clouds, tsunamis, and geysers. A weather radar station provided a real-time look at the atmosphere and allowed visitors to interpret weather patterns. Visitors also had the opportunity to give a weather report like TV meteorologists, take a journey deep beneath Earth's surface, and learn how volcanic hotspots were formed. We dug for fossils and observed fossil preparation by real paleontologists, discovered how birds in your own backyard are related to the dinosaurs of our prehistoric past. We Investigated fossil poop and fossil vomit and found out why they help provide valuable clues about Earth's history. Visitors created a raging river, climb a volcano, looked into the eye of a 6-foot tornado, decoded Antarctica's climate history, and learned what distinguishes a meteorite from a meteor-wrong. Other topics included extinction, diatoms, and evolution in geologic time. Visitors were also encouraged to bring rocks or fossils to the museum for scientists to identify.
Mueller Planetarium presented the National Geographic fulldome show "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure."
Dinosaurs & Disasters is sponsored by the University of Nebraska State Museum and the UNL Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
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Sun, January 16, 2011
Afternoon event: 1:30-4:30 pm
Event webpage »
Museum visitors interacted with scientists and learned about plate tectonics, new discoveries in geology, and the supervolcano at Yellowstone National Park. Led by David Loope, Professor of Geology in the UNL Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Museum Educator Cindy Loope.
