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<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nThese exhibits have engaged thousands of visitors since the opening, helping fulfill a goal of strengthening links between university research and the public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe space is a science communication platform for researchers,\u201d said Susan Weller, museum director and professor of entomology. \u201cIf research stays only within the science community, it\u2019s not helping to move the public dialogue.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why Weller tapped more than 50 researchers across the university, state and world to contribute to exhibits. They include Clint Rowe, one of Nebraska\u2019s foremost climate scientists. Through the gallery\u2019s 5-foot-wide digital globe, which features short films about climate change, he shares his knowledge with the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe museum is the science face of the university,\u201d said Rowe, professor of earth and atmospheric sciences. \u201cIt\u2019s a place where people bring their kids and grandkids. It\u2019s where you can display your research in a way that interests the public.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With diverse exhibits, researchers from wide-ranging disciplines can find ways to share their passion, Weller said. Many displays focus on climate change\u2019s impact on Nebraska ecosystems. Others provide guidance on cherishing natural resources, with exhibits on water quality and carbon footprints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though exhibits are Nebraska-based, they illustrate global patterns. They also highlight the state\u2019s unique crossroads position, where East meets West and North meets South. Weller wants visitors to see how this positions Nebraska researchers to solve future challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNebraska will lead the way in feeding the future population of 9 billion people and managing natural resources wisely,\u201d Weller said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Major contributors to the privately funded expansion include the Nebraska-based Theodore F. and Claire M. Hubbard Family Foundation, the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation, the William and Ruth Scott Family\nFoundation, the Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Endowment, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An interactive celebration of Nebraska\u2019s natural history and culture unfolds for visitors to the recently expanded University of Nebraska State Museum. These local examples illustrate a global story. \u201cCherish Nebraska,\u201d Morrill Hall\u2019s five-year, $11.4 million expansion, opened in February 2019. Seven new galleries cover 11,000 square feet and highlight Nebraska\u2019s natural and cultural heritage. Interactive […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[32,35,38,34,40,37,14,36,15,39,31,30],"class_list":["post-41","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-cherish-nebraska","tag-climate-change","tag-clint-rowe","tag-education-and-outreach","tag-food-energy-and-water-systems","tag-food-security","tag-history","tag-natural-resources","tag-public-policy","tag-science-communication","tag-susan-weller","tag-university-of-nebraska-state-museum","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":296,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41\/revisions\/296"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}