Last Saturday (April 23) started out cool and cloudy, but the enthusiasm of visitors and volunteers at the 12th Annual Museum Open House made it turn into an exhilarating day. By our best reckoning, we had 2,641 guests join us to celebrate the day. Our 186 volunteers were there to welcome them and share their passion for biodiversity.
This was a year of innovation: a springtime date, outdoor activities under a massive 20′ x 90′ tent, a 2,200 gallon aquarium stocked with a variety of fish from the Scioto River, the t-shirt design contest, and a number of new hands-on activities. The support and positive feedback from the community was absolutely tremendous and thoroughly invigorating. Thanks to all who came, to all who helped to put the event together, to all our amazing volunteers, to the generous donations from visitors, and to the College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Evolution, Ecology & Organismal Biology, and to the Department of Entomology for financial support.
We’re wrapping up this year’s event (look for a more complete report at later blog post) and already thinking and planning for our lucky 13th Open House: all ideas on how to make this a better event are welcome. See you next year!
This year we expanded to the outside of the Museum, with kids’ activities under the tent.
Another new feature was the portable aquarium, stocked with fish from the Scioto River; they were returned to the river at the end of the day.
One of our young visitors gets a closer look at the fish.
A chameleon being painted on the cheek of one of our guests.
OSU undergraduate student Christina Daragan volunteered in face painting and acquired a painting of her own.
EEOB department chair Dr. Libby Marschall cuts chameleons out of paper plates for a kid’s activity.
A young visitor engaged in fish-printing.
Graduate students from the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory help with the plankton races.
One of many young visitors who were photographed looking through a very different organism!
George Keeney, “zookeeper” of the Insect Zoo, which is always a big attraction.
Dr. Rachelle Adams shows roaches to visitors.
Abby Pomento shows a Hognose Snake to a young visitor.
Roger Thoma explains crayfish biology to visitors.
Former graduate student Dr. Paul Larson explains DNA analysis.
Members of the limnology lab talk about aquatic systems with visitors.
Stephanie Malinich, Manager of the Tetrapod Collection, with her avian headdress.
Graduate student Liz Calhoon explains the colors of birds.
Activities and exhibits in the Insect Collection.
The adult phase (you can tell by the wings) of a volunteer in the Insect Collection.
Jodi Folzenlogen explains the collection of sounds in the Bioaccoustics exhibit.
Dr. Tom Watters, Curator of the Mollusc Collection, explains the world of mussels and clams.
Dr. Hans Klompen, Director of the Tick & Mite Collection, shows the world of these tiny organisms to our guests.
OSU undergraduate student Miriam Gibbs explains fish biology.
Drs. Bill Ausich, William Schenck and Dale Gnidovec talk about fossils with our visitors.
Exhibits in the Herbarium.
Dr. Bob Klips explains lichen biology to a guest.
Dr. Meg Daly, Director of the Fish Collection, and Dr. Norm Johnson, Director of the Insect Collection (and lead event organizer), enjoy a moment in the beautiful weather.
Dr. Luciana Musetti, Curator of the Triplehorn Insect Collection, with Zach Hurley, former Curatorial Assistant at the insect collection.
Dr. Carol Anelli, Associate Chair of Entomology, and Dr. Johnson help orient visitors.
Kevin Lumney, Instructor in EEOB, takes a well-deserved break near the end of the event.
About the Authors: Dr. Norman Johnson is Director of the Triplehorn Insect Collection and led the organization of the Museum Open House 2016. Dr. John Freudenstein is Director of the OSU Herbarium. Norman wrote the text above and John produced the photo gallery. All photos and captions by John Freudenstein.