By Kamryn Anthis | Staff Writer
The Mayborn Museum received a $300,000 grant to advance plans for a new exhibit exploring Central Texas ecology, featuring a bat simulation, an interactive prairie fire exhibit and virtual fireflies.
Construction on this 5,000-square-foot exhibit will likely begin next year. Rebecca Nall, assistant director of exhibits, communication and visitor services at the Mayborn Museum, said that the grant will fund the next stage of preparation.
“The grant that we received was from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and it was to go towards the detailed design, which is the final planning stage of an exhibit before you’re ready to build it,” Nall said.
From wildflowers to wildfires, this exhibit will explore Central Texas’s natural environment to encourage learning about and appreciation of local wildlife. The intended audience is primarily visitors age 12 and older, though the exhibit will include experiences for all ages.
“We talked about our exhibit goals: to inspire stewardship of Central Texas ecology; create an experience of wonder; reveal how nature is all around you, no matter where you are; illustrate the principles of ecology using Central Texas ecosystems, and then highlight the collections and their scientific value, drawing heavily on the holdings of the Mayborn Museum,” Nall said.
One goal of the exhibit is to connect what students learn in the classroom with hands-on, immersive experiences that deepen their understanding of and appreciation for the land around them. A study by the Institute of Museum and Library Services found that students who visit museums tend to achieve at higher levels.
“It’s looking at the nature that is in this area that has been in this area, the importance of natural history collections, and how they tell the story of nature, and then what about Central Texas made it an interesting place for people to settle,” Nall said.
Museum staff said they hope this exhibit furthers the Mayborn’s mission as an educational center. Charles Walter, Executive Director of the Mayborn Museum, said that the museum exists to serve the people of Central Texas.
“The bottom line is, we’re a place people volunteer to come and learn, and they learn directly through real objects, and this exhibit’s going to allow people to connect with nature in a deeper way,” Walter said. “Through that connection, we want them to take better care of our community.”
