The Magazine of the Museum M of Texas Tech University
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FALL/WINTER 2020 The Magazine of the Museum M of Texas Tech University CROWN OF THORNS WHEREABOUTS AND HIDEOUTS: THE ARTIST PRINTMAKER RESEARCH COLLECTION LINDA FISHER: FRIEND TO THE MUSEUM FACULTY OFFER THEORY FOR ORIGIN OF LIFE ON EARTH RE-OPENING OCTOBER 22ND M The Magazine of the Museum of Texas Tech University We want to hear Spring/Summer 2020 TURN YOUR from you! Editors LOVE FOR Aaron Pan, Ph.D. Laura Ray Have a story you want to share? Daniel Tyler, M.A. MUSEUMS INTO Have an opinion on the issue? We want to hear it. Editorial Committee Lisa Bradley, M.S., Aaron Pan, Ph.D., Laura Ray, Daniel Tyler, M.A. A CAREER Email us at: Writers & Contributors [email protected] Lisa Bradley, M.S, .Peter Briggs, Ph.D., Sankar Chatterjee, Ph.D., Taylor Ernst, M.A., Marian Ann Montgomery, Ph.D., Laura Ray, Megan Reel, M.A., To update your contact information: Daniel Tyler, M.A. [email protected] Design Armando Godinez Jr. ADMINISTRATION Executive Director Follow Us On: Aaron Pan, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR Museum Association Jouana Stravlo CONTACT US [email protected] Museum of Texas Tech University Learn more at: 3301 4th Street, Box 43191 Lubbock, TX 79409 Heritage and Museum Sciences http://www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/masters/about-program.php Master of Arts Program Contact: This issue of M Magazine of the Museum of Texas Offers two different concentrations: Eileen Johnson, Ph.D. Tech University is made possible by the generous Chair, Horn Professor support of the CH Foundation. Museum Science • Collections management and care 806-834-5560 M Magazine is a biannual publication of the Museum of Texas Tech University • Exhibitions and interpretation [email protected] • Museum education • Museum management Sally Y. Shelton, M.A. • Discipline-based curatorships Associate Professor of Practice and OR Associate Chair Heritage Management 806-834-6292 • Heritage administration [email protected] • Interpretation • Heritage education • Heritage tourism and ecotourism FALL/WINTER 2020 | M Magazine 3 FALL/WINTER 2020 MEDICI’S CONTENTS TREASURES DIVISIONS A message from our new executive director 07 M News 10 Staff Profile 12 Around the Museum In March of this year, I was given the 17 Closed But Contributing distinct honor of being named executive 42 Natural Science Research Laboratory director of the Museum of Texas Tech University. This privilege, along with 54 Alumni Profile my faculty appointment as an associate 58 Museum Association Profile professor of practice, has been a lifelong dream and I thank Texas Tech University 60 Exploring Paleontology Holotypes leadership, the Museum Association, 69 Upcoming Exhibitions faculty and staff of the museum, and all the museum’s visitors and supporters for putting their trust in me. My academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Studies with a Biology Emphasis from the University FEATURES of California Santa Barbara. UCSB’s Creatives Studies program is wonderful and focused on taking over-eager 18 | undergraduates (chomping at the bits to conduct research) and allowing them to The Impact of COVID-19 take upper division and graduate level courses even as freshmen and sophomores. at the Museum I received my Doctorate of Philosophy in Executive Director Aaron D. Pan, Ph.D. Geology, with an emphasis in paleobotany, 26 | from Southern Methodist University. Science and History and as the executive director of Crown of Thorns the Don Harrington Discovery Center in Amarillo, TX. Throughout my career in museums, I have always Throughout my 12 years in the museum field, I have come tried to conduct some active research, even if it has away with the importance of museums. In regards to the 30 | sometimes been on a reduced scale or on weekends or community they serve, museums have four main roles: during vacations – including receiving strange looks from as caretakers, sharers, stimulators, and storytellers. Whereabouts and Hideouts beachcombers as I was photographing, video recording, Museums are caretakers, not only in the most obvious and jotting down notes on the behavior of a remarkable way as protectors and conservers of priceless art, 36 | endangered seaside yellow-faced bee on the Big Island of artifacts, and specimens for the community and humanity Hawaii. My research interests are broad and consist of at large, but also in terms of a community’s history, Linda Fisher: Friend to the Museum understanding the floral composition of prehistoric East aspirations, and reputation. Museums are also sharers. African forests, Müllerian mimicry within the vibrantly Collection loans to researchers and other institutions colored velvet ants, understanding the behavior and are pivotal activities that museums undertake, but it is of Texas Tech University biogeography of rare and endangered bees, and figuring just as important that museums provide open access to out the evolutionary relationships of abalone species. information and opportunities to examine physical items 48 | by the general public, the dissemination of research findings produced by museum curators and personnel, and While being an active researcher is an important and in terms of partnerships with other museums in sharing Faculty Offer Novel Theory for Origin foundational part of my being, my most gratifying best practices, resolving challenges, and cultivating experiences have been in the museum setting as a of Life on Earth camaraderie. Museums are also stimulators – they provide curator and educator at the Fort Worth Museum of unique and innovative ways to reach and disseminate 4 M Magazine | FALL/WINTER 2020 FALL/WINTER 2020 | M Magazine 5 and supporters. As executive director, I will build upon these strengths and lead the museum forward through M News will allow students to observe the limitations in the US system, “MUSEUMS HAVE an updated strategic initiative, an increase in visitorship but also its uniqueness and innovative policy developments for and reach, the continuance of strengthening community heritage management. The class will negate the shortcomings of relationships, the development and implementation of FOUR MAIN ROLES: conventional Eurocentric approaches to heritage and critically additional wonderful programming for the public, growth explore the policy, political dynamics, and practices of heritage of the museum’s standing on a national and international management in the US context in conjunction with international stage through support of our curators, their research, and AS CARETAKERS, non-governmental organizations and Asian countries. the showcasing of their findings, building relationships SHARERS, and producing collaborative projects with TTU academic departments and other museum institutions, and The Fulbright scholarship is, to me, the exchange of values and increasing the museum’s funding. This strategic plan will inspiration through sharing expertise and knowledge. Therefore, STIMULATORS, AND be a collaborative effort, and I look forward to working I am especially looking forward to the learning opportunities together with the talented faculty and staff at the museum, from communication with students and scholars at Boğaziçi STORYTELLERS.” the museum association, TTU leadership, personnel, and University and from research of heritage resources in Turkey. academic departments, and community members to make In a geographically strategic location between Europe and Asia, this vision a reality. Hyojung Cho, Ph.D. Turkey has been the crossroads of many civilizations, ancient information and concepts to broad audiences, they create Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires. As awe-inspiring experiences, and assist in the formation of of 2019, there are 18 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Turkey, This museum, our museum, is a vital piece of the TTU and exciting collaborative projects involving experts, artisans, FACULTY MEMBER RECEIVES and there has been an active development of museums. Studying regional community, but it is also an important resource educators, and volunteers. Last but certainly not least, FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP Turkish heritage will be of great benefit to understanding the museums are storytellers. Museum storytelling takes on national and international scales and this needs to be Supported by the Fulbright Scholar Program decisions and controversies over cultural heritage across Europe. many forms including its exhibits and programs, lectures, whole-heartedly conveyed – I am happy to be that earnest of the United States Department of State, In addition, as Turkey is one of the world’s top 10 destination and hands-on experiences. Storytelling is particularly advocate. The art, history, science, and research that has I will be teaching heritage management in the countries in heritage tourism, I plan to study the site management vital because it is our best way to convey concepts, ideas, been built over the past 90 years is incredible and I feel Department of History at Boğaziçi University in balancing conservation and tourism, and learn about Turkish history, and to engage and inspire others. My greatest grateful to now play a part in its future. Growing up in the in Istanbul, Turkey for Spring semester of government’s initiatives, including the recently announced Turkish motivation to making sure a museum thrives is seeing the Panhandle, I have a clear understanding of the deep roots 2021. I have taught and studied heritage culinary tourism project. incredible dedication of the staff who bring the institution and spirit of West Texas. The relationships