University of Arkansas Museum
Biomass Research Center 125,
2435 N. Hatch Ave.
Fayetteville, AR 72701
P 479-575-3456
E-mail: lalamb@uark.edu
Education
One of the ways the University of Arkansas Museum fulfills its public service and outreach mission is through community engagement.
Staff members provide collection tours for visiting groups, research services, and
talks on a variety of subjects. The Museum also collaborates with the University community
to help enhance student learning experiences, from exhibit creations to class activities
on-site.
If interested, please fill out the form below. Whether you're part of the UA community, an outside organization, or from the general public, we'd love to speak with you!
Upcoming Events
14th @ 6PM: Curator Talk - "Merci Train"
Where: Bella Vista Public Library
After World War II, Americans banded together to send hundreds of boxcars of relief
supplies to Europe. In return, French citizens sent gifts of gratitude to the United
States in what were called Merci Trains. The boxcars included a variety of materials,
from art to postcards to furniture. One such train for Arkansas arrived in North Little
Rock on February 13th, 1949. Merci Train gifts were dispersed to various organizations,
including the University of Arkansas Museum.
Join UA Museum Curator Laurel as she delves into this fascinating story of international
friendship and recovery efforts after World War II, as well as see a selection of
Merci Train gifts from the Museum’s collection up close!
16th from 11PM - 2PM: Museum in the Union - Paleontology
Where: Arkansas Union
Stop by the Arkansas Union on University of Arkansas campus to see awesome fossils
up-close (including the Arkansas State Dino!), learn about paleontology, and chat
with a UA Museum Curator!
This event will be casual & come-and-go. Find us on the 3rd floor at the entrance
of the Union Food Court anytime between 11-2PM on January 16th!
BE THERE OR BE EATEN.
16th @ 7PM - Monthly Speaker:
UA Associate Professor from the Dept. of Geosciences 's Dr. Celina Suarez's “The Vertebrate Fossil Record of the Lower Cretaceous Strata of Arkansas: A Rapidly
Evolving Picture”
Where: UA Museum (2475 N Hatch Ave)
The UA Museum will host Dr. Celina Suarez’s talk “The Vertebrate Fossil Record of
the Lower Cretaceous Strata of Arkansas: A Rapidly Evolving Picture” on January 16th
at 7PM.
Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences, Dr. Suarez was part of the research
team that studied the first theropod dinosaur trackways found in Arkansas and published
their findings in the journal PLOS ONE last year. The tracks were found in 2011 at
a gypsum quarry in SW Arkansas. It was determined the tracks belonged to the large
carnivorous dinosaur Acrocanthosaurus. Plaster casts of the tracks were made and later
donated to the University of Arkansas Museum. Dr. Suarez will discuss the team’s findings,
as well as some of her other recent work.
A sampling of the casts will be on display specially for the program. Those who attend
will also get a chance to see other fossils from the Museum on display, including
the Arkansas State Dinosaur.
Dr. Suarez will be the first in the Museum’s new Monthly Speaker series this year.
The series aims to connect the Museum’s collections with exciting, related research
conducted by the UA community.
Light refreshments will be served. This series is free and open to the public.
20th from 11AM - 2PM: Museum in the Union - Snakes
Where: Arkansas Union
Stop by the Arkansas Union on University of Arkansas campus to see awesome snake specimens
from the Museum's collections up-close and chat with a UA Museum Curator! (Note: There will be no live specimens at the event.)
This event will be casual & come-and-go. Find us on the 3rd floor at the entrance
of the Union Food Court anytime between 11-2PM!
BE THERE OR BE SSSSQUARE.
21st @ 7PM - Monthly Speaker:
UA Associate Professor from the Dept. of Biological Sciences Dr. J.D. Willson's "Challenges in Understanding Population and Community Dynamics of Secretive Snakes"
Where: UA Museum (2475 N Hatch Ave)
How do you manage or conserve species that you seldom see, even where you know they occur? This is a fundamental challenge for snake biologists who must overcome the secretive behavior, cryptic coloration, and often low abundances of the species they study. In this seminar, Dr. Willson will share his research on population and community dynamics of some of our most unique, but poorly understood, snake species, and approaches that he and his students use to study them.
Plus, see a special selection of snake specimens from the Museum's collections on display for that night only! (Note: There will be no live specimens at the event.)
Event is free. Light snacks will be served.
13th from 11AM - 2PM: Museum in the Union - Archeology
Where: Arkansas Union
Stop by the Arkansas Union on University of Arkansas campus to see awesome archeological
specimens from the Museum's collections up-close and chat with a UA Museum Curator!
The featured specimens will be related to two talks the Museum will host later that
week by Research Station Archeologist Elizabeth Horton on plant domestication and
prehistoric weaving traditions from the region.
This event will be casual & come-and-go. Find us on the 3rd floor at the entrance
of the Union Food Court anytime between 11-2PM!
14th @ 7PM - Monthly Speaker Series
Research Station Archeologist for Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park Elizabeth Horton will give a talk about prehistoric textiles and weaving traditions in the region.
Location: UA Museum (2475 N Hatch Ave)
A special selection of relevant materials from the Museum's collections will be on display for that night only!
Event is free. Light snacks will be served.
16th from 10AM - 12PM:OLLI at University of Arkansas Course
Research Station Archeologist for Toltec Mounds Archeologial State Park Liz Horton
on Prehistoric Plant Domestication
Location: UA Museum (2475 N Hatch Ave)
Calling all gardening and plant enthusiasts! Join us at the University of Arkansas Museum to learn about the history of plant domestication in the region.
Taught by Toltec Mounds Research Station archaeologist, Dr. Elizabeth Horton. Materials
found within bluff shelters, or naturally occurring rock overhangs, are very significant
to archaeology because they typically aren’t preserved in most places. The dry microclimates
of bluff shelters allow delicate textiles and plant food remains to survive for hundreds
of thousands of years. Studying these materials’ ancient DNA and genetics can provide
a unique picture of how early humans altered plants across time and space.
The program will include a behind the-scenes tour of the Museum’s collections by
its curators, a lecture about prehistoric plant domestication by Dr. Horton, and a
chance to see prehistoric archaeological materials up close!
Event is not free. It is $30 for OLLI Members and $45 for non-OLLI Members.
30th from 11:30AM - 2PM: UA Museum Open House
In conjunction with Arkansas Archeological Survey - UAF's 6th Annual Celebrate Archeology Day. The Museum's vast collections will be open for the public to view. *Please note that bags, purses and heavy coats will need to be left outside the collections storage area. A dedicated Museum staff member will watch over these personal items.
24th from 11AM - 2PM: Museum in the Union - African Art
Where: Arkansas Union
Stop by the Arkansas Union on University of Arkansas campus to see awesome ethnological
materials from Africa and chat with a UA Museum Curator! The featured specimens will
be related to a talk three UA students will give about research they conducted for
the Africa in Action: Selections from the University of Arkansas Museum exhibit currently located in Old Main, 5th floor. It explores the rich cultural,
linguistic and ethnic diversity of the African continent, featuring objects from the
highlands of Ethiopia in East Africa to the savanna that stretches across West Africa.
This event will be casual & come-and-go. Find us on the 3rd floor at the entrance
of the Union Food Court anytime between 11-2PM!
25th @ 7PM - Monthly Speaker Series
UA Students will explore the cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity of the African
continent through art.
Location: UA Museum (2475 N Hatch Ave)
UA students Trinity Kai, Eden Leal and Deena Owens will discuss the research they conducted for the Africa in Action: Selections from the University of Arkansas Museum exhibit currently located in Old Main, 5th floor. The exhibit explores the rich cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity of the African continent, featuring objects from the highlands of Ethiopia in East Africa to the savanna that stretches across West Africa.
A special selection of relevant ethnological materials from the Museum's collections will be on display for that night only!
Event is free. Light snacks will be served.
Program Request Form