180-3 A New Look for Old Exhibits: Promoting Incidental Exposure to the Geosciences with Revitalized Displays

Session: Geoscience Outreach Efforts to Broaden Participation (Posters)

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Abstract:

The University of Missouri (MU) Geological Sciences Building hosts a series of twelve 6 x 3 ft built-in display cases along the length of its first-floor hallway. The building is situated close to downtown and is well-traveled by students of diverse backgrounds—particularly freshmen enrolled in general education courses—as the main atrium and most classrooms are centrally scheduled through campus. Consequently, the display cases present genuine points of interest for students and campus visitors, and recent efforts involving the installation of new graphics and a geological timescale mural in other sections of the hallway have helped to create an enticing space for onlookers. The exhibits within these cases serve as valuable tools for broadening awareness of the geosciences across campus and beyond, while also supporting curricular activities through integration with introductory geology lab assignments.  

Most displays, however, offer limited engagement and lack clear learning objectives, indicating the need for revitalization. Through a project funded by the E-an Zen Fund for Geoscience Outreach Grant, four of the twelve display cases were selected for renovation and redesign. Three of the cases were targeted to adapt a paleobiology-focused display, showcasing fossils from the MU Paleontology Collection featured within the geological timescale mural, complimented by a scaled timeline of major evolutionary events. The fourth case was more curriculum-focused, highlighting the MU Geological Sciences Department’s award-winning Branson field camp in Wyoming. Despite its 110-year legacy, the camp remains relatively unknown on campus, even to geology majors. The new exhibit combines archival and contemporary photos to illustrate the camp’s history and provide insight into the student experience.  

Prior to the upgrade, the cases were observed to collect data on the number of students who stopped to engage with their contents in a typical day, with the length of each stop also recorded. The new installations, completed this summer, will be similarly observed during the fall semester, allowing for a quantitative metric of student engagement improved by the new displays. Collectively, the four redesigned cases will amplify visibility of the geosciences, inspiring interest in the field and drawing attention to MU’s geology program.  

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

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