Abstract Detail

Education and Outreach

Link-Perez, Melanie [1], Marshall, Christopher [2], Konstantinidis, Peter [3], Baden, Evan [4], Pflugfelder, Ehren [5].

Natural Collaborations: Natural History Collections and Interdisciplinary Learning Opportunities.

Oregon State University (OSU) is home to numerous natural history collections, including the largest herbarium in the state, the largest entomological collection in the Pacific Northwest, and an important vertebrate collection, among others. However, despite the value of these collections and their reputations within the research community, large portions of the campus population and general public are unaware of the collections and their importance. The curators of the three largest natural history collections decided to change that. We collaborated with instructors from across the university to create a book about the natural history collections at OSU and their importance to the life and mission of the university. The text was generated by undergraduate students in a scientific writing course offered by the School of Writing, Literature, and Film, with contributions from the curators. Photography and book design was done by undergraduate students in an advanced course from the School of Art and Communication. This presentation will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the “natural collaboration” between natural history collections and classes from outside the sciences, and follow the journey from idea to publication. The presentation will end with a discussion of potential avenues for future collaborations to involve natural history collections with interdisciplinary learning opportunities and a challenge to imagine where these collaborations may take us.

1 - Oregon State University, Botany & Plant Pathology, 2082 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, Oregon, 97330, United States
2 - Oregon State University, Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, Oregon, 97330, United States
3 - Oregon State University, Fisheries and Wildlife, Nash Hall 104, Corvallis, Oregon, 97330, United States
4 - Oregon State University, Arts and Communication, Fairbanks Hall 209, Corvallis, Oregon, 97330, United States
5 - Oregon State University, Writing, Literature, and Film, Moreland Hall 212, Corvallis, Oregon, 97330, United States

Keywords:
herbarium
education
curriculum
Outreach
interdisciplinary.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 27, Contributed Papers: Education and Outreach II
Location: 104/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 24th, 2018
Time: 1:45 PM
Number: 27002
Abstract ID:772
Candidate for Awards:None