COVID-19
The Idaho Museum of Natural History in communication with Idaho State University continues to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak. The safety and well-being of our entire community, including visitors, is our top priority. The University is strictly following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and state and local public health officials. Due to these guidelines, all Museum public activities are canceled until further notice.
Featuring
Upcoming Virtual Events
June 5
2 p.m.
Museum Time Machine, Destination Zambia!
Maybe you've heard of the asteroid that killed T. rex and Triceratops, but did you know that 251 million years ago an even worse mass extinction event took place? The good news is, as Earth's ecosystems healed themselves new types of plants and animals evolved, including: the first dinosaurs, first mammals, first crocodilians, first turtles, and more! Join IMNH Paleontology Curator Brandon Peecook on a virtual safari to Africa to see some fun and surprising fossil animals from before and after the worst mass extinction of all time. On top of the fossils, Dr. Peecook's work is in Zambia's national parks so he has to collect specimens while on the lookout for lions, elephants, hippos, and crocs!
You can participate in two ways: 1) register for the Zoom webinar or 2) we will be Live on our Facebook page. We encourage you to ask questions in the comment section or in the Zoom Q & A.
Every other week
New content added
Virtual Trout in the Classroom
The purpose of Trout in the Classroom is to raise awareness about Idaho’s aquatic resources by providing hands-on learning opportunities for Idaho students. Trout in the Classroom encourages students to actively participate in the learning process. By observing and caring for trout, students gain an understanding and appreciation of a trout’s life cycle and habitat requirements.
Every Thursday
2 to 3 p.m.
Virtual Girls Who Code
Girls, grades 6th through 9th, with every level of coding experience from no experience to experts are welcome to join. We will meet on Zoom and work on group projects that address needs in the community. Participants will need an email address and a Scratch account. Once registered, Virginia Jones will send you a Zoom invite.
Every other week
Virtual STEM Learning for Littles
Learning for Littles is a preschool STEM activity the first and third Friday in the Winter through May for parents and children ages 5 and under. The general agenda for each program is a story, science experiment, building activity, and a simple craft to do at home.
Online resources all about Idaho
Museum Time Machine
Virtual field trips with museum experts. These originally broadcast as Live events. See below for more Live Virtual Field Trips.
Earth Week 2020
New activities will be added all week beginning April 20th to inspire a love the world around.
Digital Atlas of Idaho
Idaho's History Online
A joint undertaking by the Museum and Idaho State University
Trout in the Classroom
The purpose of Trout in the Classroom is to raise awareness about Idaho’s aquatic resources by providing hands-on learning opportunities for Idaho students. Trout in the Classroom encourages students to actively participate in the learning process. By observing and caring for trout, students gain an understanding and appreciation of a trout’s life cycle and habitat requirements.
Buzzsaw Hat
Look for a fun art activity? The Buzzsaw Shark Hat by Ray Troll will fulfill your art activity!
Idaho Virtual Museum
A full open-access to 3D models and images of our treasures. We have a wide range of fossils, bones and cultural artifacts from our museum and other institutions across North America. Come back often to see new material as we continue to scan and upload models! Or Idaho Virtualization Laboratory Sketchfab with over 1300 3D models scanned and rendered by the Idaho Virtualization Lab.
The half-hour program features Peter Pruett, Zoo Idaho Superintendent, and Dr. Leif Tapanila, Director of the Idaho Museum of Natural History, highlighting how the Gem State’s wild places have shaped Idaho’s past, present and future. The show features regular segments on nature news and a fun fact.
March 26th episode learn about the 1983 Earthquake and fault that grew Idaho's tallest mountain, Borah Peak. Find an earthquake activity you can do with your kids.
Treasuring Our Natural Heritage
Biological Diversity is essential to the health and stability of the natural systems that support human life. That powerful message animates the three-part series Treasuring Our Natural Heritage, which explores the importance of biodiversity in today’s world.
Science and Research News
3D printers to produce coronavirus PPE
“I think we will really be able to help the needs of the university and our region,” said Leif Tapanila, director of the Idaho Museum of Natural History, who is coordinating ISU’s campus-wide effort. “These kinds of efforts are widespread across the state and country, to make models for 3D printers, find the plastic supply and answer the call to meet the needs for personal protection equipment.”
Read more about how the Museum is leading the way on 3D printing PPE
Dr. Brandon Peecook, Vertebrate Paleontology, is one of 30 co-authors on a recent publication with Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “I was part of a research team conducting a meta-analysis on the disproportionate benefits of active learning – as opposed to lecturing – techniques in the classroom to student populations underrepresented in STEM fields,” Peecook said. “We found significant results for grade improvement and retention in the discipline for key student groups. We're expecting this data to help drive large movements in pedagogy across the country.”
Dr. Leif Tapanila, IMNH director, recently published a paper with Benjamin Rendall that documents the remarkable recovery of marine life after the 360 million-year-old Alamo Impact near Las Vegas, NV. The Museum holds all the fossils collected on this project that took over a decade of field mapping and collecting by Tapanila's lab.
Support the Museum
At the IMNH, our philosophy is all about discovery! Discovery through world-class, science-based programming that highlights the incredible life, earth, and anthropology collections we steward for the State of Idaho, its citizens, and our visitors.
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