College Becomes a Partner in Play With ‘Ready Set Vet’ Reimagined Marbles Kids Museum exhibit should expand not only knowledge about what veterinarians do but also dreams about who can be one Come June, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine coats will hang in the Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh, ready for excited children to wear as they decide whether a plush turtle needs X-rays, a cat requires a cast or a dog is headed for surgery – STAT – at the new “Ready Set Vet” exhibit on the museum’s first floor. The partnership between NC State and Marbles began about a year ago when the Marbles team approached the college about sponsoring its existing Pet Vet space in the Around Town gallery. Once the teams got together, they uncovered an even bigger opportunity – reimagining the space completely to better spark interest in careers in veterinary medicine and to expand understanding of the field. “Marbles just does an outstanding job expanding the minds of children about the world around them and who they can aspire to be,” says Dianne Dunning, CVM associate dean of advancement. “We are thrilled to be working with them to create this opportunity. Through our exciting educational programming and new interactive exhibit, children – and adults – can explore what it means to be a veterinarian.” Once the exhibit opens, veterinary college professors, staff members and students will make regular guest appearances at the museum so children can learn even more about animals, the interconnectedness of the world and the profession. "Marbles is excited to take veterinary play to a new level alongside the experts at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine,” says Sally Edwards, CEO of Marbles. “The new Ready Set Vet exhibit at Marbles is bigger, with more imaginative play, new lifelike tools and enhanced technology. Kids will diagnose, treat and care for all types of animals while building self-confidence and the skills to play an important role in our future workforce." Months of research, testing, planning, designing and engagement have preceded the approaching exhibit opening, with the museum’s design team visiting the NC State Veterinary Hospital for inspiration in July 2021 and college representatives participating in a day of testing potential exhibit activities with children at the museum in January. Cattle, goats and other farm animals live on the College of Veterinary Medicine campus, and the Marbles designers were struck by the school’s cattle chute, which now will be replicated at the museum so children can use it to move their pretend animals from the adjacent On the Farm exhibit to Ready Set Vet.
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