Night at the Museum

Several times each year, Puget Sound students help host a community event that is equal parts education and fun. “Nights at the Museum” are evenings planned each semester for Tacoma residents to explore the research and collections inside Puget Sound’s Slater Museum of Natural History. With themes like “Captivating Carnivores” and “Things that Go Bump in the Night,” these family friendly events regularly draw over 200 people and give Puget Sound students the opportunity to showcase their research in the life and physical sciences.

At any given event, you might see Kristin Johnson, associate professor in the department of Science, Technology, and Society, dressed as Charles Darwin—with faux beard and top hat. You might also see students donning makeshift animal inspired hats and demonstrating how to prepare new specimens for display. Booths are set up throughout the museum that feature specific aspects of the collection, such as its deep catalog of animal skulls or specimens, as well as live animal exhibits from Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

In addition to being entertaining community events, Nights at the Museum are also one of many opportunities for Puget Sound students to enhance their skills in research, presentations, and leadership. Student docents staff the booths and exhibits, teaching local residents of all ages about the Slater Museum’s rich collection and the exciting work our students are doing in our backyard. Students hone their presentation skills, and have some fun along the way.

SLATER MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

The Slater Museum features one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier collections of biological specimens, with over 85,000 different animals and plants from around the world. In addition to providing students with many opportunities for research and community outreach, the museum also partners with local birding organizations for outings that focus on local bird species.

SUMMER RESEARCH AT PUGET SOUND

Students at Puget Sound pursue robust research opportunities across all disciplines, from the sciences to the arts. Projects are conducted throughout the school year and during the summer, in labs across campus, out in local watersheds or the Hoh Rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula, or around the world.

SUMMER RESEARCH GRANTS INSPIRE CREATIVITY.

Creativity and curiosity drive Puget Sound students to engage in scholarly research. Our Summer Research grants—ranging from $2,000 to $5,000—support students in their efforts to pursue big ideas and unanswered questions. These grants are available in all disciplines, and in summer 2018, more than 90 funded student research projects included these significant contributions:

SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS

An Enzyme-mediated Synthesis of Thioglycoside Analogs of Bacterial Cell Wall

Jan Bomhof ’18 and John Hanson, professor of chemistry

The Role of Song in Reproductive Isolation in Two Overlapping White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia Ieucophrys) Subspecies

William Brooks ’20 and Peter Wimberger, Robert G. Albertson professor of biology

The Influence of Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) Structural and Spatial Variation on Epiphytic Species Distribution and Diversity

Kaela Hamilton ’20 and Carrie Woods, assistant professor of biology

Using Neural Machine Translation to Complete Cicero’s Timaeus

Kara Ann Lamar ’19 and America Chambers, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science

Applying Topological Metrics to Assess Possibility of Gerrymandering

Quintin Lenti ’20 and Courtney Thatcher, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science

Environmental Variables Influencing Phytomyxean Pathogen Infection Rates of Eelgrass (Zostera marina) in Puget Sound

Kyla Richards ’19 and Joel Elliott, professor of biology

Understanding the Neuroscience Impact of Ibuprofen

Gabriel McHugh ’20 and Siddarth Ramakrishnan, associate professor of biology and Jennie M. Caruthers chair in neuroscience

ARTS, HUMANITIES,AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Values, Justifications, and Perspectives Connected to the Anti-Vaccination Movement

Gigi Garzio ’19 and Ben Lewin, professor of sociology & anthropology

Digital Media Technology in Art Museums

Ayse Hunt ’19 and Kriszta Kotsis, professor of art and art history and co-director, humanities program

Patternmaking as Contemporary Sculpture

Sophia Munic ’19 and Michael Johnson, professor of art and art history

Crusades, Colonialism, and Medieval Conceptions of Race

Henry Schaller ’19 and Katherine Smith, professor of history and co-director, humanities program

The Effect of Oxytocin on Face Processing

Andre Zamani ’19 and David Andresen, associate professor of psychology

Venice: The Built Environment and Cultural Integration

Jessa Miller ’20 and Patrick O’Neil, professor of politics and government