The Bell Museum has identified five key initiatives that support the current Bell Museum strategic priorities as well as future growth and innovation of the museum. Each key initiative engages a collaborative team from across the museum’s public and academic sides. To learn more about how you can support these key initiatives contact Hannah Baines, director of development at hmbaines@umn.edu.
Museum without Boundaries
Goal: remove geographic, situational and financial barriers to engaging with the Bell Museum as a resource for learning.
Example of impact:
Science & Nature Activity Kits distributed to 10,000 children across Minnesota
Statewide Star Party
ExploraDome – mobile planetarium
Waived/reduced admission for individuals participating in financial assistance programs
Community STEM Night pilot program
Research & Collections
Goal: Preserve, protect and interpret Minnesota’s natural resources and tell the story of our global biodiversity.
Example of impact:
Bell’s Scientific collection of 1.2 million specimens in 8 collections (Birds, Amphibians & Reptiles, Fishes, Genetic Resources, Fungi, Mammals, Mollusks and Plants)
Curatorial research and teaching
Graduate and undergraduate fellowships and awards
Graduate Curatorial Assistants
Digital Biodiversity Atlas
Curiosity Catalyst
Goal: Ignite curiosity and wonder in the natural world for lifelong learners.
Example of impact:
K-12 STEM education programs (onsite & virtual)
Scholarship support for all K-12 programs
Gallery programs like Spotlight Science
Youth Camps
Science & Nature Activity Kits distributed to 10,000 children across Minnesota
Middle School Urban Ecology program
Creative by Nature
Goal: Explore the connections between art, science and the natural world creating new ways for expanded connections to science.
Example of impact:
Bell’s Nature Art Collections & inclusion throughout galleries
Nature Sketching classes
Exhibitions including Seeing Birds
Planetarium collaboration with nature photographer Jim Brandenburg
Minnesota’s Astronomy Classroom
Goal: Be the resource for engaging communities across the state in exploration and understanding of the universe through immersive environments or in your own backyard.
