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A dream is coming true
By Scott Lanyon
Winter 2008
This year at the Bell Museum, we’ve been so focused on our goals for the future that
we’ve taken very little time to look back at, and celebrate, how far we’ve come. In fact,
it’s been 10 years since we developed an extremely ambitious strategic plan leading
toward the creation of a new museum. Now we find ourselves on the cusp of realizing
that lofty goal.
What was once a mere concept is
becoming ever more concrete.
Schematic plans have been
approved by the University’s
Board of Regents, and the building project
is included in the University’s request for
state legislative bonding in 2008.Working
toward a new Bell Museum has become
a top priority for the University, and we’re
poised to serve as its most prominent
public gateway to the astonishing depth
and breadth of environmental initiatives
on campus. You can learn more about the
new museum on pages 6 and 7 in this
issue of Imprint, which looks back on our
accomplishments in 2007 and offers thanks
to the many friends whose generous
support is essential to our success.
Today, the Bell Museum is one of the
leading university research museums in
the country. This past year Bell Museum
scientists advanced our understanding of
evolutionary history and biological diversity,
providing leadership in the worldwide
scientific effort to map the Tree of Life.
Our curators teach undergraduate courses
that are so popular they’re filled to capacity,
and our students graduate to excellent jobs
in a competitive field. We continue to build
partnerships across campus, featuring the
work of more than 70 University scientists
this year in our exhibits and educational
programs. The museum’s Café Scientifique outreach program was particularly noteworthy
for its continued success in making
University research accessible to the
broader public.
Bell Museum Productions’ documentary
series “Minnesota: A History of the
Land” has become a vital component of
Minnesota education now that it has
been adopted as part of the curriculum by
nearly half of the state’s school districts.
From our Nature Tots program to our
Learning Kits to Science on Screen, the
Bell Museum has developed a menu of
innovative offerings for Minnesotans of
all ages. Other institutions in Minnesota,
the country, and indeed internationally
have been eager to learn from our success.
Whether it is through our scientific
research, our formal science education
programs, or our informal exhibit and
outreach programs, the Bell Museum
strives to provide excellent services as
Minnesota’s state museum of natural
history. Institutional excellence is only
possible when you have an excellent staff,
and I couldn’t be prouder of the team
we’ve put together.
Our team, of course, extends beyond
our walls and our campus and includes
the museum members who make us a
partner in their lifelong learning about
art, science, and nature, as well as the
corporations, foundations, and individuals whose financial support enables us to
serve all Minnesotans. As 2008 continues
to unfold, I would like to thank each and
every one of you for your support and
participation. We look forward to an
exciting future, and hope you’ll continue
to share it with us.
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