Spotlight Science: Beavers and Beyond!

Recommended for all ages It’s time for even more beaver fun, this time with beavers’ buddies in the mix! Sure, beavers improve habitat, support biodiversity, and move between worlds, but they’re not alone! Like beavers, otters, muskrats, and other mammals move easily between land and water. How do they do it? Find out when you explore semi-aquatic adaptations in mammal specimens from the Bell Museum’s scientific collections with Dr. Sharon Jansa and her students. Beavers are ecosystem engineers — they improve habitat to the benefit of other species. Learn about wetlands and wildlife from experts from the MSP Long Term Ecological Research project and explore the beaver’s role in bringing balance with the Bell Museum’s On Native Land team. Live out your being-a-beaver dreams when you explore a life sized beaver pond maze with Dr. Emily Fairfax and her colleagues and students. Meet fossil experts from the Science Museum of Minnesota and learn about the giant beaver and why it’s the perfect state fossil for Minnesota You can also try out beaver-themed challenges, from dam building on a stream table to making beaver hand puppets; contribute to a community dam collage; and explore a “Rodent Review” of specimens in the Touch & See Lab’s discovery wall display. While you’re here, be sure to see our new exhibition, Wild Beauty: The Botanical Art of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Florilegium. Artists from the project will be on hand for demonstrations and gallery tours! Spotlight Science is a regular program that shines a light on current science conducted at the University of Minnesota and in our community. Drop in to join researchers, students, and special guests for conversations and unique interactive experiences. Partners Fairfax Beaver Lab St. Anthony Falls Lab Dr. Sharon Jansa Lab MSP LTER Science Museum of Minnesota This is an in-person event at the Bell Museum. Activities and events will be held throughout the museum and are included in the cost…