Investigate Lab

In addition to the working scientists’ labs, there will also be three Investigate Labs designed for visitors. These spaces provide visitors with a set of hands-on activities and research skill-building exercises to guide them through the process of using scientific tools and conducting scientific inquiry.

Most experiences here will be designed and led by Museum educators, scientists and their graduate students. Working together, these scientists and visitors will generate mutual research questions—both will learn from the experience.

Possible activities include raising Shad from eggs to fry (a current program presently funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service), assessing biodiversity in soil samples, modeling hurricane events or using analytical microbiology tools to examine soft tissue in dinosaur bones.

Some activities will lead to Citizen Science projects that encourage long-term research activities.