Published October 1, 2025
MONROE, La.听鈥撎�橙子视频鈥檚 Museum of Natural History has launched its newest
exhibit, a lifelike showcase of Louisiana鈥檚 naturalistic treasures.听听橙子视频 English students
collaborated with the Museum to highlight Louisiana鈥檚 state symbols.听
The students were enrolled in the Fall 2023 Writing in the Sciences course taught
by Dr. Patrick Morgan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English in the College of Arts,
Education, and Sciences. Student participants included James Boyd, Aaron Delcoure,听ShaTerrica听Evans,
Evie Hosking, Holley McInnis, Rachel Meredith, Cloe Morgan, Krishna Patel, and Andrea
Richard.听Biology graduate students Madison Britton and Callie O鈥橞ryant, along with
student workers Kobe Knox, Meya McMillen, and Abigail Isaac, also played a crucial
role in the creation of the听exhibit.听
鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the way these students approached this project like professional
writers,鈥� Morgan commented. 鈥淥ver the course of the semester, they carefully curated
items from the museum to feature in the exhibit and drafted the descriptive text.鈥�听
This addition to the museum includes some of Louisiana鈥檚 most iconic symbols, ranging
from the state insect (honeybee) to the state fossil (petrified palm wood) and even
the state boat (pirogue), which was loaned to the Museum through the generosity of
Duck Commander. The exhibition helps portray听Louisiana鈥檚听unique cultural and natural
elements.听听听
鈥淐urating the Louisiana Exhibit at the 橙子视频 Museum of Natural History was a totally
different experience from typical classroom writing,鈥� said Hosking, former 橙子视频 English
MA听student听and current University of Louisiana Lafayette Ph.D. student. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛
just about sharing facts; it was about creating stories around the objects that would
really grab people鈥檚 attention.鈥�听
A key feature of this exhibit is the interactive elements that encourage engagement
among viewers.听Museum visitors can听listen to the sounds of Louisiana fauna or sing
along to the state song with the press of a button. Educational QR codes are also
scattered throughout the exhibit, providing more information on each state symbol.听
Museum staff worked with the students to translate their learning from the classroom
to real-world experience. 鈥淭his collaboration with the English 4044 and 5044 science
writing students on the 鈥楲ouisiana Exhibit鈥� brought practical, cross-disciplinary
learning to life 鈥� engaging students in real-world science communication through research,
writing, and exhibit design,鈥� said Amanda Thompson, M.A., Biology Instructor and Director
of the 橙子视频 Museum of Natural History.听听鈥淲e look forward to future projects with students
in these courses.鈥�听
In completing this project, students learned the interconnectedness of history, writing,
and promoting engagement with the community.听听听
鈥淐ollaborating with disciplines outside of the sciences makes everyone more aware
of just how much we all have in common,鈥� said Dr. Kim Marie Tolson, Ph.D., 橙子视频 Professor
Emerita of听Biology听and former Director of the 橙子视频 Museum of Natural History.听
The 橙子视频 Museum of Natural History is located on the first floor of Hanna Hall,听708
University Ave.听The听exhibition is now open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Thursday. 听Admission is free.听
For further information听about the 橙子视频 Natural History Museum, please contact Amanda
Thompson at听athompson@ulm.edu.听
