Those were just a few of the offering at the sixth annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, held Saturday, Feb. 18. More than 3000 visitors checked out the offerings.
The free family-friendly, science-based event, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., showcased 12 museums collections, said Biodiversity Museum Day coordinator Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator for the Bohart Museum of Entomology.
"It was a real community effort and we were happy to see the people coming to campus to learn about science and the collections," Yang said. Despite the threat of rain, it never occurred.
The Bohart Museum alone drew nearly 1700 people during its four-hour open house, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All 12 collections were within walking distance on campus except for the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven on Bee Biology Road and the California Raptor Center on Old Davis Road.
The following were open--some from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and others staggered from noon to 4 p.m.:
Anthropology Museum, Young Hall
Arboretum and Public Garden, headquartered on LaRue Road
Bohart Museum of Entomology, Academic Surge Building
Botanical Conservatory, greenhouses along Kleiber Hall Drive
California Raptor Center, Old Davis Road
Center for Plant Diversity, Sciences Lab Building
Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, Bee Biology Road
Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, Academic Surge Building
Nematode Collection, Sciences Lab Building
Paleontology Collection, Earth and Physical Sciences Building
Phaff Yeast Culture Collection, Earth and Physical Sciences Building
Viticulture and Enology Culture Collection, Earth and Physical Sciences Building
Committee members are already gearing up for the seventh annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day. The event traditionally takes place in February.
Meanwhile, many of the same collections will be open during the much larger 103rd annual UC Davis Picnic Day on Saturday, April 22. The family friendly event is "free for all to come and experience the richness of diversity and achievement at UC Davis and the surrounding community in the areas of research, teaching, service and campus life," according to the Picnic Day website. "More than 200 events will take place throughout campus and will include exhibits, shows, competitions, demonstrations, entertainment, animal and athletic events, Student Organization Fair, Children's Discovery Fair, parade and much more."
Attached Images:
Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a bee friendly garden, drew scores of visitors. It's located on Bee Biology Road, west of the central campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Youths used vacuum devices for catch-and-release of bees at the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Entomologist Jeff Smith (center), who curates the butterfly and moth collections at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, answers questions.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A bird's eye view of the nematode collection in the Sciences Lab Building. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis nematology graduate student Chris Pagan talks to visitors at the nematode collection in the Sciences Lab Building. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A visitor photographs the skin of a male African lion from Tanzania (1960s). Not much else is known about it, said Andrew Engilis, Jr., curator of the Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology. This was part of a display in the Academic Surge Building. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Volunteer Billy Thein shows a golden eagle named "Sullivan" at the California Raptor Center. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Volunteer Diana Munoz shows a red-shouldered hawk, Mikey, at the California Raptor Center. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)