Hefner Museum of Natural History

08/20/2026

Today is the day! The next generation of Miamians are arriving and finding their way to the Hefner Museum, to pursue volunteering in exhibitions design, environmental education, and more. Support our work with a donation. Link to give: https://www.givetomiamioh.org/s/916/22/landing-int.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=20624&cid=40938&ecid=40938&crid=0&calpgid=9087&calcid=18947. Welcome, class of 2030!

08/19/2026

On Thursday, August 20, Miamians around the world will come together to celebrate the start of a new academic year by investing in the people, programs, and experiences that make Miami extraordinary. We believe the Hefner Museum plays an important role in making our campus such special place to learn.

Join us for by giving at https://www.givetomiamioh.org/s/916/22/landing-int.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=20624&cid=40938&ecid=40938&crid=0&calpgid=9087&calcid=1894

08/18/2026

Hefner Museum student volunteers create lessons and teach from interactive exhibits comprised of real specimens-- like this 'Cow Skeleton Puzzle.' They learn at every step along the way, from specimen preparation, lesson design, and by responding to questions as they give tours or bring our "Discovery Trunks" to the classroom. Your gift supports connections to nature in our community and beyond. Link to give: https://www.givetomiamioh.org/Hefner-Museum

08/18/2026

Comment below if you've had this experience:
1. You are lost trying to find a room in Upham Hall
2. You catch a glimpse of a grizzly bear at the end of a hall and decide to wander in
3. You are greeted by the energetic and erudite Museum Director
4. You find yourself deep in a conversation about (___________)
5. You remember that you were supposed to be somewhere, so you take your leave..... but you remind yourself to keep coming back because you know you will learn something new with each visit.

Please consider donating to support the Hefner Museum of Natural History during this year's giving campaign to share this iconic Upham Hall experience with a new generation of Miamians. Giving page here: https://www.givetomiamioh.org/Hefner-Museum

08/10/2026

The ongoing cyclospora challenges highlight the intersection of a number of collective human endeavors.
The need to support basic science--studying something simply out of curiosity.
The need to support ongoing data collection--a daily technical task that yields seemingly mundane results.
The need to support health measures far beyond one's personal borders--caring for both people and places you will never see or even think about.
The need for specialists who are willing (and excited) to focus their time and expertise, without much public awareness, thinking about these seemingly small, distant, pointless issues, for the benefit of us all.

US sewage treatment plants likely don’t get rid of all the disease-causing protozoa, and monitoring discharged wastewater for it is difficult.

08/03/2026

Nature is a part of every major...

Timeless message of "The River" enhanced by the beauty of Marcum Woods and Four Mile Creek

07/31/2026

https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/07/30/federal-government-will-put-2840-acres-of-ohios-only-national-forest-out-to-bid-for-fracking/

The Bureau of Land Management announced 41 parcels totaling 2,840 acres in Wayne National Forest will go up for a bid on Sept. 15.

07/27/2026

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otherlands_(book)

I really enjoy the story-telling approach of Otherlands as it describes life on Earth from the earliest times to today. The narration method helps form a coherent picture of geologic time, climatic conditions over the ages, and our context along this scale. By focusing on dynamic characters in specific places, it describes the continuum of life--from single celled organisms in an anaerobic atmosphere, through the forests that formed today's coal, ending with modern biodiversity and human influence. The phrasing is carefully precise, differentiating between facts and hypotheses, while also ensuring easy understanding of relevant scientific studies. Perhaps most importantly for the present time, this book highlights the fact that species cannot exist without their habitats.

Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds is a nonfiction book about palaeontology written by Thomas Halliday, a British palaeontologist. He goes as far back in time as approximately 555 million years ago. The book was simultaneously published in English by Allen Lane (UK and Commonwealth...

06/16/2026

Miami University is hiring a Natural Areas Manager

We are seeking a highly motivated person to serve as field manager for the Miami University Natural Areas system, comprising 1000 acres and over 17 miles of hiking trails. Duties for this part-time position include supporting research, education, and community outreach activities in the Natural Areas, routine maintenance of trails, operating off-road vehicles, and supervising student employees.

For the full job description and requirements, and to apply, please visit https://miamioh.edu/human-resources/jobs-and-careers/
and select: Open Staff Positions
In the Search window enter: JR104313

Questions about this position? Contact David Gorchov, Chair, Miami University Natural Areas Committee; [email protected]

Miami University offers a range of career opportunities in staff, faculty, student, and dining positions. Join a community committed to academic excellence and personal growth. Apply now!

06/01/2026

A recent article on ticks that touches on a common question we get at the Museum: "When someone is bitten, the best way to remove a tick is by pulling it straight out with fine-tip tweezers. Pesapane said old tricks like using nail polish, Vaseline or matches only delay tick removal and increase the risk of disease transmission."

More than 44% of ticks submitted to Buckeye Tick Test in the last year came from people’s own yards, with another 12.5% found while walking in neighborhoods.