CCU zoology students visit Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Coastal Carolina University marine invertebrate zoology students participated in a tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History exhibits and research collections in early December with Juli Harding, assistant professor, who arranged the visit as an end-of-term synthesis experience for the 400-level marine science course.

Mike Vecchione, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service adjunct scientist and curator at the museum, guided CCU students and faculty through the Ocean Hall and the museum's cephalopod research collections. Vecchione helped plan the Ocean Hall and shared anecdotes about the specimens and the process of designing a major Smithsonian exhibit.

Vecchione and Chris Meyer, Allen Collins and Karen Osborn, research zoologists within the Division of Invertebrate Zoology, shared aspects of their current research as well as details about how they arrived at their professional positions during short presentations for the CCU students. While these presentations touched on topics covered in the Marine Invertebrate Zoology course, they presented a whole new perspective on many aspects of the biology for specific groups as well as application of the scientific method in pursuit of real life research questions.

The CCU students and faculty also toured the Smithsonian's Museum Support Center with Vecchione, including the lab where very large specimens are kept. While several different kinds of squid and octopods were visible in a large display case, another highlight of the trip for many students was the opportunity to actually examine and touch a real giant squid.