News Articles

July 31, 2012

I enjoyed working with the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. What a great group of committed law enforcement officers! They received detailed information.about fly biology and thei application to crime scenes. I hope they find it helpful in future work! Joe Keiper, VMNH Director

July 31, 2012

This morning we observed the continued breakdown of the pigs and collected more specimens. Now, the students are learning basic identification working with specimens collected this morning. While I do not expect law enforcement to identify insects in human death cases, their added knowledge will instill a deeper appreciation for the field of forensic ent. - Joe Keiper, VMNH Director

July 31, 2012

From July 23-27, the museum y conducted the Junior Naturalist Camp, Week 2 at the museum and around the Martinsville-Henry County area. Campers explored nearby rivers, lakes and parks to hone their outdoor skills. They took part in interactive, guided tours and participated in several indoor and outdoor crafts. Upon completion, each camper was awarded a Junior Naturalist certification for Earth Science.

July 30, 2012

Here, the students are learning to get representative samples of flies and beetles. The aerial nets obtain adult flies, but they have to roll the rotting carcasses over to collect secretive beetles by hand.

July 30, 2012

Here, one of my fellow instructors discusses the biochemical aspects of death near the pig carcasses used to attract insects of Forensic science. After classroom instruction, we will take a sampling of insects to use for estimation of time of death.

July 30, 2012

Day 1 at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. For the next 2 days I will provide 16 detectives the basics of Forensic Entomology. Activities like this are critical to establishing the relevance of museum work to our society. I will share museum specimens with the audience and we will collect new specimens from pig carcasses while we discuss how the insects apply to crime scene investigation and interpretation. Joe Keiper, Director VMNH.

July 27, 2012

Sammy Redd (left), chairman of the VMNH Board of Trustees, enjoys the return of Clawd to the museum. Clawd, named by local school children, is a life-sized model of Megalonyx jeffersonii (Jefferson's Ground Sloth). In 1799, Thomas Jefferson identified the creature as a type of lion, based on claw bones. In the early 19th century, a colleague correctly identified the animal as a giant ground sloth, naming it in honor of Jefferson. Clawd was at the NC Museum of Forestry for 9 months as part of a larger rental of VMNH exhibit materials - Dr. Joe Keiper

July 27, 2012

VMNH staff are beginning the installation of the new long-term exhibition "Wild Watersheds," with phase one to be completed in the coming weeks. This exhibition is made possible by a grant from American Electric Power. To learn about supporting future elements of the exhibit, including a large-scale tank with live trout, email information@vmnh.virginia.gov.

July 25, 2012

Dr. Alton Dooley, curator of paleontology at VMNH, is currently leading a team of volunteers and students on a 2-week excavation at the Carmel Church Quarry near Richmond. This excavation is made possible by a recent successful fundraising campaign in partnership with www.petridish.org. Dr. Dooley will be posting regular updates and photos from the field on his blog, www.paleolab.org.

July 24, 2012

Dr. Judith Winston, curator of marine biology at VMNH, is featured in a recent article highlighting a study by researchers at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. The study finds that the Great Barrier Reef's amazing diversity of life gets a helping hand from distant underwater volcanic eruptions.

July 24, 2012

The journal Science recently published an article highlighting the emergence of crowd-funding in support of scientific research programs. The article features the research of Dr. Alton Dooley, curator of paleontology, at the VMNH Carmel Church, Virginia research site.

July 23, 2012

Dr. Richard Hoffman memorial presentation. This slideshow was created for Dr. Hoffman's July 21 memorial service held at the Virginia Museum of Natural History to celebrate 85 years of life.

July 23, 2012

This feature story on BBC Radio highlights the emergence of crowd-funding for scientific research projects. The story highlights the Carmel Church, Virginia VMNH research site, which recently benefited from a successful crowd-funding campaign in partnership with Petridish.org.

July 23, 2012

Mark your calendars for Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day Live at VMNH on September 29. All visitors with a Museum Day pass will receive free admission to VMNH. Museum Day passes will be available soon at the Museum Day Live Web site and in upcoming issues of Smithsonian magazine.

July 23, 2012

Enjoy delicious lunch specials this week in the PALEO Cafe: Monday Barbecue...$3.00 Tuesday Chicken Salad Croissant...$4.00 Wednesday Chicken Salad Cold Plate w/ Pasta Salad...$4.50 Thursday Hot Grilled Reuben Panini Sandwich...$6.00 Friday Hot Dogs...$1.50 each or Hot Dog, chips, and drink...$3.00

July 20, 2012

VMNH Executive Director Dr. Joe Keiper was recently interviewed by Fox 8 news in Cleveland, providing expert insight into crime scene forensics.

July 18, 2012

VMNH staff recently completed a successful fundraising campaign in partnership with the Web site Petridish.org. The project, "Saving Fossil Whales in Virginia," generated $4,000 in support for the museum's ongoing research at the Carmel Church site in Caroline County, Virginia. Dr. Alton Dooley, curator of paleontology at VMNH, led the fundraising campaign in support of his ongoing research at the Carmel Church site.

July 18, 2012

The Virginia Museum of Natural History publishes a variety of books, journals, guidebooks, special publications, and more. To learn more, or to purchase publications online, visit www.vmnh.net. Look for free PDF downloads of selected scientific publications.

July 17, 2012

Rebecca Ryan addresses the 2012 New College Institute interns. NCI interns have positions throughout Henry County. Interns gathered here at VMNH for the address.

July 17, 2012

New College Institute hosted an event at the museum that included a presentation by Rebecca Ryan - "Workforce Trends & Bridging the Generation Gap in Southern Virginia."

July 16, 2012

Enjoy delicious lunch specials daily in the museum's PALEO Cafe. The lunch specials for July 16 - 20 are: Mon.: Barbecue...$3.00 Tues.: Chicken Salad Croissant...$4.00 Wed.: Chicken Salad Cold Plate w/Pasta Salad...$4.50 Thur.: Angus Roast Beef Wrap...$4.50 Fri.: Hot Dogs...$1.50 each or Hot Dog, chips & drink...$3.00

July 11, 2012

Museum Education Coordinator Christy Deatherage talks about a recent visit to the museum by over 150 students taking part in the 2012 Summer Residential Governor's School Program in Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

July 11, 2012

Check out these great Groupon deals for NEW VMNH memberships + shopping specials in the Museum Store and PALEO Cafe! Don't wait...purchase yours today!

July 11, 2012

Have you ever wondered where your drinking water comes from? Or where it goes after you use it? Children ages 9 to 11 are going on a fun water journey as they take part in this week's "Water Journeys" Summer Camp at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Campers are discovering the many ways we use water in our world, how we clean it, and the wonders of hydropower. The camp includes visits to local water treatment plants, dams, and reservoirs. To learn about registering for additional 2012 VMNH Summer Camps, call 276-634-4185 or email discover@vmnh.virginia.gov. We look forward to seeing you at the museum!

July 10, 2012

Over 150 rising juniors and seniors from across the Commonwealth visited the museum as part of the 2012 Summer Residential Governor's School Program in Mathematics, Science, and Technology. The Summer Residential Governor's School at Lynchburg College is part of the State of Virginia's broader Governor's School programs. Governor's Schools give gifted students academic and visual and performing arts opportunities beyond those normally available in the students' home schools. The Governor's School programs are administered by the Virginia Department of Education, Office of Secondary Instructional Services, in cooperation with local school divisions, colleges, and universities.