KU Natural History Museum’s exhibit celebrates global biodiversity during international soccer tournament

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Natural History Museum has opened a temporary exhibit titled “Collections from Around the World,” showcasing biological specimens from eight research divisions within the Biodiversity Institute.  

The exhibit is intended to engage visitors during this summer’s international soccer tournament coming to Greater Kansas City.

Curated by a team of museum staff, researchers and students, the exhibit features dozens of research specimens from countries competing in the tournament, many of which have never been displayed publicly. Exhibit labels are translated into Arabic, German and Spanish to create a more welcoming experience for international visitors and those visiting the museum for the first time.

Designed in the style of a “cabinet of curiosity,” the exhibit aims to introduce visitors to the breadth of the Biodiversity Institute’s global collections. Featured specimens include the Austral catfish (Ituglanis australis), a freshwater ray-finned fish found in Central and South America; a herbarium sheet of Heart-leaved saussurea (Saussurea discolor), a plant that grows high in the mountains of southern Europe; and fossils including an armadillo (Stegotherium) from Argentina dating to the Miocene Epoch.

The exhibit organizers said they hope visitors leave with a greater appreciation for biodiversity and a deeper understanding of the organisms and histories represented in the collections.

“This display shows a range of items from the eight countries playing matches in Kansas City this summer, including Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Curaçao, England, Ecuador, the Netherlands and Tunisia,” said Caleb Morse, collection manager of botany and one of the exhibit’s curators. “Our ‘goal’ is to show the local community and global visitors some of our favorite specimens from around the world. The specimens are interesting, and in some cases strangely beautiful, but they are also crucial in helping scientists understand the diversity, ecology and the history of life on Earth.” 

The Biodiversity Institute’s natural history collections rank among the 30 largest globally and include more than 13 million biological specimens and archaeological artifacts. The collections include material from more than 220 countries, including every country playing matches in Kansas City. 

“Collections from Around the World” will remain on display at the KU Natural History Museum through July 27.