After volunteering at HMNS since 1993, Allison joined HMNS full time in 2003. Her current job responsibilities include curating the education collections and keeping the summer camp classrooms stocked with materials, facilitating Education special events, and coordinating the Museum’s overnight program. In her “spare time” she volunteers with the Junior League of Houston and spends her time in artistic pursuits.

The Museum’s curator of paleontology, Dr. Robert T. Bakker is the leader of the handful of iconoclastic paleontologists who rewrote the book on dinosaurs three decades ago. Along with other noted paleontologists, Bakker has changed the image of dinosaurs from slow-moving, slow-witted, cold-blooded creatures to, in at least some cases, warm-blooded giants well equipped to dominate the Earth for 200 million years. Currently, Dr. Bakker is at work developing the world premiere exhibition Dinosaur Mummy CSI: Cretaceous Science Investigation, in which Leonardo, a mummified dinosaur with actual, preserved skin will be on public display for the first time at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. He also leads the Museum’s Paleontology field program, currently digging for Dimetrodon and other Permian-era species in Seymour, TX.

I’m the museum’s web .NET/VB, PHP and AS developer and designer. I love learning new programming languages, pushing the envelope with our museum’s web endeavors and aside from being a programming perfectionist, I love my job and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m blessed to walk though halls of Dinosaur Bones, Gems and Minerals and a World Class Diamond Vault everyday knowing what I do today contributes to where the museum is tomorrow. GO HMNS, GO HMNS!

Bryanna has been with the museum for a few years now in the Collections department (and no, that’s not a part of the accounting department that hounds you for money!) helping take care of the museum’s artifacts, and installing special exhibitions. She never expected to work in a museum until she found a Master’s program in Museum Studies and changed career paths, and only at HMNS does she get to see and experience such a wide range of specimens and exhibits! When not at one of the museum’s many buildings she can usually be found quilting, reading a book, or buying shoes.

Carolyn coordinates the Science on Stage outreach program at HMNS and will blog about science toys and experiments, logic puzzles, and whatever else seems interesting at the time.

Carolyn is VP of astronomy for the Museum; she develops Planetarium shows for the Museum that tour all over the world, developed the very first Challenger Learning Center and runs the Museum’s George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park. In her spare time, she does research in the field of archaeoastronomy, which attempts to replicate the night sky at critical moments in history.

Christine manages the live animal collection, teaches weekday dissection labs and summer camp classes, and presents Wildlife on Wheels programs. It has been said that she is “usually carrying something interesting.”

As Director of Wiess Energy Hall Programming, Claire coordinates energy education activities for schools, universities and business; promotes energy-related events, and generally works on spreading the word about the Wiess Energy Hall, the premiere energy resource worldwide. Check out her posts for all things energy – from the “Big Bang” to sustainability.

As curator of vertebrate zoology, Dr. Brooks has more backbone(s) than anyone at the Museum! He is recognized internationally as the authority on Cracids – the most threatened family of birds in the Americas. With an active research program studying birds and mammals of Texas and the tropics, Brooks advises several grad students internationally.

At HMNS, Brooks served as project manager of the world-renowned Frensley-Graham Hall of African Wildlife, overseeing building by an incredibly diverse array of talent by some 50 individuals. He has also created and/or served as curator for various traveling exhibits, including “Cracids: on Wings of Peril”.

An inveterate punster, amateur chef, and Fencer, Daniel B has a double degree in History and Museum Science from Baylor. He currently serves as the Assistant Program Coordinator for the Weiss Energy Hall and Adult Education at HMNS.

As an IMAX certified technician, Dave is responsible for maintaining the IMAX equipment, making necessary repairs and performing regular checkups year round to the entire system, including the IMAX sound system.

David Temple is the Museum’s associate curator of paleontology. In addition to running the Museum’s dig program in Seymour, TX and curating exhibits, he’s also unofficial head of The Department of Mysteries, a shadow wing of HMNS that deals with strange goo, unusual fossils, mysterious substances or any other unknown object you’d like to know what to do with.

As curator of anthropology, Dr. Van Tuerenhout is responsible for the museum’s artifact collection and is involved in its temporary and permanent anthropology exhibits.

Dirk is an expert in human cultures; currently, he is very busy with the Lucy’s Legacy exhibition, but he also curates the Museum’s Hall of the Americas and specializes in native South American cultures like the Aztec and Maya.

Despite many childhood visits to HMNS, Donna was clueless that she would have a career here as a registrar instead of as a world famous ballerina. She has worked so long in the Collections Department that it must be more than a quirky, passing phase. When not processing new acquisitions into the permanent collections, peppering the curators with questions, or making people put on gloves, Donna can be found in a dance class, a bell tower, at a dance performance, or reading a book.

Erin is responsible for developing the Museum’s web site and online programs. Writing for the blog is her favorite part.

As an entomologist at the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Erin designs, creates, and maintains exhibits for the Entomology Hall, raises and cares for live insects and insect relatives, and educates the public about the wonderful world of bugs.

James is the Planetarium Astronomer at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. He teaches students every school morning in the planetarium, and also answers astronomy questions from the public.

Not only is Joel the President of the Museum, he’s also a curator. He has the rare distinction of having held almost every job here – including security guard, back before his museum career took him to distinguished posts all across the country. At HMNS, he built our outstanding collection of gems and minerals and the world-renowned Wiess Energy Hall before being appointed President in July 2004. Since, he’s brought us Lucy, Leonardo and…check back here for his updates on the next big things coming up.

Kat has been both the spokesperson for the CSI: The Experience exhibit and project manager for the Imperial Rome exhibit and has a love of all things historical and cultural. She is responsible for the Xplorations summer camp program, coordinating weekday labs during the school year, writing department curriculum and presenting at teacher trainings. Kat has worked at the Museum since 1996.

Melodie Francis is the Director of Public Relations here at the Museum.

Nancy is Director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center and curator of entomology. A plant ecologist by training, she specializes in the interaction between insects, especially butterflies, and plants. The tropics are her favorite habitat, and she heads south to Central and South America whenever possible.

Nicole has worked for HMNS in some capacity since 1996, whether part-time, full-time or as a volunteer. She taught for seven years in public school, including four years in Fort Bend and a short stint overseas. While she never taught science, she was always the teacher called when someone needed to remove a swarm of bees, catch a snake in the playground, or get the bat off the ceiling of the cafeteria.

Paul Bernhard has been actively involved with the Museum’s Wiess Energy Hall for fifteen years, but he still doesn’t know how to assess the influence of the Boycott effect on drilling mud flow, or even how to calculate the Gibbs free energy of PEMFP fuel cells. Nonetheless, due to sheer longevity, Bernhard has become the spokesman for all things energy-related at the Museum. His blog will reflect this.

Scott Cervine, guest curator for Magic: The Science of Wonder, was one of the youngest people ever accepted by the prestigious Magic Castle in Hollywood – at age 15. By the time he was 21, Scott was accepted as a full-fledged member of the Academy of Magical Arts. He is the only magician to ever be named “Magic Entertainer of the Year” two years in a row. Scott has appeared on several new shows, blending his unique style of comedy and magic to dazzle audiences. He has performed in over a dozen countries and made several TV and movie appearances.

Steven never dreamed his first job out of college would be in public relations, and on top of that working for one of the top museums in the country. After all, he majored in History at Vassar College. Within three months of graduation, he landed a spot in the PR department and has not looked back since. He is fast becoming a communications fanatic, spending a tremendous amount of his time promoting the museum and all it has to offer.

After too many years in public education to count (as an English teacher and middle school librarian), I came to the Museum 4 years ago. My department’s focus is promoting field trips, and this is especially exciting for me because I see it as an opportunity to connect students with the wonders of science. My spare time is spent with my granddaughters Abbie, Elizabeth and Emma. When I ask, “What shall we do today?” they always answer, “Go to the Museum!”

Zac joined the museum in January after returning to Houston from a stint studying plants in Hawaii. He is the full-time horticulturist for the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and is in charge of daily maintenance and design for the rainforest exhibit. Zac specializes in tropical plants, particularly epiphytes, and his duties in the rainforest range from feeding all of the plants and animals to hand pollinating some of the tropical fruits, such as vanilla and cacao.

 
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