Erin Mills received her undergraduate degree in Entomology from Texas A&M University in 2004, and after a short tour of the pest control industry, joined HMNS as the Cockrell Butterfly Center's Insect Zoo Manager in 2005. Over the years she expanded the butterfly center's live arthropod collection, developed the ever popular "Bugs on Wheels" outreach program, and continued to establish her role as HMNS's insect expert. In October of 2016, she achieved her long time goal of becoming the Director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center and in January of 2021, she joined the team at HMNS Sugar Land as the Director of Nature Programming. Erin leads hikes in Brazos Bend State Park and provides fun, hands-on nature-based experiences at HMNS Sugar Land. As a Board Certified Entomologist, Erin has extensive knowledge of insect identification, ecology, plant relationships, husbandry, really any insect-related topic!
Editor’s Note: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS can be spotted with the naked-eye this month. HMNS Astronomer James Wooten explains. Saturn is now an evening object. Look in the southeast at dusk. Venus has also emerged into the evening sky. Look low in the west-southwest at dusk, near the point of sunset. Jupiter is high, almost overhead at […]
At 7:44 am on Sunday, September 22, 2024, the Sun is overhead at the equator, marking the autumnal (fall) equinox. Also, October 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of our Cockrell Sundial. Here at the Museum, we’ll mark the occasion with a special event on Saturday, September 21, brought to you by Rice University along with […]
Editor’s Note: The month of August brings the Perseid meteor shower. HMNS Astronomer James Wooten explains what to expect with upcoming sky happenings. Saturn is now a late evening object! It rises in the east-southeast by 10:11 pm on August 1 and by 8:15 (during twilight) on August 31. Saturn is up literally all night […]
Editor’s Note: The July summer heat is not cooling off any time soon and HMNS Astronomer James Wooten is here to explain why that is. Saturn is in the south-southwest at dawn. Mars is also in the morning sky, in the east at dawn. Mars brightens each morning this month as it approaches Jupiter. […]
Editor’s Note: Summer Solstice is upon us this month and HMNS Astronomer James Wooten points to the Sun’s highest point in our sky. Saturn is in the southeast at dawn. Mars is also in the morning sky, in the east at dawn. Mars and Saturn easily outshine the very dim stars around them. Venus […]