Staying inside is becoming a more convenient way to surrender to the increasing Texas heat. However, sitting in a hallway or my room doesn’t engage my brain because I want to be indoors during breaks.
Fortunately, there are structures that provide mental refreshment and air conditioning. Students can cool off with a revitalizing experience at on-campus museums like the Texas Science and Natural History Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, and the Blanton Museum of Art.
Many young adults and students do not take advantage of the educational opportunities that the curators of the museum strive to provide.
According to Liam Norris, an exhibits and outreach associate at the Texas Science and Natural History Museum, we receive a lot of families as well as young adults. A lot of UT students are unaware that we even exist, which is a shameless promotion for a group that we would like to see more of.
The staff’s efforts at the museum are something he hopes adults will see.
According to Norris, that is the main focus of Our Discovery Center, and it is interactive. The number of individuals I observe simply passing by without reading or interacting with anything is astounding. There is a lot of excellent content here, so I wish I could respond, “No, read it.”
Even though museums are often thought of as collections of relics, there is a lot to learn without being overwhelmed. The subject matter becomes easier for students to understand when they can relate the science, art, or history they see in museums to what they study in class.
According to Anne Terrill, the Harry Ransom Center’s dean of education and public engagement, “we want to make that as easy for people as possible so that it feels like a space for students.” We have a place in the present exhibitions, whether that is to study or to be creative.
Visitors can use well-known children’s stories to build their own narratives as part of the continuing Words and Wonder: Rediscovering Children’s Literature exhibition at the Harry Ransom Center.
I have been to this show previously, and I had an absolutely amazing time. Learning about the background of the writers who wrote these stories allowed me to connect with my inner child.
Terrill stated, “I hope it inspires a sense of creativity and history.” Understanding the items we have on display can (be) a window into the past, but it can also be a window into the future, where you can draw inspiration, learn from, and create as a result of seeing the items in our exhibitions.
More than 27,726 UT students visited the Blanton Museum of Art in 2024, but they would love to see more students take advantage of the facility.
Katie Bruton, the public relations and media manager at Blanton, said, “Come in, be who you are, and experience it how you want to.” Perhaps many people find museums daunting, and we work to dispel that perception.
Terrill, Bruton, and Norris reveal a fact about their museums that all students should be aware of: students who can provide proof of a valid UT ID can enter the campus museums for free.
It’s critical to maintain mental and physical freshness in this Texas heat. Check explore the campus museums the next time you have some free time. The incredible fossils, old writings, and artwork on exhibit will not let you down.
Estrella, a Corpus Christi, Texas native, is a junior studying English.
