Page 25 - i1052-5173-31-8

While it can be a difficult process, engaging in museum careers
can be rewarding and worthwhile. These tips should be able to
demystify some of the more opaque aspects of both finding oppor- This is one of the
tunities in museums and starting a career in the field of natural several million spec-
history. Best of luck in your exploration! imens that I cared
for in my time as a
staff member at the
Carmi Milagros Thompson is currently in graduate school and Florida Museum of
employed as a research assistant in the Department of Natural Natural History.
History at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Thompson
has previously worked as an invertebrate paleontology collection
manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History and as a
research intern at the National Museum of Natural History.

SPECIAL PAPER 535

Museums at the Forefront of the History and Philosophy
of Geology: History Made, History in the Making
Edited by Gary D. Rosenberg and Renee M. Clary
Natural history museums have evolved over the past 500 years to become
vanguards of science literacy and thus institutions of democracy. Curiosity
about nature and distant cultures has proven to be a powerful lure, and
museums have progressively improved public engagement through
N
N increasingly immersive exhibits, participation in eld expeditions,
N
25
25
25
25
25 technology. Natural history museums have dispersed across
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
and research using museum holdings, all facilitated by new
NOW
NOW
NOW
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ ONLY the globe and demonstrated that public fascination with ancient
life, vanished environments, exotic animals in remote habitats,
L
L
L
L
L
cultural diversity, and our place in the cosmos is universal. This
Y
Y
Y
LY
ONLY
ONLY
LY
LY
LY
LY
volume samples the story of museum development and illustrates
that the historical successes of natural history museums have
positioned them to be preeminent facilitators of science literacy
well into the future.
SPE535, 348 p., ISBN 9780813725352 | now $25.00
BUY ONLINE } rock.geosociety.org/store/
toll-free 1.800.472.1988 | +1.303.357.1000, option 3 | gsaservice@geosociety.org
www.geosociety.org/gsatoday 25