Mission:

The mission of the Vertebrate Museum is to maintain a library of vertebrate organisms
for use in scientific research, to use those specimens to engage with the local communities
of southeastern Louisiana, and to develop outreach and educational programs that promote
curiosity, discovery, and respect for the natural world. 

 

Core Mission Areas:

 

Scientific Repository

Scientific research in Biological Sciences, Ecology, Conservation, and Natural Resources
requires knowledge of the present as well as the past. The Vertebrate Museum is first
and foremost a repository for specimens used in scientific research. We pride ourselves
in having a large collection of local fish and herp species – all available for the
scientific community through the iDigBio, VertNet, and FishNet online databases. 

 

Education

Science can be an overwhelming topic so teaching and learning in spaces where science
happens helps embed and connect students to complex material. The Vertebrate Museum
is a working scientific collection in a research university with access to important
local scientists – and we strive to educate people at all ages about the importance
of museum collections.

 

Outreach 

Educational opportunities with the Vertebrate Museum are not limited to on-site activities
on campus. We are developing a travelling outreach and education program called The
Bone Sheaux that will visit local schools, organizations, and events. We aim to go
to where the people are rather than expect them to always come to us.