This One Day One KU, your contribution directly supports our Visitor Experience student hourly employees and helps sustain the care of our live exhibits.

At the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum (BI/NHM), our Visitor Experience team welcomes over 35,000 visitors each year. This team plays a vital role in creating meaningful interactions with visitors and setting guests up for success before they explore our exhibits, participate in educational programs, or connect with our collections. In addition to guest services, some team members even assist with the care of our live exhibits. But what makes this team truly unique is that almost all members are KU students!

Visitor Experience Student Employees
For these students, working at BI/NHM is more than a campus job, it’s an opportunity to pursue their interests in science, conservation, and natural history. Many are earning degrees in geology, paleontology, or biology and several work directly with BI/NHM researchers and collections. By working with both the public and research collections, these students strengthen their communication skills while gaining hands-on experience that supports their academic and professional goals.

Live Exhibits Care & Maintenance
From honeybees to Madagascar hissing cockroaches, to snakes, lizards, and our Paleo Garden, our live exhibits are among the museum’s most beloved experiences. Caring for these plants and animals requires year-round care and attention to keep them both healthy and happy. Your donation, no matter the amount, will help ensure that these living exhibits continue to thrive and bring joy to museum visitors.

Together, we can support student learning and ensure our living exhibits continue to inspire curiosity and discovery.