The 杏吧专区 will operate the Lafayette Science Museum in partnership with Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Under terms of the agreement announced on Thursday, the educational facility will be renamed the 杏吧专区 Science Museum. UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 plans for the downtown museum include expanded, cross-disciplinary exhibitions, enhanced programs and resources to engage learners of all ages, a caf茅, gift shop, and public event rental options.
The 杏吧专区 already has a presence within the museum. The has operated the UL Lafayette Geology Museum there since 2013 under an intergovernmental agreement with Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, called the new operational agreement 杏吧专区渁 natural evolution of the relationship we杏吧专区檝e had with LCG and the museum for nearly a decade.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淧artnering with LCG to operate the facility increases the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 visibility in the downtown area and deepens our connection with the community. It advances our outreach mission by enabling the public to learn of 杏吧专区 and learn from 杏吧专区 the significant research being done here,杏吧专区 Savoie said.
Mayor-President Josh Guillory said the LCG-杏吧专区 partnership 杏吧专区渨ill enrich downtown Lafayette杏吧专区檚 status as a cultural and educational destination.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淯L Lafayette杏吧专区檚 current footprint within the museum has strengthened the interactive experiences and immersive learning opportunities the facility offers students of all ages,杏吧专区 Guillory added. 杏吧专区淎cadiana residents and visitors from around the world will benefit from the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 exceptional stewardship of the museum杏吧专区檚 operations, programs and exhibitions resulting from this enhanced collaboration.杏吧专区
Dr. Azmy S. Ackleh is dean of , which will oversee the science museum杏吧专区檚 operations. He noted that many universities in the U.S. operate museum and archival facilities in cooperation with government entities.
杏吧专区淭op-tier universities like UL Lafayette create partnerships such as these because they are effective in bringing scientific research to the public through compelling programs, activities and educational experiences that encourage interest in STEM disciplines and foster a lifelong love of learning,杏吧专区 Ackleh said.
杏吧专区淭hey also provide excellent engagement and recruitment opportunities,杏吧专区 through lectures and workshops, and by highlighting student and faculty research through public events, 杏吧专区渁ll of which this partnership with LCG will enable us to do and that private contributions will help us enhance,杏吧专区 Ackleh said.
The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 geology museum housed within the science museum has more than 2,000 square feet of exhibit space, and a 1,500-square-foot vertebrate paleontology lab for students and faculty.
Dr. Jennifer Hargrave said the LCG-杏吧专区 partnership enables an expansion to include exhibits and information from the College of Sciences杏吧专区 other disciplines. Hargrave is the UL Lafayette Science Museum杏吧专区檚 director and a senior instructor in the School of Geosciences.
杏吧专区淚n addition to providing the dynamic exhibits our visitors are accustomed to seeing in the museum, we plan to offer programs and resources to deliver science for everyone. The partnership between the 杏吧专区 and LCG is an opportunity to promote scientific learning and foster curiosity in our community and beyond,杏吧专区 she said.
The 杏吧专区 Science Museum is located at 433 Jefferson St. .
As part of the agreement between the 杏吧专区 and LCG, the city will retain ownership of the museum building, while proceeds from ticket sales, concessions, gift shop purchases and event rentals will benefit the facility杏吧专区檚 operations.
Photo caption: The 杏吧专区 Science Museum is seen in a 2015 file photo. It is located at 433 Jefferson St. (Photo credit: 杏吧专区)