While many paleontologists perform their digs in dry, arid places, Hargrave and her students find fossils buried in the mud. When bodies of water shift or are drained, fossils long buried in mud are revealed.
At UL, Hargrave teaches a “Museum Techniques” course, and the final project results in students creating an exhibit.
“I am a scientist, and I’m going to present the facts, which doesn’t always make for a good exhibit,” Hargrave said. “But having students in there, they think differently than I do. It’s a really great collaboration.”
Moving forward
The contract between the university and city government is in its last year. What happens next has yet to be decided.
Krantz says being under the umbrella of the university provides more advertising exposure for the museum through billboards, word of mouth, promotional materials and involvement from schools.