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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. —The Florida Museum of Natural History and Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art will host the interdisciplinary Celebration of Undergraduate Creativity in the Arts and Sciences, an exhibition of research and projects in all artistic and scientific disciplines, on Jan. 11, 2009.

For the first time, the program includes student entries from the performing and fine arts and the Harn Museum Art is participating as a venue.

The event is a joint effort of the University of Florida and partners including Morehouse College, Louisiana State University, Lincoln University, Furman University, The University of Puerto Rico and others. Sponsors for the event include the National Science Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.

The Florida Museum and the Harn Museum of Art will display a variety of art including photography, performance, lighting and music in addition to scientific posters on undergraduate student research from UF and other colleges and universities. Research on fine arts, music, theatre and dance will also be showcased at the museums, and the undergraduate students responsible for the studies will be available to talk about their work and answer questions from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

“Morehouse College, Lincoln, Puerto Rico and the University of Florida have partnered for many years on collaborative research exchanges funded by the National Science Foundation,” said Randy Duran, a professor in UF’s chemistry department. “This event gives undergraduates a unique opportunity to publicize the research they’ve completed over the summer in a more interdisciplinary forum than they usually see, in front of staff from prestigious science foundations that sponsor research, the arts community and the general public."

This year’s event expands on last year’s science-only poster session at the Florida Museum, which included nearly 100 displays and was enjoyed by 800 attendees.

UF College of Fine Arts Dean Lucinda Lavelli said she is excited to see the variety of art students are submitting.

“This is the first time for the arts portion of the event, so we don’t know how big the art section will be,” Lavelli said. “However, it’s important as a leading university to have these opportunities celebrating art and science because the two areas together represent the diversity and dynamism of the creative mind. We have a few opportunities at UF for students to combine their knowledge of art and science and this event will make creative integration an even bigger priority.

Event coordinator Dylan Walsh said he’s hoping for 100 to 150 science entries.

“The idea and logistics behind the fine arts component have really come into focus over the last few months, and we’re hoping for an exciting turnout,” Dylan said.

In addition to presenting their work to the UF and Gainesville communities, participants will compete for several Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science for Life Undergraduate Creativity Awards. Each $2,500 prize will be awarded to the most innovative presentations in the arts and the sciences and will fund the travel and attendance of each winner to his or her choice of a meeting, workshop or exhibition anywhere in the world.

Fine arts students interested in entering visual or performance artwork must apply by Friday. An application and more information is available online, http://hhmi.chem.ufl.edu/creativity. All applications will be reviewed by faculty from the UF College of Fine Arts, Morehouse College and UF Chemistry Department.

Admission is free and open to the public. Students with questions about submitting entries should contact Dylan Walsh, 352-392-9306.

Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
The Harn Museum of Art at SW 34th St. and Hull Rd. is one of the largest university art museums in the country with nearly 7,000 works in its collection focusing on African, Asian, modern and contemporary art and photography. The museum enhances the activities of the University of Florida and serves a culturally diverse audience through educational programming. Admission is free. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free on weekends. The Camellia Court Café is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum and café are open until 9 p.m. Thursdays for Museum Nights during the UF Academic calendar due to the generous support of UF Student Government. For more information call 352-392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.

Florida Museum of Natural History
The Florida Museum of Natural History is Florida's state natural history museum, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $9.50 for adults ($8 Fla. residents) and $5 for children ages 3-12. Prices subject to change. For more information, including directions and parking, call 352-846-2000 or visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu.

Media contacts:
Tami Wroath, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
352.392.9826 x116
twroath@harn.ufl.edu