In October, the Gustavus Adolphus College’s Center for Developmental Science (CDS) was visited by Katie Todd, a representative from the Museum of Science, Boston.
The visit was part of the establishment of a Living Laboratory by the Gustavus Adolphus College’s Center for Developmental Science at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato. The Living Laboratory allows Gustavus students to conduct research at the museum and connects parents and museum educators to current developmental research. The purpose of Katie Todd’s visit was to evaluate how the Living Lab model works at this specific site. The site that the CDS has established is unique because it is entirely staffed and run by undergraduate students, the lab has been established at a brand-new museum, and student research is conducted along with faculty research.
The site visit was mutually beneficial; Gustavus students received recommendations on how they could improve their lab while providing a unique perspective on how the Living Lab model works in Mankato. The Living Laboratory is constantly growing and has become a great resource for students conducting research in the Center for Developmental Science.
More information about the National Living Lab Initiative can be found on their website: http://www.livinglab.org/
Submitted by Janey Ross ’16.