Science is beautiful and the faculty and staff at Cowley College’s Mulvane Center recently designed a vivarium contest to support this idea. The contest was implemented by Dr. Chad Killblane with significant help from other Natural Science & Mathematics faculty and staff- Casper Fredsgaard, Uwe Conrad, Julia Jarboe, and Dr. Scott Layton. The winning design was submitted by Martyna Kowalska, a freshman biology major, with Leah Bowlby, a sophomore forensic science major, receiving second place, and Emaleigh Martin, a freshman biology major, receiving third place.
These submissions were blind judged and evaluated on their aesthetics, cost, feasibility, and projected maintenance requirements. The winning submission will be constructed and maintained by the Mulvane natural science faculty, and will be on display at the center. Construction is slated to begin this summer.
When completed it will be featured alongside another vivarium designed by Dr. Killblane and Mr. Fredsgaard. Together, the two will be bring natural beauty to the campus and provide it with significant learning tools; that will help students better understand the relationship between science and the natural world.