UCF Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) is pleased to invite you for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Kirk Johnson, renowned paleobotanist and the Sant Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, home to the largest natural history collection in the world. In this captivating talk, Museums, Science, Nature, and the Future, Dr. Johnson will explore the essential role museums play not only as guardians of history but also in advancing scientific understanding. Johnson will take us on a journey of tracing the story of our planet through time, and how the intersection of museums, science, and nature offers vital insights for understanding our present and illuminating the path ahead for navigating the future.
Thursday, September 18, 2025
3:30 – 5:00 P.M. EST
Fairwinds Alumni Center
This event is free and open to the public.
Advanced Registration is REQUIRED. Please REGISTER HERE. For additional details download the Event Flyer
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Speaker: Dr. Kirk Johnson, Sant Director, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
Kirk Johnson is a geologist, paleobotanist, and museum director whose research focuses on fossil plants and the extinction of the dinosaurs. He has excavated fossils on all continents, and is known for his support for science, nature, and museums using public talks, scientific articles, popular books, museum exhibitions, documentaries, and collaborations with artists.