Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Hispanic Heritage events, Beyond Borders with Dr. Fredrick Luis Aldama! We had an amazing time at both the talk and the workshop. Shoutout to our collaborators, Chicano/Latino Studies and WKAR! More photos: buff.ly/0d0WMtS #hispanicheritagemonth

A Latinx gentleman with greying hair, wearing a bright blue t-shirt, stands in front of a projection screen showcasing comics of Latinx superheroes.

Two Latinx gentlemen sitting in tall black chairs chat on stage. Left, Dr. Aldama wearing a green button-up shirt, and right, Samuel Salvidar in a blue-button up shirt. In front of them, audience members sit barely in view. Behind them, blue curtains and a brick wall.

Participants of a workshop sit in a sunny room at a wooden table, laughing as they use markers to to write on a large piece of white paper.

A Latinx gentleman with greying hair, wearing a lime green button-up, waves his hands in the air as a he gives a talk on stage. Behind him, blue curtains and a brick wall lit in blue. In front of him sits a lectern with a microphone.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 2d

We're featuring another Ignite Talks MSU speaker: Rachel Lau, presenting “How mud and sand shape Great Lakes coastal wetlands.” Rachel is PhD student in the Dept. of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, College of Social Science. Don't miss this and other talks on October 29 buff.ly/Jk0Dfo6

A closeup of a microphone against a bright red background. In a speech bubble shape, a photo of an Asian woman with long brown hair, smiling at the camera. Text on image reads "Ignite Talks MSU" and introduces the person in the photo.

A black microphone on a red gradient background. White text on image reads “IGNITE TALKS MSU” in bold letters. A second column in white text reads “Wednesday, October 29 7:00-8:30PM, 6th Floor, 311 Abbot, East Lansing, MI. Register at museum.msu.edu” Features the MSU Museum CoLab Studio, Ignite MSU, and MSUFCU logos.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 3d

Meet our 3rd Ignite Talks MSU speaker, Justin Jaraczewski, presenting “When to Change Your Mind: Principles of Plasticity." He is an undergraduate student in the Dept of Physiology, College of Natural Science and Honors College. Come see this and other talks on October 29! Register: buff.ly/Jk0Dfo6

A closeup of a microphone against a bright red background. In a speech bubble shape, a photo of a young white male in a blue windbreaker jacket, wearing sunglasses, standing on rocky terrain with a rainbow behind him. Text on image reads "Ignite Talks MSU" and introduces the person in the photo.

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 4d

We're excited to be featured in the new Smithsonian and @usatoday.com activity guide! Did you know that the MSU Museum is the 1st Smithsonian Affiliate in Michigan?
Download your free copy of “Our Shared Community: Capturing America’s Stories with the Smithsonian”: buff.ly/tNedaD9
#SmithsonianEdu

On a blue background, a colorful booklet sits with yellow, green, and purple landscape on the cover, two copies to showcase both the front and the full front and back of the piece. Title reads "Our Shared Community" in colorful block letters.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 6d

Our 2nd featured Ignite Talks MSU speaker is Alex Guo, presenting “Beyond Rhetoric: Building Trans-Affirming Communities.” Alex is an undergrad in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures, College of Arts and Letters. Don't miss this and other talks on October 29! Register: buff.ly/Jk0Dfo6

A closeup of a microphone against a bright red background. In a speech bubble shape, a photo of a young Asian MSU student with short black hair, wearing a black shirt and blazer. Text on image reads "Ignite Talks MSU" and introduces the person in the photo.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 9d

Are you ready for our 5th Ignite Talks MSU on October 29? Meet our speakers! First, Diego S. Granados-Villanueva, a PhD candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Science, presenting "“Oh, The Places Proteins Will Go!”
Register: buff.ly/Jk0Dfo6

A closeup of a microphone against a bright red background. In a speech bubble shape, a photo of a young man with dark long hair, beard, and glasses wearing a hat. Text on image reads "Ignite Talks MSU" and introduces the person in the photo.

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 11d

This week! Join us for a talk about superheroes, stories, and Latinx identity with award-winning scholar Dr. Aldama.
📅 Thursday, October 2
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 WKAR
Reserve your spot: bit.ly/Aldama_1
#HispanicHeritageMonth

On a pale blue background, a collage of four comic covers from Latinx creators. Below, text reads "Beyond Borders: A Conversation with Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama. Thursday, October 2, 2025 from 5-6:30 PM at the Communications Arts and Science Building, Room 145" Also includes a photo of Dr. Aldama, a latinx gentleman with short salt and pepper hair, and logos for the MSU Museum, Chicano/Latino Studies Program, and WKAR.

On a pale purple background, a collage of four comic covers from Latinx creators. Below, text reads "Beyond Borders: Oral History with Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama. Friday, October 3, 2025 from 5;6:30PM at the Multicultural Center"" Also includes a photo of Dr. Aldama, a latinx gentleman with short salt and pepper hair, and logos for the MSU Museum, Chicano/Latino Studies Program, and WKAR.

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 15d

#TBT to when this building wasn’t the MSU Museum, but was the MSU Library! Back then, students came here for books and study spaces. Today it is still a hub for knowledge & connection, now with exhibitions, creative programs, & a welcoming space to recharge. We can’t wait to reopen in January 2026!

An old black and white aerial photo of a brick and stone building surrounded by trees without leaves. Formerly the MSU Library, now the MSU Museum.

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 17d

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with us with "Beyond Borders with Dr. Fredrick Luis Aldama." Two days, two events! Through comics, literature, film, & oral history, Dr. Aldama explores how stories cross boundaries, connect communities, & imagine inclusive futures. #SmithsonianHHM buff.ly/lAzPu4d

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 18d

The exhibition honors the Center’s legacy while inviting reflection on how collections and object-based learning expand our understanding of global cultures.

Learn more: buff.ly/MrTWY34

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 18d

Collections spotlight! This South African basket from the 1990s is woven with telephone wire and contains imagery to raise awareness about AIDS prevention. It’s currently on view at the MSU Library as part of Africa Past, Present, and Future: Celebrating 65 Years of the MSU African Studies Center.

A colorful round basket on a white background, featuring blue, red, yellow, and black and white patterns.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 21d

The cadre X MSU MUSEUM collab is happening TOMORROW, join us at 311 Abbot (6th floor) from 6-11PM for a radically inclusive social music experience! Featured DJs: Esmii, Jyle, James Connor, and rinbossanova. Register: bit.ly/cadre_1

Black, white, and red graphic in brutalist style featuring a DJ working a turntable. Text on flyer reads "the cadre X MSU Museum: an electronic music exhibition. September 20, 2025 from 6-11 PM at 311 Abbot, 6th Floor. Featuring DJS Esmii, Jyle, James Connor, and rinbossanova. Register at museum.msu.edu"

Blue light fills an industrial space where a crowd of diverse students and young folks all dance with their arms in the air as a DJ just off screen plays electric dance music.

Blue and black light fills an industrial space where a crowd of diverse students and young folks all dance with their arms in the air as a DJ just off screen plays electric dance music.

An industrial space filled with a crowd of diverse students and young folks, all dancing with their arms in the air as a DJ just off screen plays electric dance music.

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 23d

Photos by Doug Coombe

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 23d

Thank you to everyone who attended the Opening Reception for "Physical Spells [The Wor(l)d in the Atom]" We had a great time exploring the new interactive installations by @MSUFCU Arts Power Up Artist-in-Residence, Violeta López López! Shout out to our partner, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams!

Visitors explore a darkened exhibit space with reflective, dark walls, interacting with game controllers hanging from the ceiling that are glowing red, blue, or green.

Three visitors to the MSU Museum exhibition laugh and smile as they use a microphone as part of the interactive installation. One young woman, center, wearing a burgundy jacket with her light brunette hair down past her shoulders, jingles her keys at the microphone. Next to her, a person in a pink button-up shirt clasps hands together and watches. A third gentlemen is visible in the back, out of focus.

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt and jeans, stands in the middle of a darkened exhibit space with reflective, dark walls, with game controllers hanging from the ceiling that are glowing red, blue, or green. Artist Violeta López López

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 24d

MSU Museum team members visited MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) to learn more about the research informing our FRIB-inspired exhibition at 311 Abbot.

Thanks to our FRIB collaborators for the insight and inspiration!

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 25d

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! Join us for Beyond Borders with Dr. Fredrick Luis Aldama. Through comics, literature, film, & oral history, Dr. Aldama explores how stories cross boundaries, connect communities, & imagine inclusive futures. #SmithsonianHHM

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 26d

Happy National Curiosity Day! In the "Physical Spells [The Wor(l)d in the Atom"] exhibition, you can play with particles and poetry in three immersive installations! Learn more: buff.ly/m2WcBx3
#CuriosityDriven #CallingTheCurious #ExploreWithUs

Glowing game controllers with green, blue, and red lights hand from the ceiling in a dark space, reflecting against mirror-like walls.

A Black man wears a VR headset, smiling as he explores a virtual space.

In a dark space, screen projects show white lines against black of a spectrogram, while a screen in the middle displays a long machine tunnel floating in a starry galaxy. Also visible in the dark are benches, a tv also displaying animations, a microphone, and a glowing game controller.

Two people playing a game in an industrial space.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · 29d

We're hard at work getting ready to reopen in January, 2026! The wait is almost over...are you ready?

New vinyl images are applied to the glass and metal doors on a white stone building, the MSU Museum. A gentlemen in a grey shirt and khaki pants is seen from behind as he finishes the project.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · Sep 10

After our wildly successful collaboration with the cadre, we're excited to announce further events! First up, join us on September 20 from 6-11PM at 311 Abbot for a radically inclusive social music experience. Featured DJs: Esmii, Jyle, James Connor, and rinbossanova. Register: bit.ly/cadre_1

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · Sep 9

THANK YOU to everyone who came to Unwind: Harvest Moon Silent Disco! We had an amazing time sampling delicious food, drinking fresh apple cider, playing trivia, and dancing all night in the Beal Botanical Garden! We can't wait to see everyone on October 17 at Unwind Move Your Way! bit.ly/unwind_2

A crowd of students in the darkened garden space of Beal Botanical Garden, wearing glowing headphones and dancing.

Two students wearing glowing headphones dance in a green space. One wears dark jeans and a sweater while the other wears a brown long-sleeved crop-top and ripped jeans. Both sway to the beat, their long brown hair flowing freely.

A group of students sit on picnic blankets in a green space, taking selfies as they decorate small river stones. In the background, more students check in to the event at the Beal Botanical Garden.

Two MSU students wearing glowing headphones outdoors smile and laugh, others wearing headphones visible but blurry in the dark of evening.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · Sep 8

The deadline for our 5th Ignite Talks MSU has been extended through Friday, September 12! Don't miss your chance to present your research in our engaging, creative format—any type or level of student at MSU and any field of research! buff.ly/QCwzeTW

A diverse group of students in professional dress posing together on a stage

A young student of color wearing a black blazer and white turtleneck, holding a microphone and speaking.

A student of color wearing a tan blazer and matching hijab, stands on stage in front of an audience, holding a microphone. A pie chart is projected on the wall, while a banner reading "Ignite Talks" sits in front of an MSU Museum podium.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · Sep 4

Presenting "Physical Spells [The Wor(l)d in the Atom]," the latest exhibition in our temporary space at 311 Abbot on the 6th floor! Explore the unexpected ways of understanding physics as if it were language designed by the second MSUFCU Arts Power Up Artist-in-Residence, Violeta López López.

A glowing video game controller in front of a screen displaying a long, complex machine floating on a starry background

A faculty member in a purple shirt and dark pants standing in an exhibition space using a white VR headset. Text in red and white can be seen on the far wall.

A silhouette of a man using a controller to explore an immersive exhibit. One display in front of him, to the left, shows a black and white sonogram. The screen in front of him shows a responsive journey through a surreal soundscape with a row of human ears

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · Aug 29

If you love dancing, music, & nature, then you want to join MSU Museum for Harvest Moon Silent Disco NEXT FRIDAY! Set in the beauty of Beal Botanical Garden, come dance the night away while breathing in the gorgeous nature around you. Check out the raffle prizes up for grabs too! bit.ly/unwind_1

In a verdant garden setting, a crowd of diverse students gather, dancing to the beat of music playing in their glowing headphones at a silent disco.

Quarter circles spread across a grid in an abstract design of light and deep blues that spell "Unwind" On the left, text reads "Unwind: Your once-a-month exhale. 7-9 PM. Connect: Harvest Moon Silent Disco. Location: Beal Botanical Garden. 09/05. Register at museum.msu.edu."

On a table, a collection of prizes sit spread out among green fairy lights. Two white tote bags with flower and novelty icon patterns sit on the bottom, with two books about planting native gardens are layered on top. A wooden charcuterie board complete with matching wood-handled utensils is displayed on the right with two jars of honey. Behind, two neon lights; one in the shape of a monstera plant and the other a dinosaur.

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MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · Aug 28

A new MSUFCU Arts Power Up exhibition is taking shape! Don’t miss the opening reception for Physical Spells [The Wor(l)d in the Atom] on Sept. 4 at the MSU Museum’s pop up space at 311 Abbot in downtown East Lansing.
🔗 buff.ly/l7a2IoW

Screenshot from Unity video software showing the timeline of the Sephor interactive experience as a long visual of lungs, ears, and other objects on a cloudy background. Text on image reads "Physcial Spells [The Wor(l)d in the Atom]"

MSU Museum @msumuseum.bsky.social · Aug 27

We are welcoming two new curators to the MSU Museum!

Welcome Dr. Micah Ling (traditional arts) and Dr. Chan Kin Onn (evolutionary biology). Their expertise will strengthen our collections, exhibitions, and community engagement.

Read More:
buff.ly/csDNvPg

Two portraits of MSU Museum curators side by side. Left, a woman with long blonde hair, Micah Ling, Ph.D. Right, a man with short black hair and a beard, Chan Kin Onn, Ph.D. Underneath, green text reads "Welcome new Curators!"

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