Hey everyone! Welcome to the second episode of Ask Emily. Before we dive into your questions, I want to address something from the last episode. It seems the Grossometer wasn’t quite accurate, and I apologize for that. If you ever see a Grossometer, just be cautious!
On a brighter note, a huge thank you to NPR and Robert Krulwich for featuring me on the front page of National Public Radio’s website. It was a significant moment for me!
Many of you are curious about the kind of education needed for a career like mine. Interestingly, there’s no specific academic path to get here. I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, focusing on painting. It wasn’t until my senior year that I discovered the zoological museum, and by then, it was too late to change my major. So, I started as an intern in scientific illustration. During my internship, I got involved in curatorial tasks and have been here ever since.
Currently, I’m pursuing a Master of Arts in Museum Studies at Johns Hopkins University, which is primarily an online program. This allows me to balance my studies with my work at the museum.
A Tumblr user asked how I became knowledgeable about biology despite my art background. The answer is simple: books! I also recommend volunteering or interning at a local nature center, natural history museum, or zoological collection. This hands-on experience can be invaluable, as it was for me.
Some of you have asked quirky questions, like why I don’t bend my arms much or why I don’t use Vicks Vapor Rub to mask bad smells. Well, Vicks actually opens up my airways, making the odors more pronounced rather than masking them.
When asked about a skeleton I wish I could have, or if I was squeamish at first, I can say that I was indeed squeamish initially. But sometimes, you just have to dive in and “scoop” without overthinking it.
Regarding selling specimens to raise funds, this practice is frowned upon in the museum world. Museums have ethical obligations to preserve and maintain their collections indefinitely.
What if we found a human thumb in a wolf’s stomach? The protocol would be to freak out and then call the authorities. As for my best discovery, finding a pangolin in our collection brought me to tears of joy.
Emily Brantley on Facebook asked about any crazy lab mishaps. Once, someone was removing a wolf’s brain using a high-pressure hose without eye protection. They ended up with brain matter in their eye and had to get rabies vaccines after a trip to the emergency room.
The best part of my job is getting up close with animals, something I couldn’t do in the wild. The worst part? Cataloging shrews.
Many wonder how I manage financially as a volunteer. I rely on financial assistance while completing my Master’s degree, work on marketing campaigns with the University of Montana, and earn from T-shirt and poster sales.
A Tumblr user asked about when brains will be scooped. Well, it still has brains on it, so stay tuned!
Thank you for all your questions! Keep them coming, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Research and present on various educational pathways that can lead to a career in museum studies or scientific illustration. Highlight the flexibility and diversity of academic backgrounds that professionals in these fields might have.
Visit a local museum or nature center and volunteer for a day. Reflect on your experience by writing a short essay on what you learned about the operations and educational roles of such institutions.
Form a book club to read and discuss books that bridge the gap between art and biology. Choose a book that Emily might recommend and explore how art can enhance the understanding of biological concepts.
Engage in a debate or write a position paper on the ethical considerations of selling museum specimens. Discuss the responsibilities museums have in preserving their collections and the potential consequences of commercialization.
Participate in a workshop that simulates unexpected lab scenarios, similar to the mishaps described by Emily. Work in teams to develop creative solutions and safety protocols to handle such situations effectively.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey everyone! Welcome to Ask Emily episode number 2! First off, I’d like to apologize for the Grossometer apparently being inaccurate in the last episode. If I could go back, I’d probably adjust it a bit, but… you should probably be warned if there is ever a Grossometer, be cautious.
Secondly, huge thanks to NPR and Robert Krulwich this week for featuring me on the front page of National Public Radio’s website; that was definitely a highlight of my life.
Now, question time! A lot of you asked: What kind of education do you need to do this kind of thing? Here’s the thing, there is no magical academic recipe to end up in a place like this. For example, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art; I have a painting degree. I didn’t find out about the zoological museum until my senior year, and at that point, it was too late for me to change my major. So, I decided to come here as an intern practicing scientific illustration. Halfway through my internship, I picked up on a lot of curatorial tasks and duties in the lab and have been here ever since.
So, in addition to having an undergraduate degree in fine arts, I am now enrolled in the Johns Hopkins University – Master of Arts in Museum Studies program, which is primarily distance learning based so I can do all of my coursework online, and I’m getting my MA in museum studies.
A Tumblr user asked: As a former art student, how did you become so knowledgeable about biology? Books. You have advice on how I can do this? I strongly encourage you to find a local nature center, natural history museum, or zoological collection in which you can volunteer or intern. It worked for me!
An anonymous user asked: Did you know you don’t bend your arms a lot? Another anonymous user asked: Why don’t you put Vicks Vapor Rub underneath your nose if everything smells so bad? Vicks tends to open up my airways, so in addition to smelling the unpleasant odors, I smell the Vicks on top of it; it doesn’t replace the smell.
A Twitter user asked: What is one skeleton you could never get but really want? Another user asked: Were you squeamish about this before you started? Yes. I didn’t know I was going to be preparing a specimen that day; I didn’t have time to think. Just… scoop.
A Twitter user asked: Why don’t you just sell some of the specimens to raise money for the collection? This kind of concept is generally looked down upon in the museum world; it goes against the moral and ethical obligations that museums have to preserving and maintaining collection items indefinitely.
A Twitter user asked: What is the protocol if you find an actual human thumb in a wolf’s stomach? Freak out! And then call the authorities.
A Twitter user asked: What is the best discovery you’ve ever made in the collection? The day I found out we had a pangolin in the collection, I cried tears of happiness.
Emily Brantley on Facebook wanted to know if we’ve ever had any crazy mishaps in the lab. This one time a few years ago, before I was a volunteer in the lab, someone was working on removing the brain of a wolf in a sink using a high-pressure hose. This person wasn’t wearing any eye protection or a face mask, and because of that, they ended up getting some brain matter in their eye. Instead of telling the curator or anyone about it, they just went home that night. When they woke up the next day, their eye was all bloodshot, so they had to go to the emergency room and get all these rabies vaccines and other preventative treatment.
A Twitter user is wondering what is the best and worst part of my job. The best part of my job is getting to be up close and personal with all of these animals, which they obviously wouldn’t let me do in the wild. The worst part of my job? Cataloging shrews.
Many of you are curious how I pay my bills if I’m a volunteer. There are a couple of different ways: living off of financial assistance while I finish my Master’s degree, working on some marketing campaigns with the University of Montana, but mostly through T-shirt and poster sales!
A Tumblr user is wondering: When will brains be scooped? It still has brains on it.
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, and distribution. – In her biology class, Maria learned about the complex processes of cellular respiration and photosynthesis.
Art – The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. – The art exhibit featured a series of paintings that explored the intersection of human anatomy and abstract forms.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – The university’s education program emphasizes the integration of scientific research with practical teaching methods.
Museum – An institution dedicated to preserving and exhibiting objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural significance. – The natural history museum hosted a special exhibit on the evolution of mammals, attracting biology students from across the country.
Internship – A temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, often part of an educational program. – During her internship at the botanical garden, Sarah gained hands-on experience in plant conservation techniques.
Illustration – A visual explanation of a text, concept, or process, often used in books, magazines, and educational materials. – The biology textbook was enhanced by detailed illustrations of the human circulatory system, aiding students in their understanding.
Zoological – Relating to the scientific study of animals and their behavior, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution. – The zoological research conducted by the team provided new insights into the migratory patterns of endangered bird species.
Nature – The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations. – The artist’s work was inspired by the intricate patterns found in nature, such as the symmetry of leaves and the fractals in snowflakes.
Collections – Groups of objects or works to be seen, studied, or kept together, often within a museum or gallery setting. – The university’s anthropology department boasts extensive collections of artifacts from ancient civilizations.
Ethical – Relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these, especially in the context of scientific research and practice. – The ethical considerations of genetic modification were a major topic of discussion in the advanced biology seminar.
