About

The 6th annual MU Life Sciences and Society Symposium (March 2010) took as its theme, From Art to Biology and Back Again. This theme is a rich one that allowed a plethora of viewpoints of how the life sciences have influenced and been influenced by the arts. The University Libraries decided to approach the topic from a historic path calling upon its very rich collections of rare books, historical medical memorabilia, and university records. The virtual exhibit you are about to enter is our effort to explore one of the most interesting interactions in the human experience, how man sees and understands man as an organism.

The exhibit included items from the following collections within the University of Missouri Libraries: Special Collections & Rare Books Department, the MU Health Sciences Library Rare Book Room, the University Archives, and the Zalk Veterinary Medical Library. The exhibit was curated by Michael Holland, Director of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books (SCARaB), with immense help from the staff of the SCARaB Division, Alla Barabtarlo, Katie Carr, Gary Cox, Anselm Huelsbergen, and Karen Witt. Invaluable help with graphic design was provided by Amy Jones, Graduate Library Assistant and student employee Dan Jimenez both of the Special Collections & Rare Books department.

The exhibit was formally opened by a presentation from German & Russian Studies Professor Carsten Strathausen on Thursday the 4th of March at 2:00 in the Ellis Library Colonnade. His well received presentation was entitled, "Art and Human Nature."