Hurvis Center

The Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration

Exploring New Ways of Engagement

The Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration at Lincoln Park Zoo is a comprehensive education institute designed to advance understanding about how people learn in an informal environment and ways that zoos, aquariums and museums can most effectively engage their audiences for a lasting impact. This will be achieved through innovative programming and thoughtful evaluation and research. The center will simultaneously develop and test new models of learning while providing exciting education programs to learners of all ages locally, nationally and globally.

Key Focuses

The Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration focuses its innovative work in four key areas.

• Increase Youth Awareness of Science Careers
• Engage Community Members in the Work of Zoo Researchers
• Develop Globally Relevant Models of Learning
• Explore New Ways to Conduct Evaluation and Research

Learn more about the Hurvis Center’s key focuses.

Hurvis Center Innovation Updates

Initiatives

Career Explorers Chicago students will join a two-week career immersion opportunity at Lincoln Park Zoo, with special activities afterward maintaining a connection with the youth and their parents.

Observe to Learn Informal-learning institutions around the world can share a curriculum providing youth the opportunity to learn about the natural world through animal behavior studies.

Partners in Fieldwork The zoo will partner with Chicago-area high schools to collect urban wildlife monitoring data from field stations set up on school grounds.

Research Apprenticeship Program Chicago-area high school students can spend four weeks working alongside a Lincoln Park Zoo researcher and engaging in authentic research experiences.

Staff

Leah Melber, Ph.D. Senior Director, Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration

Kyle Soller Education Manager, Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration