Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Student Spotlight: Meet Christina!

Christina Coon is an Anthroplogy major and a History minor at UNL. During our conversations at Indigo Bridge Books (a coffee shop in Lincoln, NE), Christina enjoys her new favorite drink, a honey and cinnamon latte. She also loves music, dancing, watching her favorite shows on Netflix, the Dallas Stars, whales, and playing water polo.

We tracked Christina down to ask about taking part in the UNL Mummy Studies Field School this summer.

Hey, Christina! How did you hear about our program?
I had heard about the program in my Dental Anthropology class at the beginning of the semester.

What made you interested in our program?
When I first heard about this program I was super interested in it. Then my friend who is also doing the program told me more about it, and I became even more intrigued. I also think that the program sounded amazing and how could I not participate in this? I think it will also kind of help me decide what way I want to go with anthropology.

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
I am really looking forward to the lab work we get to do because I am not a big science person but I find it super fascinating. I also am super excited to learn about the culture and see all the sites. Being able to analyze actual mummies, and seeing all of them I think it will be so cool.  The activities and plans that have been listed look like a lot of fun and I am really excited for the day to day activities.

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
I think I am most worried about traveling because I haven’t traveled out of the country before so that scares me. Also, I am worried that my science knowledge won’t be up with everyone else. I love science I am just not very good at it which is a bummer because I think that it is super interesting.

What are your goals after you finish your undergraduate degree?
I plan on going to take a year off to work then going to grad school. I then would love to work in a museum, or do something along the lines of teaching. I coach so I teach water polo all summer, so teaching is just one of many things I love to do.

Is this your first time out of the country?
Yes it is. I haven't even been to Mexico or Canada so I am super pumped to explore somewhere new.

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
I know absolutely no Italian. I love learning knew languages so I am excited to learn some words and phrases in Italian.

Who is your favorite mummy?
I think my favorite mummy would be King Tut because he is really the only mummy that I actually know of.  :p

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Student Spotlight: Meet Tommy!

Tommy Waters is a Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Science major at UNL. In addition to looking forward to the program, she and her pal Kylie Ham are both ready to carry on the karaoke tradition started by last year's students. We tracked Tommy down to ask her about taking part in the UNL Mummy Studies Field School this summer.

Hey, Tommy! How did you hear about our program?
I heard about the program through MyWorld (UNL's Study Abroad).

What made you interested in our program?
When I saw “mummies” in the description it immediately caught my eye. Ever since my sixth grade class mummified oranges I’ve been interested in them.

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
Well besides the excitement of seeing and working with real mummies, I am excited to get to see more of the world and experience more cultures. 

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
I have never traveled without an adult experienced in foreign travel, so I am a little anxious about that. 

What are your goals after you finish your undergraduate degree?
Right now I am planning on attending dental school, but I change my mind a lot. 

Is this your first time out of the country?
The summer after I graduated high school I traveled to Spain, Italy, and Greece with my high school Spanish Club. My family has also gone on vacation in Mexico a few times.

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
Even though I have been to Italy before, I do not know any Italian words or phrases, but I did find a station on Spotify to teach me!

Who is your favorite mummy?
I am very intrigued by Rosalia Lombardo.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Student Spotlight: Meet Carri!

Carri Lupton is a Physiological Sciences major and Anthropology minor at Marquette University. She loves reading, watching her favorite shows (including Supernatural, House, White Collar, and Bones), and enjoying coffee (which she began drinking in middle school "probably before it was considered socially acceptable" she says). She was also a CNA in an elderly home and worked in the hospice and dementia/Alzheimer’s ward and is deathly afraid of centipedes. "I hope we never encounter one in our insect studies in the crypt," she stated regarding her fear, "Other insects are fine, but no animal should have that many legs or be able to disappear that quickly." [I'm going to let that slide this time, Carri, but only because we haven't had a chance to meet in person yet...~Dr. J~] Here's what Carri had to say about this summer's field school:

Hey, Carri! How did you hear about our program?
I heard about the program through my dad, actually. He works at the Milwaukee Public Museum as the head of the Anthropology and History Department. He’s been an Egyptologist for more than 40 years. He told me about the program last summer, during the first field school, and when I checked out the website I knew I had to apply for 2017.

What made you interested in our program?
As someone who wants to pursue a career in forensic pathology/anthropology, this field school perfectly integrates aspects of both biology and anthropology, which to me are the key components in any forensic work. When we were first emailed the trip itinerary, I was thrilled to see some of the activities incorporating what made me become interested in forensics in the first place.

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
I am most looking forward to the day activities that are planned throughout the program. One of my favorite books is Silence of the Lambs, and knowing there will be a day dedicated to entomology and palynology is exciting. Some of my forensic and osteology classes have incorporated units on facial reconstruction and decomposition, which always worked well with my anatomy and physiology classes that dealt with the biology and chemistry behind these ideas, like putrefaction and saponification. I am so eager to put both subjects together and further my pathway to becoming a forensic scientist.

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
I have been lucky enough to have traveled extensively due to my dad’s job, and my mom’s love of travel. I have never traveled out of country alone, so while I am used to the process, going on a long distance flight alone is somewhat nerve-wracking. Since I am also not a UNL student, setting up a travel buddy is made more difficult. What I am most afraid of though is actually getting lost once in Sicily. I’ve never been great at directions, and trying to find my way in a new country is slightly worrying.

What are your goals after you finish your undergraduate degree?
I will finish my undergraduate schooling this coming May, so my plans after that are continuing my studies for this program (and forensics in general). I plan to take the GRE and/or MCAT over the summer to get into a graduate program, specifically for forensic science. I currently work at Aurora Sinai in Milwaukee, and I would love to get a start job in their pathology department and make some connections with the Milwaukee Medical Examiner’s Office.

Is this your first time out of the country?
I have been extremely privileged to have been able to travel the world, being only 21 years old. As I said before, my dad is an archaeologist, and has led many tours and digs over his career with the Smithsonian. My mom majored in Classic Greek and Roman history in undergraduate, and she shares his love of history, allowing me to participate in many of their travels. I have been to over 36 states and many international countries as well. Below is a list of the countries I have visited:
Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Jamaica, Peru, Greece, England, Ireland, Egypt, Turkey, Bahamas

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
I am limited in my knowledge of Italian phrases, even though I took four years of Spanish in high school and my best friend’s family on his dad’s side is from Sicily. I know many generic Italian terms that are used in the English language daily (i.e. Si/No, Ciao/Salve, Grazie, Bon Appetit, Prego, Scusi, Bravo, Andiamo, Arrivederci, Buon(a) giorno/sera/notte, etc.). Most of this stems from my Spanish background (which has admittedly gone rusty over my years in undergrad). I plan to get a few Intro. Italian books and re-familiarize myself with the Romantic languages.

Who is your favorite mummy?
When I was little, my favorite mummy was King Tut (as I’m sure everyone’s is when they’re 10). As I grew older and my dad influenced my knowledge a little more, I began to take interest in the two Egyptian mummies at the Milwaukee Museum (Djed-Hor and Padi-Heru). While I still like these mummies, my favorite has to be Ramses II, if only for his funny hand configuration that is situated differently than the other royal mummies of 19th Dynasty. On the other hand, as a biology student, I have also always been fascinated with bog and ice mummies because of their unique preservation of integumentary features (skin, hair, and nails). Many Egyptian mummies still have these preserved structures, but due to their unique mummification rituals, most cannot be seen unless a CT is used (biology students are very tactile in their lab practices and like easy access ).