Student Spotlight: Meet Emily!

Emily Hintz is a Forensic Science major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has expressed that she is super excited for this trip! We tracked Emily down to ask her about taking part in the UNL Mummy Studies Field School this summer.

Hey, Emily! How did you hear about our program?
In class and on the study abroad page.

What made you interested in our program?
Traveling to someplace new and learning more about mummies.

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
To learn and experience something new.

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
Amount of studying for this trip and studies.

What are your goals after you finish your undergraduate degree?
Hopefully get a job. :)

Is this your first time out of the country?
Nope, I have been to South America (Peru) and Mexico (Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta).

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
Nope, but hopefully I will learn some.

Who is your favorite mummy?
I don’t know many mummies.

Student Spotlight: Meet Maggie!

Margaret (Maggie) McManus is a a triple major in Anthropology, History, and Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Delaware. Just in case three majors isn't enough, she's also getting a minor in biology. She loves seeing the overlapping material and broader contexts that connect her majors and minor together. (Hey, she's going to love the interdisciplinary world of mummy studies!) We tracked Maggie down to ask about taking part in the UNL Mummy Studies Field School this summer.

Hey, Margaret! How did you hear about our program?
I learned about this program through my school’s anthropology department. It was actually a chance thing that I saw the email advertising this program! However when I first saw it, it immediately caught my attention. 

What made you interested in our program?
I’ve always been fascinated with mummies and the cultural practices that go along with mummification. I also like studying old stuff in general and Italy has always been one of the top places I’ve wanted to visit.

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
I’m really excited to actually get to work with the mummies since I’ve never really had much experience with handling and analysing them. I am very excited to be able to analyze dietary remains, learn about paleo-pathology, and facial reconstruction. All of these aspects really help us as the examiner to kind of rehumanize the individuals we’re studying while also learning so much about those who came before us. I am also very very excited about traveling to Italy for the first time! I really love the history of Italy. Sicily especially is exceedingly rich and unique in its history and culture as influences of past civilizations like Rome, Greece, Carthage, and many more left their marks on Sicily. 

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
I think I’m most worried about the flight over to Sicily. In general I don’t really like flying. I have done international flights by myself before, but I don’t really like to travel alone. I think I’m most worried about finally arriving there and not knowing where to go and not sure of how to meet up with other people from the group since I’m coming from UD and flying from Philly. 

What are your goals after you finish your undergraduate degree?
I definitely wish to pursue my masters and eventually a PhD in the field of bioarchaeology or paleopathology. What I hope to do with this degree is to be able to apply knowledge from the past to better understand issues we face today in the fields of biology, specifically pathology. The fairly new field of epigenetics also appeals to me as it concentrates on how environmental and biological factors affect how your genes are expressed. While this is what I envision for myself in the long run, I know that right after I graduate undergrad I want to take a gap year or two. During my gap year I want to travel as much as possible and really figure out what I want to do career wise. 

Is this your first time out of the country?
No it's not! I’ve had the great privilege of being able to travel around a bit. I’ve been to a lot of states in the US including Alaska. I also have been out of the country a few times. For family vacations my parents have taken us to Canada multiple times. We also went to China one summer which was really special since I was actually born there but was adopted when I was a baby by my now family. I’ve also been to Israel and Germany. Israel was more of an academic trip through my high school's winter program and Germany was a short exchange student program to improve my German and to experience German culture. 

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
No, I’m really not all too familiar with Italian. The most I know is how to say Hello and Goodbye. I am taking an intensive Latin course before this trip though so hopefully knowing Latin may make learning Italian a little easier...

Who is your favorite mummy?
My favorite mummy is actually the 1,000 year old Buddhist monk mummy encased in a Buddhist statue. This mummy is actually the Chinese Buddhist monk Liuquan who researches believe may have practiced “self mummification” to prepare for life after death in the Buddhist tradition.

Student Spotlight: Meet Chase!

Chase Horn is an Anthropology major at UNL. He is a proud dad of his little cat, Kevin, and a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. (Don't worry, he does, of course, still love the Huskers.) He's also a big fan of superhero movies, especially those about Batman. We tracked Chase down to ask him about taking part in the UNL Mummy Studies Field School this summer.

Hey, Chase! How did you hear about our program?
I heard about this program through Karl; he visited a couple of classes I was in with Dr. Hammerl and talked to us about the trip. 

What made you interested in our program?
I thought it was a really cool opportunity. Traveling to Italy and getting to look at mummies... why wouldn't you want to go? 

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
I think that I am most looking forward to studying the mummies, but I'm also really excited about being immersed in an entirely different culture. 

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
I'm sure I'm not the only one, but the travel makes me a little nervous. I've never flown to Europe, or any other continent/country for that matter, so it should be an interesting experience.

What are your goals after you finish your undergraduate degree?
My goals are still being formed, but as of right now, I plan on going to graduate school and seeing where things go from there. 

Is this your first time out of the country?
I've only ever been to Canada and even then I was really young, so I don't remember too much. I've flown to Alaska before, which I know isn't a different country, but it was a very interesting trip. I've always wanted to go to Europe, so I am very excited to finally get to go.

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
I don't know any Italian words, but I think it will be interesting to learn some.

Who is your favorite mummy?
My favorite mummy is Ötzi the Iceman because of how cool his story is and how much we are able to learn about him from his frozen body.

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

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.

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 ).

Lots of New to Look Forward To: Gearing up for the 2017 MSFS

We are two months into 2017 and our preparations for this summer's Mummy Studies Field School are well underway! We will be adding new activities to this year's course along with some new faces. Pre-trip meetings have already begun here in Lincoln and before long, we will be introducing our visiting scholars and future students in spotlight posts. You will also be seeing reflections posts from last year's students, so be sure to check back with us now and again!

Last summer's MSFS saw some exciting trips to Palermo, Milazzo, and Piraino. This year, we will be adding a trip to Savoca, where we will encounter mummies of the late 1700s to discuss how mummies can be safely displayed and preserved.

This year's MSFS will devote a day to discussions of Egyptian animal and human mummies. This day's classes will be led by experts in the field, Dr. Lidija McKnight and Dr. Raffaella Bianucci. Dr. McKnight from the Manchester Museum in the UK specializes in animal mummies. Dr. Bianucci is a paleopathologist from the University of Turin, Italy. We are all looking forward to learning more about Egyptian mummies and comparing them to those we will be seeing in Sicily!

We are also excited to announce that we will be integrating a few new class activities. Students will be recreating ancient mummification recipes using local herbs and vinegars, monitoring insect activity in crypts, and examining the abiotic conditions that impact mummy preservation and curation. The day of discussing dietary reconstructions will also now feature a pollen interactive developed by Dr. Deb Meier.

All of these new additions will enrich this year's program and provide broader contexts for mummy studies, but don't worry, we will still be learning about the ethics of mummy studies, facial reconstruction, paleopathology, taphonomy, conservation, and curation just like last year's class. You can also look forward to spending lots of time in the crypts and churches of Santa Lucia del Mela, Piraino, Milazzo, and Palermo.

For those still interested in joining us in Sicily, deadlines for the field school have been extended! Please contact Dr. Karl J. Reinhard at kreinhard1@mac.com if you would like to know more!