The University of Iowa chose the Hygienic Laboratory’s Ambient Air Quality section - which provides support to the state’s ambient air monitoring program for the Iowa Department of Resources - to be part of its Mobile Museum for the 2016 museum on wheels. Since 2014, the Mobile Museum has traveled to 58 Iowa counties and attracted more than 67,000 visitors to its interactive displays of university programs.

Robyn Miessler-Kubanek stands by the Hygienic Laboratory’s 2015 display in the University of Iowa Mobile Museum. Miessler-Kubanek wrote and designed the interactive display with J.C. Gillett, UI manager of the Mobile Museum and members of the Hygienic Laboratory staff. Development of the display is her master’s capstone project for the UI School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The museum is a partnership between the UI Vice President for Research and Economic Development (OVPR&ED), the Office of the State Archaeologist, the UI Museum of Natural History and the Old Capitol Museum. There is no charge to visit the museum, and requests can be made for it to visit Iowa events and schools through the OVPR&ED Dare to Discover website.

Other university themes and departments chosen for the museum include three new physical exhibits: innovations in renewable energy resources, advancement of medical practices by members of the UI Health Care Team and understanding Iowa’s German heritage.

This is the second year that a Hygienic Lab interactive display was featured as part of the Mobile Museum. Last year’s display focused on all divisions of the lab. The display is in development and will be ready for visitors when the museum hits the road on April 1.