UMNH Statements of Mission, Vision and Ethics
UMNH Mission Statement
The Utah Museum of Natural History illuminates the natural world and the place of humans within it.
As Utah's state museum of natural history at the University of Utah, we:
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Foster an understanding of science as a journey of discovery and wonder.
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Promote the preservation of biological and cultural diversity.
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Preserve collections in trust for future generations.
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Encourage new perspectives on and inspire passion for the natural world.
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Celebrate Utah's native peoples and cultures.
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Showcase Utah's unique and extraordinary environments.
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Create knowledge through innovative research.
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Demonstrate the myriad links connecting the past, present and future.
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Transcend scientific disciplines to reveal the networks inherent in nature.
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Serve as a center for science literacy, acting as a bridge between the scientific community and the public.
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Empower people to make thoughtful decisions about the future.
We recognize that museums, including this Museum, enjoy a high degree of public trust. To maintain that confidence, we must act with integrity, prudence, intellectual honesty, foresight and appropriate transparency, in the best interests of the collections and other resources we hold in trust and of the diverse publics we serve. To that end, by clarifying ethical responsibilities within a Statement of Ethics, we expect to develop a better understanding of the mission and basic ethical responsibilities of the Museum among everyone who works at the UMNH or has a close affiliation with it.
UMNH Statement of Ethics
Utah Museum of Natural History and Evolution
The Utah Museum of Natural History is an institution of science. As such, we accept the theory of evolution, which the unifying concept of all biological sciences. While there remains ongoing lively debate about the processes of evolutionary change -- that is, how evolution occurs -- the overwhelming majority of biologists fully endorse the idea that all organisms on earth share a common ancestry and that life's unfolding has encompassed billions of years of time. Like gravity, evolution is one of the cornerstones of modern science, and it represents one of the key themes of our institutional mission.
Utah Museum of Natural History and Sustainability
The mission of the Utah Museum of Natural History is to illuminate the natural world and the place of humans within it. The work of the Museum is based on several fundamental concepts: evolution; ecology; diversity; and, now, sustainability. Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission, United Nations, 1987).
The Museum is a scientific institution, and as such, its work is based on fact established through the scientific method. Museum scientists study the past in order to understand pattern and process, with the belief that this knowledge provides a basis for people to make informed decisions that affect the future. The philosophy of sustainability is a fundamental framework for evaluating such choices.
Through its exhibits and programs, the Museum will provide opportunities for students and visitors to gain an understanding of the current knowledge of pattern and process, understand their interactions with the natural world, and provide a sustainability framework for decision-making. The Museum also will teach by example, demonstrating the sustainable choices we make in our capital project as well as in our operations.
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