This past weekend I went with my son to watch the new Star Trek movie. When I first saw the TV series in the 70s, I was scared by the fantastical beings from other worlds and the idea that there was a much bigger universe than my small experience shed light on. The reality of space travel was still relatively new—man had only recently taken that brave first step on the moon. As I understand it, the Starfleet has a three-part mission of scientific understanding, diplomacy among different nations and protection of the United Federation of Planets. The movie seems to focus most on the protection part. Through the USS Enterprise’s adventures, we learn a bit about the personality and work of each of the Starfleet officers. When they are done fighting to save the universe, perhaps we will hear more about their scientific studies and how they communicate with others to learn about their ways of life, but then that might not be as big a box office draw as battling evil in multiple time dimensions.

In this new blog, we share the different jobs and research projects of the museum. Who are the people who keep our Starfleet in orbit (albeit earthbound)? What interesting projects and new discoveries are they working on? We will also look at some of the evidence the museum’s collection holds that sheds light on life on earth. I don’t think we are fighting intergalactic battles, but we do fight for preservation of cultural heritage and the ability to share its importance with the public.

Join me on this virtual voyage of discovery and learn about Arizona State Museum. Leave a question and I will try to seek an answer. This is the space to get to know us. Ever wonder what all the people working at ASM do? Curious about how an object is conserved to last into the next century? Want to know how an artifact got into the collection? Dying to know what treasures we hold, and why one might be a favorite of a staff member? Let’s find out.

I will serve as your navigator. At times I will write, and other times I will pass the keyboard to a colleague. So check back in and get to know our Starfleet staff, our search for understanding and our ways of disseminating the knowledge.

Lisa Falk is Director of Education at the Arizona State Museum. Like the daring Captain Kirk, she often has to think out of the box to create programs that make a difference. And while no one is trying to blow up her beloved planet earth, cultures and the environments that sustain them are in danger all over the planet. The mission of the Arizona State Museum, an anthropology museum, is to promote understanding of and respect for the peoples and cultures of Arizona and surrounding regions. Our challenge is to share our collections and knowledge so you will join us in valuing and preserving culture. Hop on board.