In early December, Daniela Popescu, M.D., Ph.D., gave students in her anatomy and physiology class an extraordinary opportunity to observe real anatomical structures and bones up close.
Photos courtesy of Kent State University at Geauga and Twinsburg Academic Center
Popescu is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State University at Geauga and Twinsburg Academic Center. She traveled with her class to see the “Mummies of the World: The Exhibition” at The Corner Gallery in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square. The exhibition, now in its final weeks, features both naturally and intentionally preserved mummified humans and animals from around the world, including Europe, South America and ancient Egypt. There is even a “modern” human mummy, that was created 30 years ago by a team of scientists from the University of Maryland.
Exceptional Experiential Learning
The class was excited to see the view the bodies and artifacts on display. The students also saw a group of medical mummies in the exhibition that were used to teach anatomy to medical students in the late and early 19th century. They were created in Scotland by renowned Scottish anatomist Allan Burns and later sold to the University of Maryland. Viewing these teaching models and the other mummies in the exhibition was particularly valuable to these students as they are currently studying bones and muscles.
Next semester, the class will learn about the cardiovascular system, so this strategic excursion provided insights that will help them in the current semester and in the spring.
This trip was made possible with financial support by Kent State’s Division of Research and Economic Development and the University Research Council. Experiential learning, combined with classroom instruction is an essential part of all of Kent State’s academic programs. Relevant, hands-on experiences help students acquire the skills and knowledge they need for success in their careers.
