The Bell Museum at the University of Minnesota, which serves as the state’s official natural history museum, has been honored with the Impact Goals Award from the Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS).
The museum was recognized for Solution Studio, a recurring makerspace that showcases current science from the University of Minnesota and the researchers who conduct it. The space invites the public in to create, explore, and think about a wide variety of research topics including space exploration and animal behavior. Thousands of visitors have experienced Solution Studio during the four summers it’s taken place (2018, 2019, 2023, 2024).
“I’m thrilled that our team’s innovative and creative work has been nationally recognized with the ARIS Impact Goals Award,” said Bell Museum Executive Director Holly Menninger. “Since 2018, the Solution Studio has had significant and meaningful impact on tens of thousands museum visitors including K-12 students, engaging them in hands-on STEM learning, creative activities, and problem solving. We’re excited that our peers consider it an innovative and novel approach for advancing research impacts in society.”
Menninger and other university officials will accept the award at the upcoming 2025 ARIS Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
ARIS provides resources and opportunities to bring together communities and researchers for positive societal impact. With more than 1,800 members from around the world, ARIS is the largest societal impact community in the U.S. It was originally established as the National Alliance for Broader Impacts in 2014 and reorganized as ARIS in 2018.
Additional Information:
- ARIS, “ARIS Announces 2025 Award Recipients,” March 20, 2025.
- ARIS, “Awards: 2025 Awards Recipients: Solution Studio, Bell Museum.”
- Bell Museum, “The Bell Museum Receives 2025 ARIS Impact Goals Award.”