Anette On Education

There's Always More to Learn--Dr. Aaron Pan--Museum of Texas Tech University

Episode Summary

Anette visits with her friend, Dr. Aaron Pan, Executive Director of the Museum of Texas Tech University and Associate Professor in Practice, Museum of Texas Tech University. With a focus on lifelong learning, Aaron discusses areas of interest from paleobotany to kleptoparasitic bees, and all things museum-related as well. Dr. Pan received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Creative Studies – Biology Emphasis with high honors from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2002 and his Doctor of Philosophy in Geology – Paleobotany Emphasis from the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 2007. Dr. Pan served as the Curator of Science at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History from 2008 – 2012 and as the Executive Director of the Don Harrington Discovery Center in Amarillo, Texas from 2012 – 2020. Dr. Pan joined the Museum of Texas Tech University as its executive director in May 2020. Dr. Pan actively conducts research in paleobotany, entomology, and malacology and publishes scientific articles on prehistoric African forest plants, abalone systematics, velvet ant mimicry and evolution, and the ecology, behavior, and conservation of native bees. Pan is also a research associate at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas(B.R.I.T.) in Fort Worth (BRIT), serves on the Texas Tech University Black Cultural Center’s Advisory Committee, Texas Tech Public Media Community Advisory Board, and Board of Trustees of Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch.

Episode Notes

Anette visits with her friend, Dr. Aaron Pan, Executive Director of the Museum of Texas Tech University and Associate Professor in Practice, Museum of Texas Tech University. With a focus on lifelong learning, Aaron discusses areas of interest from paleobotany to kleptoparasitic bees, and all things museum-related as well.

Dr. Pan received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Creative Studies – Biology Emphasis with high honors from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2002 and his Doctor of Philosophy in Geology – Paleobotany Emphasis from the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 2007. Dr. Pan served as the Curator of Science at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History from 2008 – 2012 and as the Executive Director of the Don Harrington Discovery Center in Amarillo, Texas from 2012 – 2020. Dr. Pan joined the Museum of Texas Tech University as its executive director in May 2020. Dr. Pan actively conducts research in paleobotany, entomology, and malacology and publishes scientific articles on prehistoric African forest plants, abalone systematics, velvet ant mimicry and evolution, and the ecology, behavior, and conservation of native bees. Pan is also a research associate at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas(B.R.I.T.) in Fort Worth (BRIT), serves on the Texas Tech University Black Cultural Center’s Advisory Committee, Texas Tech Public Media Community Advisory Board, and Board of Trustees of Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch.