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The Discovery is proud to have so many enthusiastic staff members to help inspire learners of every age. When it comes to keeping the energy in the museum at an all-time high, Jim Harvey is a prime example.
Jim began his role as a Museum Educator at The Discovery a year and a half ago. Knowing he was fond of both science and interacting with people, he figured it was the perfect fit. Before The Discovery, Jim worked as a fisheries biologist for various federal government agencies. This work focused on research and management of federally threatened and endangered aquatic species in western states. Jim’s proudest achievement during this time was helping save a fish from extinction, one that was numbered below 25 individuals. Jim has spent most of his life living in the Reno-Sparks area, graduating from Sparks High School, and eventually completing multiple degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Being a Museum Educator, one of Jim’s roles is performing fun, interactive science demonstrations for museum visitors. Whether it’s explaining Bernoulli’s Principle using a hair dryer and a ping pong ball, or creating a toroidal vortex using a fog machine and a really large trash can, if Jim is leading a demo, you can count on visitors’ faces lighting up with enthusiasm!
“My favorite part of my job is being able to engage with kids and make their visits memorable.”
When it comes to the future of The Discovery, Jim hopes to see continued hosting of featured exhibitions like Survival of the Slowest and Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants, as well as expanding the museum’s outreach program to provide fun, science-based learning experiences to underserved communities throughout northern Nevada.
The Discovery is extremely grateful to staff members like Jim who so thoroughly enjoy spreading the joy of science to people of all ages. If you ever find yourself at the museum during one of his exciting science demonstrations, be sure to check it out for yourself!