SHyNE REU Students Explore Science Beyond the Lab During Field Trip to MSI

On July 11, 2025, students in the SHyNE Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, joined by peers from Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), program administrators, and technical leads, took a break from their research to explore the interactive exhibits at Chicago’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (MSI).

The trip was the perfect opportunity for the students to engage with science and connect with one another outside the lab. Highlights included The Blue Paradox, an immersive underwater experience that brings attention to the global crisis of plastic pollution, and Science Storms, an expansive exhibit that allows visitors to witness and experiment with natural phenomena such as lightning, fire, tornadoes, and avalanches.

The visit was a great mix of education and fun, and a chance to get off campus for the day and explore Chicago!