Series Highlighting Scientists Who Have Broken Cultural Barriers Opens at the Field
Left: Mural of Lynika Strozier, artwork by Jesse Navarrete © Field Museum Right: In 2018, Lynika joined SAIC as a BioArt Lab Coordinator © School of Art Institute of Chicago
This August, the Field Museum is launching a new exhibition series, The Changing Face of Science. The series will highlight the work of scientists and science educators who are women and/or people of color, along with their passion for advancing knowledge of life on Earth. The first exhibition in the series will highlight Lynika Strozier, a scientist who worked in the Field Museum’s DNA lab who passed away due to COVID-19.
“With this series, our goal is to expand one's understanding about the field of science and who a scientist can be,” says Katie Arnold, Project Manager at the Field Museum, “In this show featuring Lynika Strozier, visitors should expect to learn more about who Lynika was – both as a person and as a professional DNA scientist and educator. Our hope is that guests will understand how vibrant she was, especially given the significant challenges she faced, and walk away inspired by her story.”
The exhibition will introduce visitors to Lynika, who was a Black woman, a Chicagoan, a person with a learning disability, an educator, and a scientist. Despite facing challenges, Lynika made a difference in people’s lives while also leaving a mark on the Field Museum. Lynika joined the Museum as an intern in 2009 and had many roles, including a researcher in the Field’s DNA lab and a mentor for students and interns. Besides being a great scientist, people remembered her for the great person she was. Visitors to the exhibit can see some of Lynika’s personal items including the birds, ants, and lichen specimen she worked on, personal lab equipment, and lab tutorial videos featuring Lynika.
"'Nika was something else. I'm so proud of her for representing our family and getting the chance to tell her story,” says Sharon Strozier Wright, Lynika’s grandmother, “And this exhibition helps other kids get into science? That's even better."
Highlighting women and/or people of color in the science community is important in creating equal opportunities for current and future generations. Changing Face of Science aims to support pre-teens and teenagers who are interested in science by creating a space of inspiring stories of scientists and their accomplishments.
The Changing Face of Science: Lynika Strozier opens on August 26th, 2022. The exhibition is included in general admission, so on Free Admission Days, visitors can see it at no cost. See the full free admission day schedule on our website.
More information on The Changing Face of Science can be found on our website. Digital press kit and images are available in the toolkit. For more information, contact press@fieldmuseum.org.