Museums
When higher education institutions and museums work together, faculty, students and the general public all benefit.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
NC State and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences seek to work together to advance scientific scholarship in an interdisciplinary fashion. The two institutions are a natural fit, as NC State is a premier R1 university, and the museum is the largest institution of its kind in the Southeastern U.S. and the state’s most visited museum.
NC State also has many valuable museums and collections on its own campus that are valuable for interdisciplinary scholars. These include:
This museum is integral to the university’s research on biodiversity and evolution. It is used in insect diversity labs and butterfly exhibits that aid in teaching at local schools. The insect collection is important for science and the university because experts believe 80 to 95 of the world’s insects have not been collected, described, and named.
The NC State Herbarium is committed to research, teaching, and extension service, and is used by faculty, students and visiting scientists. The herbarium also serves monographic and floristic research at similar institutions around the world. The herbarium consists of about 125,000 specimens.
Larry F. Grand Mycological Herbarium
The Dr. Larry F. Grand Mycological Herbarium is housed in the Department of Plant Pathology. Collections are maintained in 3419 Gardner Hall (563 square feet) in ten herbarium cabinets. An additional five cabinets are planned in the near future. An adjacent room (3416 Gardner Hall) houses a research technician and the departmental imaging facility. This facility contains laptop and desktop computers, two research microscopes (a Nikon SMZ-U stereo zoom and a Nikon Eclipse E600 compound microscope with bright field, phase and interference microscopy). Each microscope is equipped with a digital camera with hook-ups to either a desktop or laptop computer. A light stand with a dedicated digital camera is also housed in this room.
The Gregg Museum of Art & Design
The Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NC State University is a vibrant hub for both the NC State community and the broader Triangle region, emphasizing the power of creativity, collaboration, and community engagement. The Gregg Museum curates engaging art exhibitions, thought-provoking programs, and public art installations across the campus, while offering enriching and accessible educational experiences for NC State students, faculty, staff, and the general public. Housed in the historic Chancellor’s House, the museum features modern galleries and a tranquil botanical garden at 1903 Hillsborough Street.
As a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration, the Gregg Museum integrates the arts with STEM-based research, sparking conversations, inspiring innovative ideas, nurturing future leaders in the museum field, and addressing real-world challenges through art-based solutions. This dynamic museum showcases regional artists, uplifts community stories, and presents a diverse range of works from its extensive collection. Highlights include significant pieces in textiles and apparel, ceramics, photography, Native American art, design and decorative arts, folk art, and works by self-taught artists.