Bell Museum

**Who We Are** Inspire, explore, create We are Minnesota’s official natural history museum, established by the legislature in 1872 and held in trust by the University of Minnesota. For over a century, the museum has preserved and interpreted our state’s rich natural history and served learners of all ages. Additionally, our scientific collections contain over one million specimens, representing every county in Minnesota and various locales around the globe. **Mission** The Bell ignites and sustains curiosity for nature and the universe. **Vision** The Bell envisions a hopeful future where all are inspired by nature and empowered by science. **Values** **Wonder.** We nourish a lifelong love for nature and the sciences through interactivity, discovery, awe-inspiring experiences, and the arts and humanities. ****Inquiry**** We embrace deeper understanding of the world through research, collections, and broad collaborations. ****Engagement**** We empower people to connect with Minnesota’s unique place in the world by making science meaningful, relevant, and accessible. **Guiding Principles** **Collaboration.** We value our visitors, partners, and the experiences we create together, which enrich and extend our learning and service. ****Sustainability**** We consider our impact to future generations as we make decisions for today. ****Inclusion**** We seek to transform the role of science and museums to connect with communities of all identities, especially those that have been historically excluded and sidelined. ****Integrity**** We strive for excellence in all that we do, guided by honesty, transparency, and accountability. **Diversity & Inclusion** We believe it is essential to create an environment that welcomes and empowers people from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities to have equitable access to the museum’s resources as well as opportunities to transform our work. We are committed to upholding the diversity, equity, and inclusion definitions and values set forth by the [College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences](https://www.cfans.umn.edu/about/diversity/diversity-statement) and the [University of Minnesota](https://oed.dl.umn.edu/mission-vision-values). These values will be integrated in all aspects of the museum, including: - Hiring, recruitment, retention, and advancement of staff and volunteers - Selection and evaluation of program and exhibition content - Providing meaningful opportunities to participate in planning and leadership