MSU’s Merrett connects students to aviation history through innovative museum collaboration across US
Contact: Camille Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Craig Merrett, a Mississippi State associate professor of aerospace engineering, is spearheading a current initiative to bridge the gap between aerospace education and the rich history preserved in aviation museums across North America.
Five years ago, to mark the 75th anniversary of World War II’s end, Merrett contacted dozens of museums across the U.S. and Canada, asking them to allow students to analyze information and details about the WWII-era aircraft from their collections.
“They were able to dive deep into the structural details of these historic aircraft, creating CAD drawings, renderings and technical reports the museums can then use to update their displays and archives,” Merrett said of the initiative’s first year. “The project evolved to include a personal connection, with students learning about the individuals associated with each aircraft.”
In the project’s second year, students researched and presented on underrepresented minority pilots and engineers integral to developing these iconic planes.
“This project is incredibly valuable for our students, allowing them to apply their aerospace engineering knowledge to real-world artifacts while also exploring the human stories behind these historic vehicles,” Merrett said. “It’s equally rewarding for the museums, who have gained new content and educational resources to share with their visitors.”
Since the project’s inception, about two dozen museums have participated, including the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the National Air and Space Museum, the Air Force Flight Test Museum, the National Naval Aviation Museum and the National Air Force Museum of Canada. Merrett’s long-term goal is to expand the network of participating museums, with representation from every U.S. state. Additionally, he seeks funding to enable student field trips to the museums, where they can conduct hands-on research and interact directly with museum staff and archives.
The MSU Department of Aerospace Engineering is online at www.ae.msstate.edu and can be found on Facebook.
The Bagley College of Engineering is online at www.bagley.msstate.edu and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube at @msuengineering.
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