Every logo tells a story, and Inside Out’s happens to be a story about a little green frog named Morris. You see, Morris isn’t just a mascot, he’s also on a heroic mission. Just like Clark Kent becoming Superman, Morris shows the humanity behind the dissected specimen, opening his chest to reveal a giant, bright red heart. This frog is more than just a logo; he represents the power of humane dissection alternatives and the love behind Inside Out’s mission of saving the planet, one specimen at a time. His wide open heart is a symbol of compassion, showing that science can be both educational and kind.
Why Morris?
Inside Out’s frog is named Morris – my dad’s middle name – and was chosen to honor his memory and legacy. My dad was a crazy guy – a daredevil (see pic above), a damn good mechanic, and a wealth of weird and wonderful knowledge – a true force of nature. He also had this lifelong fascination with animals – especially dogs – and he would watch hours upon hours of Animal Planet into the wee hours of the night. He loved learning how animals “worked” and loved sharing stories with me about anything he learned – how hummingbirds are the only birds to fly backwards or that turtles breathe through their butts during winter (his favorite one to tell). When I became a biologist, Dad was my biggest cheerleader. When I started Getting Nerdy and began making dissection models, he was blown away by how I designed them – I got my engineering skills from him (just check out that rail buggy he built from scratch in the header picture of this blog post). When I started this new adventure with Inside Out, naming the frog Morris was my way of weaving dad’s memory into every piece of my work. It’s a constant reminder that his curiosity and encouragement will always fuel the heart of Inside Out Science.
Long before dad passed, he told me that he wanted me to make a horseshoe crab model in memory of his childhood, growing up on the Outer Banks. That request has stayed with me and remains on my list of models to create. It’s more than a project to complete – it’s a promise to my favorite person.
From Getting Nerdy to Inside Out Science
Inside Out Science is the next chapter in my journey as a science educator. Many of you may know me from my adventures as co-creator of Getting Nerdy with Mel and Gerdy, where I poured my energy into creating engaging, hands-on classroom life science resources. Inside Out Science builds on that same passion but with a new perspective – focusing on 3-D paper dissection models, known as Scienstructables™, and humane alternatives that place compassion and curiosity at the center of the mission. It’s my way of honoring where I’ve been while continuing to grow, innovate, and share the joy of science in fresh and meaningful ways.
More than a Mascot: Morris’s Big-Hearted Mission
So when you see Morris the Frog proudly opening his chest to reveal his heart, know that he’s not just a quirky logo. He’s a hero, a champion of animals, a teacher, and a tribute – showing the world that science can be hands-on, meaningful, and humane, while also carrying the legacy of a person who believed in the beauty of learning how life works.
