From Museums to Aviation: How WIRE Helped Piper Explore Her Dreams

Photo courtesy of Piper Hanson. This was taken during her study abroad year on a trip to Osaka, with Osaka Castle in the background.

This week we’re continuing our spotlight on WIRE (Wilkinson Interterm Research Experience) and the incredible ways undergraduate students are using this opportunity to explore and share their research. One of the most exciting parts of WIRE is how open-ended it is, students truly have the freedom to dive into topics they’re passionate about. Today, we’re introducing one of our incredible seniors, Piper Hanson ’26.

Piper is a History major and Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) minor who has explored everything from World War II to aviation to museums, and she’s found a way to combine those interests into research that reflects her passion for history and storytelling.

Museums have long been a central interest for Piper. Through her CCI coursework, she began to see how museums fit within the broader creative and cultural industries while also gaining valuable professional experience. One assignment even helped her connect directly with someone working in the field.

“For my CCI 303 Cultural Organization Management class, we had to reach out to someone in our field to interview. I was lucky enough to speak with a curator at the Smithsonian, which was an incredible networking opportunity.”

Experiences like this helped Piper see how CCI could support her long-term goals in the museum world.

Photo courtesy of Piper Hanson. She is in a WWII-era plane at the Palm Springs Air Museum, where she volunteers.

Her interest in history has also taken her beyond the classroom. While studying abroad in Tokyo, Piper had the opportunity to experience firsthand the places connected to the historical events she studies.

“I focus on World War II, especially the Pacific War, so visiting Japan was really meaningful. It was exciting to see places connected to the history I study.”

Piper first learned about the WIRE program from graduating seniors who participated the year before. Inspired by their experiences, she applied and was thrilled to be selected. Her project ultimately explored a fascinating topic: how aviation museums sometimes glorify technology and why providing deeper historical context is important when displaying artifacts connected to war.

What led you to your specific research project, and what was it about?

PH: My project was titled “Historic Aerospace Conservation and Restoration: Ethics and Interpretation of Preserving Technological Material Culture.” Since museums are something I’m really passionate about, I knew right away that I wanted my research to focus on museum practices. One of the best parts of WIRE is that you get to choose your faculty mentor. I reached out to Professor Amy Bono in the Art History department because she has experience in museum studies. Even though aviation museums aren’t her main specialty, she was really interested in my topic and helped me explore the theoretical side of museum work, which was something I don’t get much exposure to in my History major.

Photo courtesy of Piper Hanson. This is her at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, where she works part-time.

Originally, I wanted to study how aviation museums decide whether to conserve or restore historic aircraft, and how those decisions shape the way visitors interpret these artifacts. I had planned to interview museum professionals, but when my IRB approval didn’t come through in time, I had to shift the direction of my research. That change actually led me to a really interesting question: how aviation museums present these technologies in the first place. I ended up focusing on how aircraft, especially those used in wartime, are often displayed as impressive technological achievements, sometimes without enough historical context about their real-world impact. For my research, I looked closely at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., as well as an aviation museum in Palm Springs that still flies historic aircraft. My project explored how adding deeper historical context to these displays could help museums present aviation technology in a more balanced and thoughtful way.

What first sparked your interest in aviation and aviation history?

PH: It’s something I’ve been curious about for a long time. My grandfather was in the Air Force, so growing up I would hear a lot of stories about his experiences. Those stories definitely sparked my interest early on. Even as a kid, whenever my family went on trips I would get excited just to go to the airport. I’ve always loved airplanes and everything about aviation. When I started taking history classes at Chapman, I realized I needed to think about what I wanted to focus on for my senior thesis. Since I was already really interested in aviation and also loved studying World War II, it felt natural to combine those interests. There’s a lot of overlap between aviation and the history of the war, so it ended up becoming the perfect area for me to explore more deeply.

You completed this entire project in just four weeks. Why do you think undergraduate research opportunities like WIRE are important for students?

PH: Undergraduate research is such a valuable way for students to figure out what they really want to do in the long term. I already had a general idea of my career path, but this project helped me understand more deeply why I love what I do and why I want to pursue it. It’s also a chance to dive into a passion in a way that you don’t usually get to in general education or major classes. Sometimes those classes leave less room for creative freedom. With this project, it was completely student-driven. You work with a mentor, but beyond their guidance, the project is entirely your own design. That kind of freedom makes it feel like a real passion project.

Photo courtesy of the Office of Wilkinson. Piper Hanson presents her research project, Historic Aerospace Conservation and Restoration: Ethics and Interpretation of Preserving Technological Material Culture, which examines aviation history and the ways museums interpret and sometimes glorify technological achievements.

Lastly, what would you say is the advantage of completing a research project in just four weeks?

PH: The short timeline actually keeps you really focused. There’s no time to lose momentum or get bored, which can happen with longer projects. It can definitely feel intense at times, but that concentrated schedule keeps you on track and fully engaged. I think with semester-long projects, it’s easy to get distracted or lose energy, so I really appreciated how this format pushed me to stay committed from start to finish.

Through WIRE, Piper had the opportunity to fully pursue a passion project while exploring the broader world of creative industries. Her experience in CCI helped her discover what truly interests her and expanded her understanding of what counts as a creative or cultural industry, museums, for example, became a central focus she might not have considered before.

Photo courtesy of Piper Hanson. This was also during her study abroad outing at Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo, famous for its lucky cats!

Piper’s story speaks for itself. From becoming president of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, where she has helped foster a community of students dedicated to historical scholarship, to working on her thesis exploring aviation during World War II and the women who broke barriers in the field, Piper has fully embraced the opportunities available to her. Beyond the classroom, CCI and WIRE have provided her with valuable professional preparation. Through the program’s networking opportunities, she has connected with experts in the field and built relationships that will support her as she moves toward graduate school and her goal of working at the Smithsonian. With hands-on research experience and exposure to a broader creative and academic landscape, Piper is well on her way to achieving her dream of becoming a curator. Her story is just one example of how WIRE empowers students to explore their passions and take meaningful steps toward their future careers. If you have a WIRE or other research project story to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at erosas@chapman.edu