Events

    2023 Sep 23

    Rat Embalming Workshop

    3:00pm to 4:00pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Learn about the history and art of specimen embalming, starting with the early work of Dutch anatomist Frederik Ruysch. Then prepare your own rat specimen in a glass jar using non-formalin preservative. You will leave with a tool set and your rat specimen which you will transfer safely into alcohol after three weeks, following the instructions provided. This class involves needles and syringes. PPE provided.

    This workshop is for adults (18+) only.

    Cost: $80 members; $90 nonmembers

    ...

    Read more about Rat Embalming Workshop
    2023 Sep 23

    Pinning and Learning: Caucasus Beetle

    1:00pm to 2:00pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Explore impressive insects by preparing and preserving a sustainably sourced caucasus beetle of your own. You will receive a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and your finished specimen to display at home. With newfound knowledge, explore the arthropod gallery to take in the subtle nuances of Earth’s invertebrate species.

    This workshop is for adults (18+) only. 

    Cost: $80 members; $90 nonmembers

    ...

    Read more about Pinning and Learning: Caucasus Beetle
    2023 Sep 23

    Pinning and Learning: Giant Soldier Ant

    11:00am to 12:00pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Explore impressive insects by preparing and preserving a sustainably sourced giant soldier ant of your own. You will receive a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and your finished specimen to display at home. With newfound knowledge, explore the arthropod gallery to take in all the subtle nuances of Earth’s invertebrate species.

    This is a fun and engaging activity that can be enjoyed by anyone. Students under 12 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who can work with them, at no additional charge. If the chaperone wishes to complete their own project, a second...

    Read more about Pinning and Learning: Giant Soldier Ant
    2023 Sep 23

    Pinning and Learning: Sky Blue Morpho Butterfly

    9:00am to 10:00am

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Explore impressive insects by preparing and preserving a sustainably sourced blue morpho butterfly of your own. You will receive a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and your finished specimen to display at home. With newfound knowledge, explore the arthropod gallery to take in the subtle nuances of Earth’s invertebrate species.

    This is a fun and engaging activity that can be enjoyed by anyone. Students under 12 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who can work with them, at no additional charge. If the chaperone wishes to complete their own project, a second...

    Read more about Pinning and Learning: Sky Blue Morpho Butterfly
    2022 Sep 25

    Pinning and Learning: Forest Scorpion

    3:30pm to 5:00pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Explore amazing arthropods from an evolutionary perspective with a hands-on look at an impressive species! Utilizing sustainably sourced specimens, students will learn about arthropod development and anatomy by preparing and preserving specimens of their own. Each student will get to keep a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and their own finished specimen to display at home. With newfound knowledge, students can explore the museum’s arthropod gallery to take in all of the subtle nuances of Earth's invertebrate species.

    These are fun and engaging...

    Read more about Pinning and Learning: Forest Scorpion
    2022 Sep 25

    Pinning and Learning: Giant Purple Grasshopper

    1:30pm to 3:00pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Explore amazing arthropods from an evolutionary perspective with a hands-on look at an impressive species! Utilizing sustainably sourced specimens, students will learn about arthropod development and anatomy by preparing and preserving specimens of their own. Each student will get to keep a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and their own finished specimen to display at home. With newfound knowledge, students can explore the museum’s arthropod gallery to take in all of the subtle nuances of Earth's invertebrate species.

    These are fun and engaging...

    Read more about Pinning and Learning: Giant Purple Grasshopper
    2022 Sep 25

    Pinning and Learning: Rhinoceros Beetles

    11:30am to 1:00pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Explore amazing arthropods from an evolutionary perspective with a hands-on look at an impressive species! Utilizing sustainably sourced specimens, students will learn about arthropod development and anatomy by preparing and preserving specimens of their own. Each student will get to keep a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and their own finished specimen to display at home. With newfound knowledge, students can explore the museum’s arthropod gallery to take in all of the subtle nuances of Earth's invertebrate species.

    These are fun and engaging...

    Read more about Pinning and Learning: Rhinoceros Beetles
    2022 Sep 25

    Pinning and Learning: Empress Cicadas

    9:30am to 11:00am

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Explore amazing arthropods from an evolutionary perspective with a hands-on look at an impressive species! Utilizing sustainably sourced specimens, students will learn about arthropod development and anatomy by preparing and preserving specimens of their own. Each student will get to keep a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and their own finished specimen to display at home. With newfound knowledge, students can explore the museum’s arthropod gallery to take in all of the subtle nuances of Earth's invertebrate species.

    These are fun and engaging...

    Read more about Pinning and Learning: Empress Cicadas
    2022 Sep 20

    Preserving Plant Diversity

    10:00am to 12:00pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

    Join an exploration of plant diversity and an introduction to methods of plant preservation. Using plant cuttings brought from home, carefully observe and compare morphological characteristics, discuss why they may have been favored over evolutionary time, and learn how to press specimens for scientific study. Following the workshop, the group will tour the Harvard University Herbaria to learn about the importance of preserved specimens and to see how scientists use them for scientific research.

    Cost: $54 members / $60 nonmembers

    Presented...

    Read more about Preserving Plant Diversity
    2021 Oct 23

    The Art and Science of Frogs

    10:30am to 12:30pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museums of Science & Culture—Online

    Explore the rich diversity of frogs by observing and sketching 3D models printed from Harvard’s research collections. Artist and educator, Erica Beade, will introduce techniques for achieving accurate shapes and capturing volume in your drawings, while herpetologist and researcher, Dr. Mara Laslo, will explain how evolution has generated their amazing diversity. Groups will be limited to twelve, allowing ample time for questions and discussion.

    Cost: $40 for members, $45 for nonmembers.

    ...

    Read more about The Art and Science of Frogs
    2021 Aug 02

    Virtual Summer Science Week: Spineless Wonders (Session 2)

    Repeats every day until Fri Aug 06 2021 .
    9:30am

    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History—Online

    Dates: August 2–6

    Children entering grades 1–4

    • Grades 1–2 meet 9:30–10:30 am
    • Grades 3–4 meet 11:00 am–12:00 pm

    Fees: $63 members/$70 nonmembers

    Instructor: Javier Marin

    Come explore—virtually—the amazing world of insects, spiders, and other invertebrates at the museum! During live Zoom sessions, see a tarantula up close, help find millipedes, and listen to the hiss of a giant...

    Read more about Virtual Summer Science Week: Spineless Wonders (Session 2)
    2021 Jul 26

    Virtual Summer Science Week: Earth Explorers (Session 2)

    Repeats every day until Fri Jul 30 2021 .
    9:30am

    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History—Online

    Dates: July 26–30, 2021

    Children entering grades 1-4

    • Grades 1-2 meet 9:30am–10:30am
    • Grades 3-4 meet 11:00am–12:00pm

    Fees: $72 members/$80 nonmembers (includes a small packet of special materials mailed to your home).

    Instructor: Arielle Moon

    Dig into earth science with this virtual museum experience. Explore volcanoes, crystals, and fossils! During the live, small-group Zoom sessions, experiment with “lava,” solve a sandy mystery, and...

    Read more about Virtual Summer Science Week: Earth Explorers (Session 2)
    2021 Jul 19

    Summer Science Week: All Together Now—Exploring Ecology

    Repeats every day until Fri Jul 23 2021 .
    9:30am

    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History—Online

    Dates: July 19–23

    For children entering grades 3-6

    • Grades 3-4 meet 9:30am–10:30am
    • Grades 5-6 meet 11:00am–12:00 pm

    Fees: $63 members/$70 nonmembers

    Instructor: Javier Marin

    Join us as we explore the relationships between living things and the places they live, virtually! During these live, small-group Zoom sessions, learn about how animals, plants and their environments are...

    Read more about Summer Science Week: All Together Now—Exploring Ecology
    2021 Jul 12

    Virtual Summer Science Week: Earth Explorers (Session 1)

    Repeats every day until Fri Jul 16 2021 .
    9:30am

    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History—Online

    Dates: July 12–16

    Children entering grades 1-4

    • Grades 1-2 meet 9:30am–10:30am
    • Grades 3-4 meet 11:00am–12:00pm

    Fees: $72 members/$80 nonmembers (includes a small packet of special materials mailed to your home).

    Instructor: Arielle Moon

    Dig into earth science with this virtual museum experience. Explore volcanoes, crystals, and fossils! During the live, small-group Zoom sessions, experiment with “lava...

    Read more about Virtual Summer Science Week: Earth Explorers (Session 1)
    2021 Jun 28

    Virtual Summer Science Week: Spineless Wonders (Session 1)

    Repeats every day until Fri Jul 02 2021 .
    9:30am

    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History—Online

    Come explore—virtually—the amazing world of insects, spiders, and other invertebrates at the museum! During live Zoom sessions, see a tarantula up close, help find millipedes, and listen to the hiss of a giant cockroach. Learn how to continue your own investigations at home by collecting and studying creepy crawlies. Gain a new appreciation of the 97 percent of all animals on Earth that survive and thrive without a backbone!

    Dates: June 28–July 2, 2021
    Open to children entering grades 1–4:

    • Grades 1–2 meet 9:...
    Read more about Virtual Summer Science Week: Spineless Wonders (Session 1)
    2021 Mar 15

    Members: Not on Display! Treasures of the Mineralogical & Geological Museum

    6:00pm to 7:00pm

    Location: 

    Harvard Museum of Natural History—Online

    Visitors to the Harvard Museum of Natural History are dazzled by the Mineral Gallery’s beautiful specimens, yet the gallery displays only a fraction of the entire collection.

    While each of the collection’s 300,000+ specimens has great scientific value, a subset also has significant commercial value. Join Curator Raquel Alonso-Perez for a virtual behind the-scenes visit to view specimens that, for security reasons, are not typically on display. You’ll see a rare opal in matrix from Mexico, tourmalines from the first pegmatitic discovery in the U.S., and crystalline gold, among...

    Read more about Members: Not on Display! Treasures of the Mineralogical & Geological Museum
    2021 Mar 02

    Members: Discover Oceania with Ingrid Ahlgren

    6:00pm to 7:00pm

    Location: 

    Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology—Online

    Join us for a casual evening of conversation with the Peabody Museum’s Curator of Oceanic Collections. Ingrid Ahlgren stewards one of the largest and most historically significant collections in the U.S. from the Pacific Islands, Australia, and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Hear her share some of her recent work, including the exhibit Uncovering Pacific Pasts and the important roles that Harvard University and the state of Massachusetts have played in the history of Oceania. Ingrid will also discuss her upcoming collaboration with Pacific Islanders living in Utah.

    ...

    Read more about Members: Discover Oceania with Ingrid Ahlgren
    2020 Dec 14

    Members: Digging Harvard with Trish Capone & Nam Hyun Kim

    6:00pm to 7:00pm

    Location: 

    Online Event

    Students have been digging up and learning about Harvard's past through the Harvard Yard Archaeological Project. Meet the Peabody's Trish Capone and current Harvard student Nam Hyun Kim as they talk about the objects they have found and the larger history of what has been uncovered in this long-standing dig on campus.

     

    To register, send an email to members@hmsc.harvard.edu. If possible, please include your member number. A...

    Read more about Members: Digging Harvard with Trish Capone & Nam Hyun Kim
    2020 Aug 17

    Virtual Summer Science Week: Ins & Outs of Skeletons (Session 2)

    Repeats every day until Fri Aug 21 2020 .
    9:30am

    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am

    Location: 

    Online via Zoom

    Investigate the ins and outs of skeletons through a virtual museum experience. Using observations of skulls, bones, and live animals, we will explore how animals use their skeletons for support, protection, and movement, and see how bones and fossils can help us solve ancient mysteries. Extend the fun at home with daily activities. A small packet of materials will be sent to your home upon registration.

    Additional supplies needed: Thin cardboard-like poster board about 11" x 11" or two cardboard paper towel rolls, kitchen string, strong tape 3/4" wide or narrower (electrical...

    Read more about Virtual Summer Science Week: Ins & Outs of Skeletons (Session 2)
    2020 Aug 03

    Virtual Summer Science Week: Spineless Wonders (Session 2)

    Repeats every day until Fri Aug 07 2020 .
    9:30am

    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am
    9:30am

    Location: 

    Online via Zoom

    Come explore the amazing world of insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, virtually, at the museum! During the live Zoom sessions, see a tarantula up close, help find millipedes, and listen to the hiss of a giant cockroach. Complete your own investigations at home as you learn how to collect and study creepy crawlies. A small packet of special collecting materials will be sent to your home to help with your discoveries.

    Additional supplies needed: An empty clear plastic jar with a lid and holes for insect collecting (for example, a cleaned peanut butter or mayonnaise jar);...

    Read more about Virtual Summer Science Week: Spineless Wonders (Session 2)

Pages