KU Natural History Museum announces spring programming

LAWRENCE — The KU Natural History Museum has a full lineup of science-themed public events this spring for both youth and adults. Programs will cover a range of topics, including STEM activities related to legendary scientists and their discoveries, as well as public presentations on digitizing natural history collections and paleontology fieldwork in Turkey.  

In honor of Charles Darwin’s birthday and Valentine’s Day, the museum will host Darwin Day: Valentine’s Edition on Feb. 14. The drop-in event will feature activities and learning stations throughout the galleries from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Visitors can learn about Darwin’s life and explore the wild world of animal courtship, mating and reproduction.  

Other family-friendly events include searching for natural examples of Pi (π) throughout the exhibits using a special gallery guide from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 14 in celebration of Pi Day. Later in the month, the public is invited to the museum for the fifth annual Celebration of Women in Science from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28. Visitors can meet scientists from KU and beyond, learn about scientific techniques, view specimens and try hands-on experiments at exploration stations throughout the museum.  

Science on Tap, a long-running public program in partnership with Free State Brewing Co., returns Feb. 25 with “Generating Digital Collections to Explore Neotropical Beetles,” presented by Samanta Orellana, postdoctoral researcher in the Division of Entomology at the KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum. The program series features an informal research presentation in the brewery’s beer hall,  followed by a question-and-answer session.  
  
Late spring presenters for Science on Tap include Trevor Rivers, associate teaching professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, who will present “Fireflies of the Sea: Complex Bioluminescence in the Caribbean” on March 25. On April 15, Chris Beard, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Biodiversity Institute and Foundation Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at KU, will present “Paradise Lost: Fossil Mammals from the Former Island Continent of Balkanatolia.” All Science on Tap events take place at Free State Brewing Co., 636 Massachusetts St., and begin at 7:30 p.m.  

Another program series by the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project, a group of KU postdoctoral researchers, brings science to life through hands-on experiments and interactive activities. The series consists of STEM Inspiration Day on March 15, Pollinator Palooza on April 19 and Biodiversity Day on May 24. All events are held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the museum in Dyche Hall. 

Throughout the year, the museum also offers educational programs and resources for K-12 schools, Scout programs and collection tours for KU and other higher education institutions.  

A variety of year-round adult programs are also available Tuesday–Friday. These paid experiences are ideal for team building, unique group outings and more.    

The KU Natural History Museum is part of the KU Biodiversity Institute, a KU-designated research center studying the biological diversity of life on Earth. The museum is located in historic Dyche Hall, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., and is open to the public 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Suggested donations are $7 for adults and $4 for children. Members and KU students are free. Learn more at KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum.