KU Natural History Museum announces fall programming

Two adults and two children looking at Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

Museum visitors looking at Madagascar hissing cockroaches in the KU Natural History Museum's Bugtown exhibit.

Wed, 08/21/2024

Natalie Vondrak

LAWRENCE — The KU Natural History Museum has a full lineup of science-themed public events this fall for both youth and adults. The programs will cover various topics, including STEM activities related to snakes and fossils, as well as public presentations about the evolutionary biology of jellyfish and the importance of caring for natural history collections.

An adult stands behind a child pointing at an insect in an exhibit case. — Visitors explore the Bugtown exhibit at the KU Natural History Museum.

In honor of National Hummingbird Day on Sept. 7, the museum’s outreach team will host Pop-Up Science, a free program with hands-on science activities suitable for all ages, from 2-4 p.m. While exploring the museum, visitors can stop at various stations in the galleries to learn about hummingbirds and what makes them unique.

Other family-friendly events include a program series by the Kansas Postdoctoral Outreach Project, a group of KU postdoctoral researchers bringing science to life through experiments and activities. The series consists of Spectacular Snakes on Sept. 15, Six-Legged Science on Oct. 20 and Weather Science on Nov. 17. All events are 2-4 p.m. at the museum in Dyche Hall.

A man presents a slideshow to a room full of people. — Jorge Soberón, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and a senior scientist in biodiversity modeling at the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum presenting at Science on Tap in July 2024.

Science On Tap, a long-running public program in partnership with Free State Brewing Company, returns Sept.18 with “The World’s Mountains are Feeling the Heat,” presented by Sharon Billings, University Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and senior scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research. The popular program series features an informal research presentation in the brewpub’s beer hall, followed by a Q&A session.

Late fall presenters will include Paulyn Cartwright, Baumgartner Professor of Biology, on Oct. 23 discussing “Invasion of the Freshwater Jellyfish.” On Nov. 20, Andy Bentley, collection manager of ichthyology at the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, will share “Natural History Collections as unique tools to highlight fauna and the complex interactions with their environment.” All Science On Tap events are held at Free State Brewing Company, 636 Massachusetts St., and begin at 7:30 p.m.

In October, the public is invited to celebrate fossils during the event Discovery Day: National Fossil Day from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 12. Visitors can view paleontology specimens rarely seen by the public, learn about current KU paleontology research and participate in fun science activity stations. Then, just in time for Halloween, the public — especially KU students — will have the opportunity to explore the creepy side of natural science during the Macabre at the Museum event from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 24. From bats and deep-sea fishes to skeletons and more, students can participate in activities and enjoy snacks, music and raffle prizes.

Two children and two adults stand in front of a Pteranodon fossil. — Museum visitors stand in front of an exhibit featuring a Pterandon, the Official State Flying Fossil of Kansas.

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

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 in historic Dyche Hall, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., and is open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-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.