Science Uncovered 2015

The Natural History Museum is opening its doors and giving you exclusive access to its world-class scientists and rarely-seen parts of its collections for a night. Science Uncovered is your chance to discover little-known areas of the Museum, hear about our latest research and enjoy a drink under the watchful eyes of Dippy the Diplodocus.

For many visitors, meeting Museum scientists is one of the most surprising highlights of the evening. Our researchers normally work behind the scenes, tackling issues of global importance from malaria and food security, to species and habitat loss. Science Uncovered involves over 300 scientists from across the Museum and from other leading organisations.

Discover what goes on beyond the galleries at this world-renowned centre of research, learn more about the life of a scientist and delve into the wonders of the natural world and our solar system. You can get involved in more than 200 different activities on the night, from Science Bars and nature games to debates with our scientists. The evening is also a chance to see some of the extraordinary specimens from the Museum’s collections not normally on display.

This year, get up close with these aspects of our research and collections, and many others:

· Meet our ancestors – handle casts of Homo naledi, the latest addition to the human family tree that was discovered this month in South Africa.

· Find out the truth about False Widow spiders and killer hornets – Experts from the Museum’s Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity will be on hand with specimens of wasps, hornets and spiders to dispel myths about these animals.

· Visit the ocean floor – use microscopes to explore the bizarre biology of boiling hydrothermal vents, where life thrives in some of the most hostile environments we know.

· Whale of a time – marvel at the remains of some of the whales that have become stranded around the UK coast in the past centuries, including the skull of the pilot whale stranded in Essex that made headlines last year.

· Have an enlightening drink – join our scientists at three Science Bars across the Museum to discuss some of the most pressing questions in science, including how to cope with a growing population and whether we should focus on exploring other planets or look for answers here on Earth.

· Come face to face with parasites – see some of the Museum’s collection of tapeworms, including one over 6 metres long – longer than a luxury car. Discover the life cycles of parasitic worms, and see examples of ones that can infest hedgehogs or birds in your back garden.

· Witness the fight against neglected tropical diseases – Ebola is not the only disease scientists are working to eradicate in Africa. Many tropical diseases, such as guinea worm disease and schistosomiasis, claim thousands of lives every year and we are still learning how to combat many of them.

Science Uncovered is part of EU Researchers’ Night, when institutions in more than 360 cities across Europe reveal the exciting scientific research taking place and celebrate the people who make it possible. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of European Researchers’ Night.

There will be activities for visitors of all ages but from 18.00, the event is most suitable for adults. Space is limited for some activities and free tickets for certain events will be available on the night on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ends

Notes for editors

For further information, please contact the Natural History Museum Press Office

Tel: 020 7942 5654

Email: press@nhm.ac.uk

· Images: Please download and credit: © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London (Not for publication)

· The Natural History Museum welcomes more than five million visitors a year and is a world-leading science research centre. Through its unique collection and unrivalled expertise it is tackling the biggest challenges facing the world today. It helps enable food security, eradicate disease and manage resource scarcity. It is studying the diversity of life and the delicate balance of ecosystems to ensure the survival of our planet. For more information see www.nhm.ac.uk

· Science Uncovered is the Natural History Museum’s biggest after-hours event of the year. More than 300 scientists, who normally undertake cutting-edge research behind the scenes at the Museum, will be available to talk about their work and to showcase rarely-seen highlights of the Museum’s collection of 80 million specimens.