Our scientists
More than 300 scientists work here in earth and life sciences, our core research labs and library and archives.
Our research
An acclaimed research institution, we publish over 700 scientific papers a year with international collaborators.
Our collections
Our 80 million specimens span 4.5 billion years, from the formation of the solar system to the present day.
Digital collections
We are digitising large parts of the collections and giving online access to the data.
Science news
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Science news40% of plants are threatened with extinction
The extinction risk to plants could be worse than previously thought, according to a landmark report.
30 September 2020 -
Science newsFrogs have some of the biggest eyes of all vertebrates
This is the first time the relative eye size of frogs has been compared across all vertebrates.
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Science newsNature 'unravels' as animal populations plummet
Animal populations have declined by 68% since 1970.
10 September 2020 -
Science newsSome Bronze Age Britons turned the bones of dead relatives into musical instruments
Bronze Age people were keeping human body parts and preserving them.
1 September 2020
Our work
Discover how our combination of collections, expertise and technology allows us to answer key scientific questions.
Collections
Find out why our 80 million specimens are a globally important resource for scientific reference and research.
Science departments and staff
Meet the 350 scientific staff at the heart of our world-class research and collections.
Library and Archives
Explore one of the world's finest collections of natural history literature, artwork, photographs and manuscripts.
Core research labs and consulting
Discover how specialist staff prepare, analyse and interpret samples in our state-of-the-art facilities.
Courses and students
Undertake professional and postgraduate training including PhD, MSc and MRes courses in our areas of expertise.