Museum scientist Anne Jungblut samples biofilms on the McMurdo ice shelf in Antarctica
Our scientists
More than 300 scientists work here in earth and life sciences, our core research labs and library and archives.
Our work
An acclaimed research institution, we publish over 700 scientific papers a year with international collaborators.
The collections
Our 80 million objects span 4.5 billion years, from the formation of the solar system to the present day.
The Natural History Museum at Harwell
We’re moving some of our collections to a new science and digitisation centre at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire.
Science news
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Science newsMuseum digitises five millionth specimen to unlock secrets of collection
The digitisation of these collections could be worth £2 billion pounds to the global economy.
18 January 2022 -
Science newsVolcano 'recharging' can give clues about its next eruption
The way a volcano is filled with boiling hot magma can help improve forecasts of how it will next erupt.
7 January 2022 -
Science newsDinosaurs and meteorites: Museum scientists described 552 new species in 2021
Museum scientists have described 552 new species.
30 December 2021 -
Science newsDinosaur tracks on Welsh beach are evidence of sauropod gathering
A series of tracks on a public beach point to the presence of large, long-necked dinosaurs in Wales over 200 million years ago.
29 December 2021
Our work
Discovery, origins and evolution
We are studying the key transitions in the evolution of life on Earth and predicting the impact of environmental change in the future.
Anthropocene and sustainability
Our expertise in taxonomy, systematics and mineralogy is driving research aimed at securing the future of our food, health and natural materials.
UK biodiversity
We are developing new molecular and digital tools for discovering biodiversity.
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
Study at the Museum to get access to the collections, research, public engagement, skills training and education.
The life of a Museum scientist
Read the latest blog posts from our scientists.
Digital collections
We are digitising large parts of the collections and giving online access to the data.