New Exhibition NOW OPEN

This week marks the opening of Biodiversity, a brand new exhibition at Oxford University Museum of Natural History!

Interweaving breathtaking artwork from Kurt Jackson with reflections from Oxford University researchers, Biodiversity celebrates the spectacular variety of Britain's plant and animal life.

The exhibition is accompanied by a packed catalogue of events running from February through to May. So whether you are hoping to keep the kids occupied this half-term, or looking to learn something new at one of our talks or classes, we've got you covered!

Exhibition: BIODIVERSITY

03 February – 15 May

Open daily, 10:00 – 17:00

Entry is free. Bookings are required for groups only.

A LITTLE LOOK AT OCEANS

14 February

Tours at 10:15 and 11:15

Dive into the deep blue sea with us on this ocean exploration guided tour, recommended for ages 2 to 5 yrs. Drop in, no booking required. Free event.

ENERGY OF FORESTS

22 February

19:00 – 20:00
Join us for a talk with ecosystem scientist Professor Yadvinder Mahli on the flow of energy in tropical and temperate forests. Book FREE tickets to Energy of Forests.

SCIENCE SATURDAYS

5, 12, 19 & 26 February; 5 March; 30 April; 7, 14, 21 & 28 May

14:00 – 16:00

Meet scientists to investigate real natural history specimens from the collection. Ages 8+. Drop in, no booking required. Free event.

NATURE POETS

1 March

19:00 – 21:00

Join Dr Sarah Watkinson for a poetry workshop inspired by our Biodiversity exhibition. Hear about Sarah’s research on fungi and explore nature through the spoken word. Book FREE tickets to Nature Poets.

All Museum Events

Each natural habitat has its own distinctive biodiversity – from fields and forests to seas and streams, and the increasingly urban places where we live.

In this video, Kurt Jackson explains how biodiversity impacts his art and art-making.

The Museum's British Insect Collection represents all insect groups found on our home soil. From butterflies to beetles and bees, and even flies and fleas – the Collection is ‘Designated’ by Arts Council England as being of national and international importance.

Spanning almost the entire history of British entomology, OUMNH's British Insect Collection represents extensive information on the biodiversity of Britain and documents how it has changed during and after the Industrial Revolution. The Collection is also home to many examples of the first British capture of certain insect species, including some unique specimens.

You can help us to protect and share our British Insect Collection by donating to the HOPE Appeal.

HOPE also provides online learning resources, a 'Crunchy on the Outside' blog, and a range of family-friendly events like Insects Under the Lens and the 'Beasties or Besties?' Show.

Thanks to Lottery Players and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

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RECONSTRUCTING THE CRETACEOUS WITH BONES AND AMBER

"Nature is wonderfully imperfect, and the data that we can gather from it is even further from perfection."

Dr Ricardo Pérez-de-la-Fuente is a researcher at OUMNH, and co-author of a recent scientific publication about an ancient terrestrial ecosystem – a 110-million-year-old coastal swamp. Discover how he and his colleagues used fossilised bones and amber to reconstruct this ecosystem with unprecedented detail and accuracy. Read full blog post.

And don't forget to subscribe to morethanadodo.com for more fascinating stories like these!

The Museum is available for private hire! Our events team can help you host conferences, dinners and more in our impressive array of spaces. More information on venue hire