Online Museum Class: Animal Olympics 2
2020-08-10 - 2020-08-14 | Online
Find out who goes for the gold across the animal kingdom, and discover how our human skills stack up against some of nature’s finest animal athletes. Registration includes exclusive invitation to live Zoom sessions with the museum team, and depending on your registration choice, a guided activity using materials at home or an activity kit compiled for you for contactless pick up.
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Online Class Registration

Online Class Registration with Activity Kit

Pittsburgh Staycation Scavenger Hunt
2020-08-12 - 2020-09-07 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States

Jurassic Park Trivia Night
2020-08-14 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Join museum staff for a night of Virtual Trivia: Jurassic Park style! Test your knowledge and compete for the top spot in this virtual trivia competition. Participants will need two devices; one to join a Zoom call and one to submit answers on the Kahoot app. The winner will receive Carnegie Museum of Natural History museum admission passes, Jurassic Park merchandise, and a congratulatory card from our Mary R. Dawson Associate Curator, Section of Vertebrate Paleontology, Matt Lamanna, Ph.D.

Please note each registration is considered 1 trivia entry. If you are playing as part of a duo or larger team, one registration means you will all be competing from the same device. Duos or larger teams should be in the same physical location to allow participation as a group; if that is not possible, it’s recommended to have one registration per physical location. Please adhere to all CDC and local health department guidance for wearing masks and socially distancing when considering group participation in this event.
If you have registration problems, please email ProgramRegistration@CarnegieMuseums.org to register.

Online Museum Class: Survival of the Fanciest
2020-08-17 - 2020-08-21 | Online
See what you can see right in your neighborhood as we investigate the amazing diversity of the avian world. Registration includes exclusive invitation to live Zoom sessions with the museum team, and depending on your registration choice, a guided activity using materials at home or an activity kit compiled for you for contactless pick up.
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Online Class Registration

Online Class Registration with Activity Kit

Super Science Days: Scientist Takeover
2020-09-14 - 2020-09-19 | Online
Our researchers are critical to everything we do at the museum, so let’s explore what they do!

Moriarty Science Seminar: Ecology and Empire on the Yellow River
2020-09-14 12:30 - 13:30 | Online
R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: “Ecology and Empire on the Yellow River”
Speaker: Ruth Mostern
Introducing Ruth Mostern’s forthcoming book Yu’s Traces: The Imperial and Ecological History of the Yellow River, a book telling a five-thousand-year history of the relationship between people, water, and sediment in the Yellow River basin of North China. This is a macroscopic book, covering a very long time frame, it reveals how gradual changes–for instance in climate and population–intersect with sudden cataclysms (such as wars and floods) in the history of the river.
Interweaving the history of the river’s moist floodplain with that of the erosion region in the semi-desert Loess Plateau hundreds of miles away, Mostern demonstrates that social and political transformations can have unintended ecological consequences very far away from the locations where they transpire. The book combines maps and timelines with historical documents, archaeological information, and environmental science. Mostern will talk about her novel and interdisciplinary methodology.
Register for the Online Video Seminar

Super Science Saturday (Activities at the Museum)
2020-09-19 11:00 - 17:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
Join us at the museum to meet our scientists and researchers to learn about what they do, how they do it, and how you can do it too!

11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Meet Geologist Albert Kollar at the Grand Staircase! He’ll be giving an in-depth talk about the architecture and (natural) history behind the museum’s beautiful marble staircase.
Noon – 2 p.m. Have you seen this weird and spooky meme around the internet called “Daeodon at your door”? Meet this model in person, and of course Joe Sawchak, Collection Assistant for Vertebrate Paleontology who brought what we affectionately call “the Hyus” to the attention of the internet.
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.Join the live Q&A with Tim Pearce being broadcast in the museum. We’ll be interacting with him via zoom while he’s working from home on Saturday, so if you visit the museum, you can join the Q&A on Foster Overlook!
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.Watch a Live Animal Encounter broadcast on the Foster Overlook! The animals in our living collection are currently only meeting in person with a select group of people, but we’ll be projecting our Live Animal program for visitors on Foster Overlook.

Q&A With Tim Pearce
2020-09-19 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
C’mon and Zoom with everyone’s favorite Malacologist and comedian, Tim Pearce. Ask Tim your burning questions and find out more about the wonderful world of snails.
After registering, we’ll send you the video link a few minutes before the start time!

Jumanji Watch Party
2020-09-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
Did someone roll a five or eight? Join us for the 1995 classic and learn all about the exotic animals featured in the film! Do those board game clues really make sense? Find out all that and more at our Jumanji watch party!
We’ll bring the science, you bring the movie and snacks!

Registering for this online event means you’ll watch the film from home on the platform of your choice.
Where to stream Jumanji (1995):
Freeform App (with subscription)
For rental on:
Amazon Prime
Microsoft
Google Play
Apple Video
VuduRegistration gains you access to the watch party Zoom call (we’ll send you an email on the 25th with all the precise timings and details).

If you have registration problems, please email ProgramRegistration@CarnegieMuseums.org to register.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt
2020-10-01 - 2020-10-31 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States

Horror Movie Trivia Night
2020-10-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
Join museum staff for a night of Virtual Trivia: Horror Movie style! Test your knowledge and compete for the top spot in this virtual trivia competition. Participants will need two devices; one to join a Zoom call and one to submit answers on the Kahoot app. The winner will receive Carnegie Museum of Natural History museum admission passes.

Please note each registration is considered 1 trivia entry. If you are playing as part of a duo or larger team, one registration means you will all be competing from the same device. Duos or larger teams should be in the same physical location to allow participation as a group; if that is not possible, it’s recommended to have one registration per physical location. Please adhere to all CDC and local health department guidance for wearing masks and socially distancing when considering group participation in this event.
If you have registration problems, please email ProgramRegistration@CarnegieMuseums.org to register.

Storytime Hike at Powdermill
2020-10-11 14:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
Looking for a fun, fall family activity for children ages 3-8? Join us for a short story and hike on Black Birch Trail.
Due to limited space, pre-registration for this event is required. Please call the Nature Center at 724-593-6105, or email Sara Klingensmith at KlingensmithS@CarnegieMNH.org to reserve a spot for your family. (Note: When you call, please have the total number in your party.)

Super Science Saturday: Booseum (Activities at the Museum)
2020-10-17 12:00 - 16:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
Join us at the museum for Halloween fun including trick-or-treat bags with non-food goodies to take home! Collect stamps throughout the museum to claim your goodie bag while supplies last, free with admission. For health and safety, admission tickets must be purchased in advance.
Buy Tickets in Advance!

Lake Placid Watch Party
2020-10-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
Join museum scientists for our Lake Placid Watch Party on a journey to find out what creature is living in lake of the seemingly picture perfect locale. We’ll bring the science; you bring the snacks!

Registering for this online event means you’ll watch the film from home on the platform of your choice.
Registration gains you access to the watch party Zoom call (we’ll send you an email on the 23rd with all the precise timings and details).

If you have registration problems, please email ProgramRegistration@CarnegieMuseums.org to register.

Learn about Bats with Our Educators at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden
2020-10-25 11:30 - 15:00 | PA
Find out about the diversity of bats, their unique habits, and the ecological role they fill. There will be three opportunities to join a live, interactive experience all about bats. These sessions will be conducted by experts from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and held in the Davidson Event Center at Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens.
(Not at Carnegie Museum of Natural History! This program is being conducted by our Offsite Program team.)
The times for these programs are:
11:30 am-12:15 pm
12:30-1:15 pm
2-2:45 pm
Out in the Garden of the Five Senses, you can work on a bat related craft to take home.
Purchase Tickets for Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens

Moriarty Science Seminar: Mystery of the Missing Diminutive Dinosaurs
2020-10-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: “Mystery of the Missing Diminutive Dinosaurs”
Speaker: Jack Horner
This talk revisits “the nesting behavior of dinosaurs” as published in a 1984 Scientific American article. From there I discuss the dinosaur nesting sites that have been found worldwide, and investigate the reasons why baby and small juvenile dinosaurs remains are so seldom found in these nesting areas. I will also discuss dinosaur cranial growth and tie the two concepts, growth and behavior, together in order to hypothesize evolutionary trends.
Register for the Online Video Seminar

RADical Day
2020-10-30 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
RADical Days is an annual thank you to the public with free admission offered by the organizations and attractions that are funded by Allegheny Regional Asset District. On Friday, October 3, 2020, admission is free! You must register for tickets in advance, and the discount is reflected at checkout, don’t worry!

ADD ADMISSION FOR OCT 3 To YOUR CART

ADD PAID DINOSAUR ARMOR TICKET TO FREE ADMISSION

Sensory Friendly: Booseum Trick-or-Treat
2020-10-31 08:30 - 10:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
Trick-or-Treat among dinosaurs and mummies! Wear your costume, meet our spookiest live animals, and participate in Halloween-themed activities.
(The image used was taken prior to COVID-19. Please wear a face mask when visiting them museum. If you or your family are unable to, please see our Visitor and Museum Services when you arrive. Thank you!)
Please register in advance so we can provide a sensory friendly setting.

Saturday, October 31, 2020
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Sponsor

Grown-ups’ Nature Walk at Powdermill
2020-11-01 14:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
Adults, join us on the trail for a guided nature walk! Pre-registration is required as space is limited for everyone’s safety. We’ll meet in the atrium at Powdermill Nature Center at 2 pm, then hit the trail. This event is rain or shine, so please come dressed for the weather.
More Nature Walks are being planned!

Grown-ups’ Nature Walk
Sunday, November 1, 2 p.m.
Please register everyone in your party!

Family Nature Walk at Powdermill
2020-11-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center at 2pm before heading outside to explore the beauty of fall. This family-friendly experience is open to participants of all ages.
Pre-registration is required.

Family Nature Walk
Saturday, November 1, 2 p.m.
Please register everyone in your party!

Moriarty Science Seminar: The Crocodile King and Two-Dimensional Taxidermy
2020-11-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents Two Talks
Speaker: Lisa Saladino Haney with “The Crocodile King: Royal Self-Representation during the Reign of Amenemhet III”
Speaker: Jessica Landau with “Two-Dimensional Taxidermy: Animal as Medium in the Art of Carl Rungius”
Register for this Zoom Seminar

Moriarty Science Seminar: Words are monuments: Confronting racism and colonialism in conservation place names
2020-11-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: “Words are monuments: Confronting racism and colonialism in conservation place names”
Speaker: Bonnie McGill
US national parks represent the public face of conservation, yet, despite their ecological and social value, national parks have origins in Indigenous dispossession, cultural nationalism, and fears of overpopulation by immigrants, people of color, and people at the intersection of these identities. I will present a research project that examined patterns in place name origins of 16 US national parks. More specifically, we examined how place names align, or don’t align, with making outdoor spaces inclusive and equitable and how the terra nullius myth of settler colonialism pervades modern conservation theory and practice. In this talk, I will also explore next steps toward decolonizing the national parks via reviewing, and potentially changing, their place names, which typically happens through the US Board of Geographic Names.
Dr. Bonnie McGill is a Science Communication Fellow at CMNH. Her most recent position was as a David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow at the University of Iowa. She has a Ph.D. in ecosystem ecology and environmental science and policy from Michigan State University. McGill was a graduate fellow with the National Science Foundation and the US Agency for International Development. Her research interests involve water quality, row crop production, and climate change. She has worked on or studied farms in North Carolina, Michigan, Iowa, and Kansas. At CMNH, she works on the Climate and Rural Systems Partnership (CRSP) in the Anthropocene Science Section. As a postdoc, she has collaborated on decolonization projects involving place names in US National Parks and the Thirty Meter Telescope at Mauna a Wakea (Mauna Kea) in Hawai’i. She is also a co-founder of Plant Love Stories (plantlovestories.com)–a blog that posts stories submitted by the public on the role of plants in our lives. McGill grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
Register for this Webinar

Sensory Friendly Hours
2020-11-28 08:30 - 10:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
Explore the museum in a sensory friendly environment. Tours and quiet zones will be available for all guests.

Saturday, November 28, 2020
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
This program has been canceled due to the rise of COVID cases in our region. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you can join us for future sensory-friendly programs.

Sponsors

Sensory Friendly Hours
2020-11-29 08:30 - 10:00 | At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States
Explore the museum in a sensory friendly environment. Tours and quiet zones will be available for all guests.

Sunday, November 29, 2020
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
This program has been canceled due to the rise of COVID cases in our region. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you can join us for future sensory-friendly programs.

Sponsors

Adult Nature Walk at Powdermill
2020-12-06 14:00 | Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States
Adults, join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center at 2pm before heading outside to explore the beauty of late fall. This adult program is open to participants 18 and up, and pre-registration is required.
Pre-registration is required.

Grown-ups’ Nature Walk
Sunday, December 6, 2 p.m.
Please register everyone in your party!

Moriarty Science Seminar: Making the Past Available in the Virtual Realm
2020-12-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Making the Past Available in the Virtual Realm: Using 3D Photogrammetry to Document Archaeological Research and Museum Collections
Speaker: David Anderson
The three-dimensional documentation of archaeological sites can be traced back to the earliest days of archaeological exploration in the Middle East with the use of stereographic photography for the production of stereo views. Methods to digitally scan and document objects and spaces in three dimensions have been available to archaeologists since the late 1990s. However, until recently scanning objects, buildings, and excavations required specialized equipment and was complex and costly in terms of both money and time. With an increase in computer processing power, resolution of digital cameras, ready availability of powerful mobile phone hardware, and improved algorithms, the process of capturing and documenting archaeological materials and cultural monuments is now an accessible and inexpensive process available to anyone with a digital camera and a laptop computer.
This lecture will explore the use of 3D digital photogrammetry in documenting archaeological remains. Using a series of case studies, the 3D documentation process will be reviewed from the taking of digital photographs, to processing images, reconstructing the three-dimensional data, and producing a detailed, accurate 3D model. Case studies will include rapid and accurate recording of objects, excavations, and monuments, the production of detailed two-dimensional maps and drawings for publication; creating 3D models of artifacts and skeletal remains for later analyses and publication; documenting existing conditions prior to conservation; virtual tours of monuments and museums, and the use of 3D models and reproductions for remote and face-to-face teaching across all age levels of the educational system.
Register for this Seminar

Write a Letter to Sven the Reindeer
2020-12-11 - 2021-01-04 | Online
Sven the Reindeer returns! Our beloved Sven the reindeer has gone digital this year. Write a letter to Sven and to keep him company on his migration journey this year.

The Big Year Watch Party
2020-12-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
Join us for The Big Year Watch Party to discuss all things birding with our bird banders at Powdermill Nature Reserve who recently caught the gynandromorph rose-breasted grosbeak. We’ll bring the science; you bring the movie and snacks!

Registering for this online event means you’ll watch the film from home on the streaming service of your choice. The movie is not included in registration. Two devices are needed to participate: one device to watch the film, and the second device to watch the Zoom call with scientific commentary. Registration gains you access to the watch party Zoom call. (You will automatically receive an email including your zoom link and watch party details).
Scientists Commenting:
Annie Lindsay, Powdermill Banding Program Manager
Lucas DeGroote, Powdermill Avian Research Coordinator
Chase Mendenhall, William and Ingrid Rae Assistant Curator of Bird Conservation
Jon Rice, PNR Urban Bird Conservation Coordinator
Greg Miller, birding guide at Wildside Nature Tours and Greg Miller Birding
[Jack Black’s character is based off Greg!]
Ashli Gorbet, Banding Projects Manager at Black Swamp Bird Observatory

If you have registration problems, please email ProgramRegistration@CarnegieMuseums.org to register.

Virtual Dinosaur Armor Tour!
2020-12-30 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Join us for a family friendly virtual tour of the premiere exhibition, Dinosaur Armor, now on display at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Museum experts guide you through the exhibit as you explore extraordinary specimens and learn about the development of body armor in dinosaurs, fish, reptiles, mammals and more.

Participants of all ages are welcome, but content and delivery will be geared toward families with school-aged children. Please have paper and materials to draw with ready when you join the tour on the 30th to experience all of the fun!
You will receive an email containing instructions and zoom link upon registration.

If you have registration problems, please email ProgramRegistration@CarnegieMuseums.org to register.

Moriarty Science Seminar: Natural History & the British Slave Trade
2021-01-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: Natural History & the British Slave Trade
Speaker: Kathleen S. Murphy
We rarely think about the wretched, miserable, and inhuman spaces of slave ships as having anything to do with natural history. Yet hundreds of scientific specimens were gathered by slave traders, slave ship surgeons, and others employed in the British transatlantic slave trade during the eighteenth century. These specimens were transported on the same vessels on which captive Africans endured the horror of the slave trade. Some of these specimens survive in modern natural history collections.
This talk reveals the entwined histories of Enlightenment science and the transatlantic slave trade. It argues that British naturalists exploited the routes and infrastructure of the eighteenth-century transatlantic slave trade in order to acquire specimens that otherwise would have been difficult or impossible for them to collect. Slaving mariners gathered specimens on naturalists’ behalf in each of the regions of the Atlantic World pulled into the orbit of the British slave trade: West Africa, the Caribbean, Spanish America, and British North America. The talk focuses on the example of Dr. John Burnet, a slave ship surgeon who collected specimens first on board the slave ship Wiltshire and subsequently as an employee of a slaving company in Spanish America.
Register for this Seminar
