Universities
Universities and Research Partnerships at the Natural Sciences Museum
The Natural Sciences Museum is proud to collaborate with universities, academic institutions, and research organisations to advance the understanding of natural history and support innovative research. We offer a range of resources, expertise, and opportunities for university students and researchers to engage with our collections, participate in fieldwork, and contribute to ongoing scientific studies.
Research Opportunities and Collaborations
We welcome research partnerships with universities and academic institutions across the globe. Our collections offer unique opportunities for collaborative research in fields such as palaeontology, geology, zoology, botany and biodiversity. Researchers can gain access to our extensive collections, work alongside museum experts, and contribute to groundbreaking studies.
We also support university students by offering access to our collections for research projects, enabling them to explore natural history topics in greater depth. Our museum's staff is available to mentor students, guide their research, and help them apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.
Fieldwork and Excavation Opportunities
The museum actively participates in fieldwork and excavation projects, often in partnership with universities. These projects provide students and researchers with invaluable hands-on experience in palaeontological digs. We offer opportunities to join our excavation teams in the field, helping with specimen collection, excavation techniques, and data analysis. These fieldwork experiences are an essential part of training for those pursuing careers in palaeontology, archaeology, and other related fields.
Internships and Work Placements
We provide a palaeontology internship opportunity (Palaeo-Internship) for university students looking to gain experience in museum studies, conservation, research, and curation. Our internships are designed to provide practical, hands-on experience while helping students develop professional skills in a museum setting. Interns will work directly with our curatorial and conservation staff, contributing to ongoing projects and learning from experts in the field.
Workshops, Lectures, and Events
We also host workshops, lectures, and events tailored to university students and researchers. These programs provide opportunities to learn about the latest developments in natural history, meet experts in the field, and discuss new research. Our workshops focus on various aspects of natural sciences, offering students valuable resources to enhance their studies.
Get Involved
If you are a university or academic institution looking to collaborate with the Natural Sciences Museum, or if you are a student interested in research opportunities or internships, we would love to hear from you.
Together, we can push the boundaries of scientific discovery and share knowledge with the next generation of researchers, educators, and natural history enthusiasts.
For more information about research opportunities, fieldwork partnerships, internships, or academic collaborations, please contact us at research@naturalsciencesmuseum.org. We look forward to partnering with you to advance the future of natural history research.
University Student Lab Training
Are you a university student studying palaeontology or another relevant course? Consider asking your professor to utilise the public lab in the museum, a facility well equipped to educate up to 12 students at a time in preparation work.
The public laboratory is the only one of its kind in Europe. Situated at the Natural Sciences Museum, our team of palaeontologists and preparators can offer a more sophisticated university level course for prospective palaeo-preparators. While our courses are suitable for everyone, i.e. there's no need for any prior experience or knowledge on fossils, we can tailor the lesson to any level of expertise. We can also offer a hands off approach where we let you and your coursemates enjoy the lab time, and hopefully help your faculty with resource management.
Our standard course comprises of using an air scribe to extract an ammonite (usually Dactylioceras commune) from a nodule. Our laboratory technicians teach the techniques that enable the public to independently to prepare fossils, but if you have a specific fossil that needs prep work, such as for an undergrad thesis, we have the time, tools and expertise available to assist you.