From bustling cities and mountain peaks to a vast ancient sea, Colorado has seen dramatic changes in its landscape and climate. Ka Chun Yu, curator of space science, and Bob Raynolds, research associate, look back in time to the Cretaceous, explore what we see today, and ponder what changes may be on the horizon. How will recent challenges like access to water and devastating fires affect what Colorado looks like in the future?
Science Smarts trivia equals fun for the whole family! This recorded experience is our newest virtual product. Put your mind to the test with the trivia game Science Smarts! From paleontology to animals that live underground, you'll unearth some fantastic fun facts. Science Smarts: Dirt, Digs and Dinos includes access to our Vimeo site where you’ll unlock your Science Smarts video complete with three rounds of trivia. Share the link to the video with up to 10 friends or family. Play over a video call for a group experience or have fun playing solo. Keep your eyes peeled for the next installment of Science Smarts: All That Glitters! Great for families and kids 6 and up!
*Access to your Science Smarts trivia video begins the day you purchase and expires 9/31/21.*
Explore breaking space news with space scientists and hear the latest updates on missions exploring the solar system, rocket launches, cutting edge astronomy, and more.
Explore breaking space news with space scientists and hear the latest updates on missions exploring the solar system, rocket launches, cutting edge astronomy, and more.
Explore breaking space news with space scientists and hear the latest updates on missions exploring the solar system, rocket launches, cutting edge astronomy, and more.
Program Types: Watch Lunch with Educator and Performers
Ever wondered what DMNS' Educator/Performers talk about at lunch? We're sure you haven't, but you'll wish you had after you see the hilarity that ensues as staff gather for a virtual lunch.
Program Types: Watch Lunch with Educator and Performers
Ever wondered what DMNS' Educator Performers talk about at lunch? We're sure you haven't, but you'll wish you had after you see the hilarity that ensues as staff gather for a virtual lunch.
Program Types: Watch Lunch with Educator and Performers
Ever wondered what DMNS' Educator Performers talk about at lunch? We're sure you haven't, but you'll wish you had after you see the hilarity that ensues as staff gather for a virtual lunch.
Program Types: Watch Lunch with Educator and Performers
Ever wonder what DMNS' Educator Performers talk about at lunch? We're sure you haven't, but you'll wish you had after you see the hilarity that ensues as staff gather for a virtual lunch and hysterical hypothetical animal match-ups!
Lunch with Educator Performers: Why are there actors in my museum?
Program Types: Watch Lunch with Educator and Performers
This discussion covers the Museum’s historical enactors program – our talented educator performers develop composite characters to bring science to life for guests. Will they be in character? Will anyone break character? Tune in and find out!
Betrayal, murder, and cannibalism. Get ready for a wild ride not for the faint of heart with DMNS Archaeologist Erin Baxter, and her take on the infamous Coloradian, Alferd Packer.
Senior Curator of Archaeology Steve Nash discusses the Museum's decade-long and ultimately successful effort to repatriate sacred grave posts of the Mijikenda of Kenya.
See her real life tarantula, and listen as Dr. Paula Cushing talks about her research exploring the evolution, diversity, and behavior of arachnids in Colorado and beyond.
As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, our collections staff share some images of objects in our collections along with stories of tragedy and hope that accompany them.
The fossil preparation lab at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science is currently closed, but our preparators are continuing to work on new scientific discoveries from their kitchen tables!
This presentation by Curator of Archaeology, Michele Koons, explores the politics and power of the Moche archaeological culture (250-900 AD) of the North Coast of Peru.
Join Senior Curator of Archaeology, Steve Nash, for a fantastic, colorful, whimsical summary of recent work on a documentary film on the artist and his work.
An international team of scientists led by David Krause, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology, have discovered a new fossil mammal, Adalatherium hui, from the island of Madagascar.
Curator of Geology, James Hagadorn, talks about new work focused on dating and deciphering 500 million year old rocks and fossils from the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Dr. Joe Sertich talks about how new discoveries from the Denver Basin like the Thornton Torosaurus are helping us understand this bizarre group of dinosaurs.
Curator of Archaeology Erin Baxter, PhD, presents the art, history and archaeology of Colorado cemeteries. Baxter has a trove of local stories, headstone IDs, epitaph translations and tips for what to do if you find a tombstone in your backyard along with other practical knowledge for your next (recreational) cemetery visit.
Your treasures are all around you. Conservator Jude Southward shares simple steps you can take to help them last longer and some tricks she uses to care for the Museum’s collections.
Program Types: Watch Programs for Families Programs for Adults
An international team of scientists led by David Krause, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology, have discovered a new fossil mammal, Adalatherium hui, from the island of Madagascar.
No spaceship? No problem. From the comfort of your couch, space science educators Naomi, Mitch, and Jose will guide your family on a virtual adventure through the universe, starting with our home planet and voyaging into the solar system and beyond with the assistance of stunning scientific visualizations. Learn about our place in the universe, how we fit in the solar system, and the ways we are integrally connected to space!
The lecture is full of interesting twists, personal anecdotes and insights, big personalities, meanderings through familiar and unfamiliar content, and the kind of "we don't know's?" that set the imagination and curiosity spinning in new directions.
Jonathan Samet, MD, MS and Dean of the Colorado School for Public Health discusses solutions and challenges around slowing the spread of the disease, as well as insights gained from working closely with state officials on their public health guidance.
In part two of our ongoing COVID-19 webinar series, we’ll explore the science behind vaccine development and which medical avenues could prove most effective in quelling the coronavirus.
In the third part of our ongoing coronavirus webinar series, tune in for a discussion on Colorado’s approach to testing and how it fits into the state’s broader response.
Have you been watching your favorite sci-fi movies? Delve into the science behind popular sci-fi movies with Museum scientists and Vincent Piturro, professor of film and media studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Last year, the headlines that 3 billion birds have disappeared from North America since 1970 shocked the world and captured our attention. Join avian conservation scientist, Arvind Panjabi, from Bird Conservancy of the Rockies for a live virtual presentation to discuss this groundbreaking research.
We’re teaming up with Denver’s beloved Buntport Theater for The Great Debate! A comedic debate between two opinionated amateurs. Who will you side with as they go head-to-head, toe-to-toe, in a not-so-scientific way, to finally put the great Pi(e) debate to rest? Vote your conscious because the stakes have never been more irregular or sweeter?! Grab your favorite beverage and Zoom in!
Donations are appreciated and will be split between Buntport Theater and the Museum.
Take a virtual trip to volcanic sites around the world with Ka Chun Yu, curator of space science, and Bob Raynolds, research associate. From ancient Pompeii to present day Yellowstone National Park, volcanoes have made their mark on people and landscapes. What dangers are seething just below the surface? Which volcano will erupt next? Learn the facts about this explosive geologic phenomenon!
Jonathan Samet, MD, MS and Dean of the Colorado School for Public Health discusses solutions and challenges around slowing the spread of the disease, as well as insights gained from working closely with state officials on their public health guidance.
In part two of our ongoing COVID-19 webinar series, we’ll explore the science behind vaccine development and which medical avenues could prove most effective in quelling the coronavirus.
In the third part of our ongoing coronavirus webinar series, tune in for a discussion on Colorado’s approach to testing and how it fits into the state’s broader response.
As the battle against COVID-19 unfolds each day in America’s hospitals, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other caregivers are working tirelessly to diagnose, treat and improve patient outcomes. Their selfless efforts in the face of an unprecedented epidemic have earned commendation nationwide, and their stories from the front lines help us look beyond statistics to understand the true human impact of the disease.
Coloradans have increased their time spent at home since mid-March following statewide policy interventions implemented by Governor Polis and increased social distancing guidelines set by essential businesses. Using digital trace data, scientists have been able to study general patterns in population mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results find noteworthy trends, including variation across different areas of the state, a voluntary reduction in movement even before Stay-at-Home orders took effect, and recent reversals in the overall amount of time spent in public.
Jude Bayham, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Agricultural & Resource Economics at Colorado State University and the co-lead author of the recently published report, titled “Colorado Mobility Patterns During the COVID-19 Response.” Bayham will discuss the study’s key findings, including trends and patterns in how Coloradans are (or aren’t) spending time away from home as well as policy implications for coronavirus outcomes moving forward. He’ll also answer your questions during a moderated Q&A session.
This livestream event is presented by the Colorado School of Public Health, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Institute for Science & Policy.
Colorado’s research community has responded swiftly to the COVID-19 challenge, with new projects already underway on vaccine development, diagnostic tools, biomedical countermeasures, and food system impact mitigation. Historically, technological investment has aided our response against diseases before they emerge, in the midst of outbreaks, and during the lengthy global recovery. Many exciting avenues of study are happening in our Colorado backyard right now. But what does applied research really look like, and when might we see the impacts?
In this installment of our weekly COVID-19 webinar series, we’ll be joined by Alan Rudolph, Ph.D., vice president of research at Colorado State University. Dr. Rudolph will discuss the creative and innovative new ways that researchers are tackling this novel disease and draw upon his decades of experience in both biomedicine and global security to address how today’s infrastructure development can help build tomorrow’s more resilient societies. He’ll also answer your questions live during a moderated Q&A session.
The free webinar is a collaboration of the Colorado School of Public Health, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and the Institute for Science & Policy.
As COVID-19 spread rapidly around the world, so too did myths, exaggerations, and outright falsehoods. The flood of misinformation was often powerful enough to shape public perception and policy decisions. But in the face of ever-evolving guidance from experts and wall-to-wall media saturation, how can the public sort fact from fiction? What makes a particular source reliable – or not?
Summer is typically the season of camping, grilling, and lounging by the pool, but some of our favorite warm weather activities could look and feel very different this year due to ongoing COVID-19 precautions. So what should Coloradans expect over the next few months? Is it safe to send kids to camp? Will I be able to go swimming?
Using the helpful questions and word bank, identify the different bones in the human skeleton! When you are complete, make it your own. You can color it, name it, add a background and then take a photo and have an adult post it online to #DMNS.
Investigate cause and effect. Observe object properties and characteristics of building materials, ramps, rollers, and sliders to discover that objects move differently depending on materials and shape.
Amanda, educator/performer at the Museum, shares some activity ideas that she has been using at home with her own kids. Learn how to save frozen superheroes, build cardboard skee ball, and teach literacy with materials you find in your backyard.
Astronauts train and maintain healthy lifestyles to be physically fit for space travel. Learn how to train like an astronaut and prepare for your first space expedition with this activity guide!
Grab your peppers and join Jenna in this fun dissection! Learn the scientific names for different parts of peppers, and use your senses to make observations. What color is the pepper? What does it smell like?
Our Education/Performers are taking you on a geography adventure around the globe! Alexander challenged Shelsea, Abid, and Monika to randomly select one country to learn about. See what they learned.
Age Range: Ages 10-17. In this activity related to ecology, ecosystems and populations, you will learn a fun way to estimate the number of pikas in a population using a method that scientists actually use. As a way of integrating math into your learning, you can also make calculations to test and see if the method really works.
Age Range: 10-17. In this activity related to ecology, ecosystems, predator-prey relationships, energy food chains, and populations, you will play a game to see how weasels control the size of the pika population and how pikas control the size of the weasel population. Using math, you'll also calculate how populations can change.
Age Range: 10-14. Tie Dyeing is a fun, creative art project you can do at home. This activity shows you how to do it. Can you predict what kind of pattern your tie dye will make? Try it out with the help of an adult and see if your predictions are correct!
Age range: 4-12. Design and build a bridge and understand how they work. Different types of bridges can serve different purposes depending on how they are built.
Scientists in Action is a monthly broadcast series that connects learners everywhere with real scientists where they work, and is driven by audience Q&A. Each event is a live, two-way interactive webcast with multiple schools, organizations, homeschools, pods and families participating. Click below to learn more about our upcoming broadcasts, dates, and times!
Sixty-six million years ago, an enormous asteroid collided with our planet and brought the age of the dinosaurs to a dramatic end. But how Earth made a comeback after the impact has long been unknown to science ... until now! Join paleontologists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for a live virtual look at a groundbreaking new discovery made by the Museum.
As the curator of archaeology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Dr. Koons uses modern technology to study ancient places and peoples and unravel mysteries of the past.
Join the Education Collections team—who have the very cool job of caring for some of the artifacts and specimens—as they take you behind the scenes to explore why the collections are safely preserved and how these objects play a starring role in research, education, and museum magic.
Program Type: Virtual Science Academy Grades 3 - 8
Virtual Science Academy
Available for bookings now!
Get your students' pulse going with this live dissection experience. Your class will participate in interactive experiments and discussion, as well as guide the dissection of a real sheep heart.
Program Type: Virtual Science Academy Grades 3 - 8
Virtual Science Academy
Available for bookings now!
Take your classes' breath away as they get to peer inside the respiratory system. Explore lung anatomy while observing a sheep lung dissection and participate in activities, then make observations to learn how the respiratory system works.
Program Type: Virtual Science Academy Grades 1 - 8
Virtual Science Academy
Available for bookings now!
Blast off to new discoveries with this live program that merges space science and scientific illustration! Titan is Saturn's largest moon and one of the most fascinating places in our solar system. Students and teachers will learn how to capture their own Titan investigations using scientifically accurate illustrations, just as other great scientists have done throughout history.
Program Type: Virtual Science Academy Grades 5 - 6
Virtual Science Academy
Available for bookings now!
Explore the physical, emotional and chemical changes to the human body during a sensitive, respectful, co-ed discussion led by a professional educator. Ask honest questions and get honest answers. This class is now only offered as a Distance Learning course.
Are your students hungry for new learning? Explore the cells and organs of our digestive system, a.k.a. your guts, from saliva to bile and rugae to villi. Learn how your guts work with other body systems to break down food to be used as building materials and to provide a raw energy source for all living cells in the body.
Science and art collide to bring the past to life! Your students will take a journey of discovery and creation as they use real fossil evidence to sculpt their very own dinosaurs. This fun class blends live virtual instruction from a Museum educator with mixed digital media, kinesthetic activities, and two-way interactivity. Students piece together clues that teach them about dinosaurs and show them how scientists and artists work together to understand the deep past. Sculpt-a-saurus introduces learners to scientific methodology as well as paleontology, fossilization, erosion, adaptation, and climate.
Thursday, September 30, 2021 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. All times are Mountain Time.
Have you ever looked at a fossil fragment or a bed of bones encased in rock and thought, “how do paleontologists know what they’re looking at?” It’s all about having the right tools to get the job done.
In the Digital Research Lab at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the “right tools” include microCT scanners and high-powered computers. These imaging tools create colorful, movable animations that let researchers look inside chunks of rock or examine minute details, revealing features and finds that could have gone undiscovered. Join lead technician Lindsay Dougan for a digital look behind the scenes of the Museum and at research on the cutting edge, and ask your questions of the experts.
Thursday, October 28, 2021 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. All times are Mountain Time.
Space is filled with exotic astronomical objects like neutron stars and supermassive black holes— light-years from Earth, hard to see and even harder to study. But powerful tools can help, including NASA’s Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft. The telescopes onboard IXPE will observe the X-rays produced by these faraway features, particularly the direction that these X-rays are vibrating, known as “polarization.” Join the expert spacecraft designers and builders at Ball Aerospace as they describe what it takes to create an observatory like IXPE and what IXPE will teach us when it launches later this year.
Thursday, November 18, 2021 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. All times are Mountain Time.
Did you know that every time you enjoy a meal of chicken, duck, or turkey, you are actually enjoying some delicious dinosaur? That’s right – every bird alive today, from ostrich to oriole, pigeon to penguin, are descendants of theropod dinosaurs like T. rex and Velociraptor. But how did this change occur? What clues do scientists look for? Find out on this virtual behind-the-scenes trip with Museum paleontologists and ornithologists as they explore evolution with fossils, natural history collections, and more. Your questions will guide our exploration and will ensure that you never think of Thanksgiving dinner the same way again!
Thursday, December 16, 2021 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. All times are Mountain Time.
Are you an adorer of animals? Delighted by dissection, or fascinated by feathers and fur? Then you have something in common with Andie Carrillo, Zoology Preparator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Andie works behind the scenes of the museum, studying animal specimens to learn about their lives and environments from their physical characteristics, and preparing each specimen to be studied by other researchers for years to come. Join Andie for an in-depth look at her fascinating career and a glimpse at how museums contribute to the study of our natural world. Your students’ questions will guide our exploration!
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. All times are Mountain Time.
Evidence of climate change is all around us: rising temperatures, shrinking glaciers, and moreextreme weathertellthe story of a planet in transition. Where on the Earth’s surface canweobserve these changes? How are humans creating, experiencing, and adapting totheseeffects? What useful strategies do we have in our tool kit to help us move towards a resilientfuture? Join Museum experts for an upbeat virtual expedition across our changing world, guidedby your questions and reflections.
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.All times are Mountain Time.
What makes tropical islands so blissfully warm, and the planet’s poles so much colder? How do features on the Earth’s surface like mountain ranges and ocean currents influence weather conditions across the globe? It has been said that climate is what you expect and weather is what you get...we will help explain the differences with graphic examples. Join us for exploration of weather both wild and mild, guided by student questions and interactive polls.
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.All times are Mountain Time.
Fire is a powerful force that has shaped our planet for millions of years, burning forests, grasslands and more to make way for new growth. But fire also brings destruction, reducing homes to rubble and filling skies with smoke. How can something so restorative be so harmful? What role does fire play in ecosystems across the globe? What positive steps can we all take to reduce the danger from fires? Take a live, virtual look at fearsome fire, shaped by student questions and reflections.
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.All times are Mountain Time.
Certain regions of the Earth have such an abundance of life that they have earned the title “biodiversity hotspots,” while others are home to only a small number of species. What makes an ecosystem a fitting — or not so fitting — environment? Why do places like rainforests, coral reefs and more teem with life? What positive steps are being taken to preserve and protect areas of high biodiversity? Explore the ingredients for biodiversity on this virtual tour of our planet, guided by student questions and led by Museum experts.
Teachers! Grab your afternoon tea and log in for an end-of-the day boost, with tips and resources from the Museum Teacher Professional Development Team and an opportunity to share strategies with other teachers about remote and hybrid learning.
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