Storytime at the Museum

When: Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m.–10:45 a.m. Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History Tickets: Free with Museum Admission Join us for Storytime at the Museum! Hear nature and science stories read by our Natural History Interpreters and get a chance to touch m......More

When: Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m.–10:45 a.m. Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History Tickets: Free with Museum Admission Join us for Storytime at the Museum! Hear nature and science stories read by our Natural History Interpreters and get a chance to touch museum specimens. Stop by for one page, one book, or stay for the whole 45 minutes. Meets at the bench in the entrance of the Kamin Hall of Dinosaurs. Registration is not required. Buy your tickets in advance!  

At the Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-4007, United States

Family Nature Walk

When: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677Tickets: Free Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center before heading outside to......More

When: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677Tickets: Free Join us as we hit the trails for a guided nature walk! We’ll meet in the atrium of the Powdermill Nature Center before heading outside to explore. This family-friendly experience is open to participants of all ages. Events fill up fast! Registration is recommended to guarantee your spot and help us plan timing, seating, and/or trail routes. If there are spots available at the time of the program, non-registered individuals can join on a first-come, first-served basis. Register Today! 

Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States

Owling at the Moon

When: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve Tickets: $10 for adults ($8 for Carnegie Museums Members) $5 for children ($3 for Carnegie Museums Members) Celebrate owls with crafts, activities, and live owls! Enjoy popcorn and fr......More

When: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Where: Powdermill Nature Reserve Tickets: $10 for adults ($8 for Carnegie Museums Members) $5 for children ($3 for Carnegie Museums Members) Celebrate owls with crafts, activities, and live owls! Enjoy popcorn and fresh apple cider made onsite, listen to a story by the campfire, and make a lantern. Learn about native owls along the Owl Trail and complete challenges to win prizes. Participate in owl pellet dissection and discover amazing facts from our Powdermill Avian Research Center experts. This is a family-friendly event open to all ages. Register Today! 

Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1795 Route 381, Rector, PA, 15677, United States

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Leading Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve into the Future

Talk: Science, Conservation, and Community: Leading Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve into the Future Speaker: Dr. Mary Janecka, Director of Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve When: Monday, November 10, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Carnegie Library Le......More

Talk: Science, Conservation, and Community: Leading Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve into the Future Speaker: Dr. Mary Janecka, Director of Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve When: Monday, November 10, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Carnegie Library Lecture Hall and online via Zoom Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required. Dr. Mary Janecka, the new Director of Powdermill Field Station and Nature Reserve, will present past research and plans for leading the team to advance the station’s scientific research, applied conservation efforts, and public outreach initiatives. Fieldwork has long been at the heart of Mary’s own scientific journey, and she has contributed to making field experiences more accessible and welcoming to all.  Janecka’s own research on host-parasite interactions (primarily in riverine ecosystems) and how these are affected by anthropogenic change has immediate relevance to the Western Pennsylvania region. Her research combines behavioral ecology, genetics, and conservation it spans both aquatic and terrestrial systems, and across organism groups—from snakes to migratory birds to ticks. With this multidisciplinary expertise, Janecka is uniquely positioned to further elevate Powdermill’s scientific profile and impact. Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.          Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science SeminarsLearn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

Friends and Family Photo Studio

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Insect Double Feature

Dr. David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Connecticut, is a world authority on insect biodiversity, insect conservation, and matters of global change. On December 1, he will give two separate talks at Carnegie Museum of Natural His......More

Dr. David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Connecticut, is a world authority on insect biodiversity, insect conservation, and matters of global change. On December 1, he will give two separate talks at Carnegie Museum of Natural History: one discussing the global decline of insect populations, and a second talk focusing on caterpillars and their role in ecology and evolutionary biology. Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars, read on for full details and registration options for both talks. Talk: Insect Declines in the Anthropocene When: Monday, December 1, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required. As the human population has expanded in the last century, global insect populations are declining at a concerningly rapid rate. Significant decreases in both species and populations of insects have been reported, thought to result from “a thousand cuts” including pesticide use, agricultural intensification, shifts in climate and human-induced changes to their native environments. Dr. David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Connecticut, is a world authority on insect biodiversity, insect conservation, and matters of global change. In recent years, he has become an expert on insect decline, publishing both academic and general public articles on the subject. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.          Talk: Caterpillars: Their Use in Biosystematics, Diversity, and Ecology Studies When: Monday, December 1, 2025, 4:00–5:00 p.m. Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required. Dr. Wagner will highlight discoveries from five decades of biosystematic studies on Lepidoptera. This informal presentation will feature stunning images of caterpillars, their natural history, and how larval life history data has been used to answer big questions in ecology and evolutionary biology. Time allowing, he will provide a status update of a multi-volumed guide to the Caterpillars of Western North America (Princeton University Press). Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.      Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science SeminarsLearn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Chinese Oracle Bones, 3D Digitization, and Game Design

Talk: The Story of the Bones: Chinese Oracle Bones, 3D Digitization, and Game Design Speakers: Jonathan Walton, Assistant Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University  Dr. Gang Liu, Teaching Professor of Chinese Studies, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Carnegie Mel......More

Talk: The Story of the Bones: Chinese Oracle Bones, 3D Digitization, and Game Design Speakers: Jonathan Walton, Assistant Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University  Dr. Gang Liu, Teaching Professor of Chinese Studies, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Carnegie Mellon University When: Monday, January 12, 2026, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required. Dr. Jonathan Walton and Dr. Gang Liu of Carnegie Mellon University will discuss their project performing 3D scanning of ancient Chinese oracle bones to make virtual models for use by researchers, students, and game users. Integrating game design elements, the project aims to create a unified digital platform that makes these ancient artifacts and related collections from around the world accessible and engaging for modern users.    Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.    Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science SeminarsLearn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Anti-Racist Initiatives in Exhibition Development at Science Museums

Talk: Exhibiting Race: Anti-Racist Initiatives in Exhibition Development at Science Museums Speaker: Joanne Jones-Rizzi, Vice President of Science, Equity, and Education at the Science Museum of Minnesota When: Thursday, February 12, 2026, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Where: Art Thea......More

Talk: Exhibiting Race: Anti-Racist Initiatives in Exhibition Development at Science Museums Speaker: Joanne Jones-Rizzi, Vice President of Science, Equity, and Education at the Science Museum of Minnesota When: Thursday, February 12, 2026, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom Reception to follow at Café Carnegie Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required. Joanne Jones-Rizzi, Vice President of Science, Equity, and Education at the Science Museum of Minnesota, is a celebrated leader in inclusive programming, anti-racist initiatives, and community engagement. Joanne will share insights from her career and her experience as one of the exhibition developers of the landmark exhibition, RACE: Are We So Different? Please join us for a reception in Café Carnegie following the seminar. Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.        Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science SeminarsLearn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: A Search for Evidence of Past Habitability in Jezero Crater, Mars

Talk: A Search for Evidence of Past Habitability in Jezero Crater, Mars Speaker: Dr. Sergei Bykov, Assistant Research Professor of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh When: Monday, March 9, 2026, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom Tickets: Free. Muse......More

Talk: A Search for Evidence of Past Habitability in Jezero Crater, Mars Speaker: Dr. Sergei Bykov, Assistant Research Professor of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh When: Monday, March 9, 2026, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required. Water-bearing rocks and minerals on Mars, such as opals, are key to understanding the planet’s past habitability and identifying where water once existed or may still be present today. In this talk Dr. Sergei Bykov from the University of Pittsburgh will share his research on recent data returned from NASA’s Perseverance rover mission. This work includes detailed analysis of the structure and hydration of opals in Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s collection. Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.              Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science SeminarsLearn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Testing the “Sixth Sense” of Anuran Amphibians

Talk: Testing the “Sixth Sense” of Anuran Amphibians Speaker: Dr. Rafael Marquez, Senior Researcher, Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales When: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom Reception to follow in Café Carnegie Tickets: Fre......More

Talk: Testing the “Sixth Sense” of Anuran Amphibians Speaker: Dr. Rafael Marquez, Senior Researcher, Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales When: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom Reception to follow in Café Carnegie Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required. Anuran amphibians (adult frogs and toads) have a very unique adaptation of the inner ear that detects vibrations from soil, water, and plants. Dr. Rafael Marquez, Senior Researcher at the Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales in Spain, will describe field tests with the emissions of vibrations to shed light on the selective advantage of this seismic detector. Please join us for a reception in Café Carnegie immediately following the seminar. Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.            Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science SeminarsLearn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.