What's On
We offer a range of public activities throughout the year. Our temporary exhibitions include displays of current research, work by artists, and our community cabinet displays co-curated by visitors, students and community groups.
Events and Activities
Bridging Binaries: LGBTQ+ Tour
Wednesday 25th February, 1pm - 1.45pm
Free, booking essential
We are proud to present our new LGBTQ+ tour as part of the University Cambridge Museums' Bridging Binaries programme.
It is hard to say for certain that a 19th century scientist was queer just from their memoirs. It is difficult to know whether they were in a romantic relationship with the 'secretary' they lived with, or were they just that - a secretary. Were the two unmarried women who lived together for thirty years really just 'close friends'? Looking for gender queerness in Museum collections can be challenging.
Join us to explore and celebrate queer histories linked to our collections and people, extricated and inferred from letters, choice words and omissions.
For age 18+.
FREE, but booking essential. Email the Museum to book your free place on the tour: sedgwickmuseum@esc.cam.ac.uk
Illustrations by Layo Danbury, 2025
Staff Favourites Tours
Wednesday 18th February, 1pm - 1.30pm
Free, drop-in
Come and be inspired by the displays and objects that our staff love.
Giant deer, fossil fish teeth, the rocks that built Cambridge... just some of the specimens on display that our staff can't wait to discuss with you. Beware, their enthusiasm is infectious!
Drop into our shop to book your free place on the tour.
Twilight at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences: Prehistoric Night Safari
Wednesday 18th February, 4.30pm - 7.30pm
Free, booking essential
Join us for a night-safari adventure at our special late opening for families. We'll turn our lights down very low, so bring a torch and search the museum for dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, some of whom roamed Cambridgeshire thousands of years ago.
Drop in to our hands-on activity stations: investigate fossils close up and explore beautiful minerals that glow in the dark under UV light.
Book a ticket for a timed entry slot. The event will run from 4.30pm - 7.30pm, and booking is essential.
We can only guarantee entry during the 15 minutes stated on your ticket. We recommend that you allow 30-45 minutes to explore the Museum.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. All adults and children need a ticket for entry.
We expect this event to be popular. If you book tickets but find you are unable to attend, please cancel your tickets so others can take your place. Your ticket is for the Sedgwick Museum ONLY. If you are planning to visit another museum, please book this separately.
This event is part of Twilight at the Museums 2026
Magnificent Magma Chambers
Tuesday 17th February, 10am - 1pm
Friday 20th February, 10am - 1pm
Free, drop-in
Get stuck into fun, hands-on activities to investigate fascinating igneous rocks from Greenland. Meet Earth scientists from University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences and find out what it's like to do fieldwork in Greenland.
Explore the rocks under the microscope and in your hands. They contain rare earth elements, which are important components of electric vehicles, wind turbines and devices such as mobile phones and laptops. Join our scientists in looking for clues that the rocks contain rare earth elements, including placing them under UV light to see if they glow.
Discover how these unusual rocks form in ancient magma chambers. Create your own sparkling magma chamber to observe the processes that happen inside them.
We also have regular fossil handling activities on Saturdays and in school holidays, please do phone (01223 333456) to check what's on when you plan to visit.
Exhibitions
From Magma to Magnets
Opening Thurs 26th February
Free, drop-in
Discover the work of Earth scientists studying ancient magma chambers in Greenland, in this new display.
How do rare earth element-rich minerals form? What makes some minerals 'critical' and not others? Why are they in the news so often? Discover the work of a small team of Earth Scientists at the University of Cambridge, who study minerals that formed in magma chambers millions of years ago in Greenland. The minerals contain ‘rare earth elements’, which due to their use in powerful magnets are crucial to high-tech industries and the global transition to green energy.
Feel the powerful force of a rare earth magnet yourself, make critical minerals glow and sparkle under UV light, and delve into the awe-inspiring process of how the minerals formed.
Breaking New Ground: Celebrating Past, Present and Future Women Earth Scientists at the University of Cambridge
Join us in celebrating women Earth scientists in this temporary display, co-curated by two Earth Sciences students.
Free, drop-in
How many women Earth scientists can you name? With a focus on the University of Cambridge, Breaking New Ground is a celebration of women in Earth Sciences.
The display includes trailblazing, but historically overlooked early Earth scientists, perspectives from women who are currently researching, teaching, working or studying in the university's Department of Earth Sciences, and two local young people who share their passion for Geology.
This exhibition was co-curated by two Earth Sciences students at the university.