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
Staff Favourites tours
Mondays (7th July - 28th July), 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.
Summer of Earth Sciences: Drop in and Rock Out
Friday 25th July, 10am - 1pm
Free, drop-in
Meet University of Cambridge Earth scientist Julian Pahl, who studies lava rocks from Hawaii to investigate volcanic eruptions.
Get hands-on with some real (cooled!) lava. Explore beautiful lava minerals under powerful microscopes, and find out what it's like to investigate active volcanoes as a job.
Please note, this is a family activity designed for children.
Summer of Earth Sciences: Drop in and Rock Out
Wednesday 30th July, 10am - 1pm
Free, drop-in
Meet Earth scientists Jeannie Booth and Simon Crowhurst, and investigate tiny 5000-year-old fossils under powerful microscopes.
Jeannie and Simon are part of a team at the University of Cambridge that investigates microscopic fossils to learn about oceans and climate thousands of years ago.
Search for 'microfossils' using our powerful microscopes, and find out how they can tell us about past climates.
Please note, this is a family activity designed for children.
Summer of Earth Sciences: Drop in and Rock Out
Wednesday 6th August, 10am - 1pm
Wednesday 20th August, 10am - 1pm
Free, drop-in
Back by popular demand - join us as we celebrate the ground-breaking palaeontologist, Mary Anning. Hear about her revolutionary fossil discoveries by 'meeting' her in person.
Observe fossil ammonite features and make your own clay ammonite to take home.
Dress up as Mary Anning and her brother Joseph, and hear ‘first-hand’ about her life. Find out about her experience as a working-class woman scientist in the 1800s, and discover how her fossils arrived in our collection.
Dive into the history of Mary Anning by exploring her letters, drawings and other materials in our archives.
Mary Anning will be staying with us until 4.30pm, along with the dress-up activity.
Please note, this is a family activity designed for children.
Summer of Earth Sciences: Drop in and Rock Out
Wednesday 13th August, 11am - 1pm
Free, drop-in
Drop in and meet palaeontologists who investigate dinosaurs and the earliest animals on Earth.
Dr Alex Liu and Professor Dave Norman are from the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge. Find out what it's like working as a palaeontologist, and get hands-on with fun activities relating to their research. Alex uses fossils and rocks to explore the very earliest animals on Earth, and Dave investigates dinosaurs, including Iguanodon, whose skeleton you'll meet as you enter the Museum. Perhaps you'll be inspired to become a palaeontologist too!
Please note, this is a family activity designed for children.
Summer of Earth Sciences: Drop in and Rock Out
Wednesday 27th August, 10am - 1pm
Free, drop-in
Have you found a rock or fossil that you'd like identified? Perhaps found over the summer holidays? Drop in and meet our Museum scientists for help.
You can also learn how to find fossils in everyday gravel, and get hands-on with some of our amazing fossils and rocks.
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
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.
24th August 2024 - 5th September 2025
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.
Current exhibitions
All current exhibitions at the Sedgwick Museum, please click on each image for more information.
Online Exhibitions
Our online exhibitions are currently undergoing maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience.
