Natural History Museum Research Open Day

Research colleagues are invited to attend an open day to learn how the University and Natural History Museum are aiming to develop research and training together.

A Research Open Day will take place on Wednesday 2 November from 10:00-16:00 in the Palmer building on Whiteknights campus. Lunch will be provided.

The University and Natural History Museum will jointly launch the first phase of a long-term research collaboration. They will present initial ideas on how we might develop research and training together, as well as using the day as a forum for seeking others’ ideas.

The collaboration provides significant opportunities for researchers in all disciplines, whether it be new arts research, ensuring food security, tracking genetic responses to climate change or the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. While a link to natural history and/or the NHM collections will be a requirement, work could involve any discipline.

As well as anticipating partnerships across Reading’s scientific research themes, the Museum’s researchers are enthusiastic about Reading’s expertise in creative approaches to collections and their histories and engagement with intangible cultural heritage.

Senior figures at the University will be joined at the event by members of the Museum’s senior leadership, researchers, laboratory heads and members of their digital, data and informatics team.

Plans to move 28 million specimens and research capability to the University’s Thames Valley Science Park were announced in May 2022. Its potential scope is across all NHM collections and research.

Reserve your place

Please note that spaces are limited so please book your place as soon as possible using this online form. Much of the event will be recorded and made available online.

For further information, visit the NHM’s page about their new science and digitisation centre.

Full Research Open Day schedule

10.00 - 10.30     Refreshments on arrival

10.30 - 10.45     Welcome and opening remarks (Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor)

10.45 - 11.30     Vision for NHM research and collections, and the TVSP, followed by Q&A (Tim Littlewood, Director of Research, NHM)

11.30 - 12.15     Building collaborative research followed by Q&A (Ken Norris, Deputy Director of Science, NHM & Phil Newton, Research Dean)

12.15 - 12.30     Partnership with University of Reading (Doug Gurr, Director, NHM)

12.30 - 13.30     Networking lunch                           

13.30 - 14.30     Parallel Session 1: Science Facilities (NHM Laboratory Heads)

13.30 - 14.30     Parallel Session 2: Heritage & Creativity: Collections & Culture (John Gibbs / Roberta Gilchrist, Research Deans & Sandra Knapp, Collections & Culture Research Lead, NHM)

14.30 - 15.15     Opportunities in Digital and Data Science (NHM / University of Reading)                  

15.15 - 16.00     Networking opportunity with refreshments        

16.00                   Close