Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination

Embark on a daring voyage into the depths of human imagination at the Harvard Museum of Natural History’s new exhibition, Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination. Featuring ancient mariners' maps, literature, works of art, and natural history specimens, this exhibit explores the allure of serpents, krakens, and other monsters of the deep. Peer into the minds of scholars from centuries past, and study sea creatures whose real lives are often more astonishing than the fantastical beings we might have imagined. Dive into the ocean of human consciousness, where dreams and fears entwine with reality, offering profound insights into our world and ourselves. Join us in unraveling the mysteries of the deep sea and the human psyche, where sea monsters—both real and imagined—beckon us to explore the unknown.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Measuring Difference

Today, measurement is everywhere. We understand everything around us in inches, degrees, gallons, decibels, and more. But measurements are human inventions. It is through measures that we learn to see difference, to compare the world. In the Americas, colonial powers introduced new measurements to describe and exploit the “New World.” Existing ways of understanding and explaining the world and our relationship to others were displaced, cementing European measures as norms and tools of authority. Using examples from across the Americas, this exhibit illustrates what—and who—was measured, and how. See museum website for gallery closures.

Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments

Teotihuacan: Origins, Urbanism, and Daily Life

2025 Gordon R. Willey Lecture David M. Carballo, Professor of Anthropology, Archaeology, and Latin American Studies, Boston University Teotihuacan, one of the largest cities in the world over 1,500 years ago, stands today as a premier archaeological site and a powerful symbol of Mexico’s precolonial heritage. Despite its enduring fame and millions of annual visitors, much remains misunderstood about the Teotihuacanos who built and inhabited this extraordinary city. This lecture delves into the intricate history of Teotihuacan, exploring its rise as a multiethnic metropolis and a center of innovation. David Carballo will examine the city's immediate antecedents and urbanization, its unique architectural hallmark of apartment-style living, and the dynamic networks of migration and cultural exchange that shaped its identity. By connecting the iconic pyramids to the daily lives of the city's inhabitants, this talk offers a deeper understanding of one of the ancient world’s most fascinating urban centers. Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture in collaboration with the <a href="https://drclas.harvard.edu/">David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies</a>, Harvard University.. Photo: Jennifer Carballo

Geological Lecture Hall

Sea Monsters on Maps: Myth, Mystery, and Marine Life

Free Hybrid Lecture Peter Girguis: Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Chet Van Duzer: Lazarus Project, University of Rochester For centuries, sea monsters have adorned maps, serving as both warnings and wonders of the unknown ocean. These artistic depictions reflected early attempts to understand the deep, blending legend with reality. From krakens to serpents, cartographers illustrated creatures based on sailors’ tales, inspiring fear and curiosity. Over time, these mythical beasts influenced marine biology, shaping early studies of unknown species. Join us as we explore the fascinating history of sea monsters on maps and their role in unraveling the mysteries of the ocean. After the program, enjoy free access to the exhibition Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. <a href="https://forms.office.com/r/Emshedr07G">Advance registration recommended. </a> Free event parking at 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture. About the Speakers: Peter R. Girguis is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and the Co-Director of the Harvard Microbial Sciences Initiative. He is also an adjunct scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering group. Professor Girguis studies how marine microbes and animals have adapted to their environments, and how their metabolic activity—in turn—shapes those environments. Girguis is also known for developing novel “open-design” instruments such as underwater mass spectrometers and microbial samplers, and he strives to make these tools available to the broadest research community, with the goal of democratizing science around the world. He has authored or co-authored approximately 140 publications, and also serves on several notable ocean science advisory boards. Chet Van Duzer is a board member of the Lazarus Project at the University of Rochester, which brings multispectral imaging to cultural institutions around the world—he directs the projects relating to maps and globes. He has published extensively on medieval and Renaissance maps; his book Frames that Speak: Cartouches on Early Modern Maps was recently published by Brill in Open Access. His current projects are a book about self-portraits by cartographers that appear on maps, and a book about images of terrestrial animals and birds on maps.

Inside the Temple of Murals: Teen Saturdays Workshop

In-Person Youth Program Join us for an immersive virtual reality workshop at the Harvard Peabody Museum, where teens can discover the fascinating art of the ancient Maya through the Bonampak murals located in Chiapas, Mexico. Through engaging activities and discussions, teens will explore the themes depicted in these murals, including dance, music, and ceremonial rituals. In a hands-on activity, they will recreate elements from the murals using similar pigments and traditional Maya art techniques, encouraging them to appreciate the materials and methods of Maya artists. Teen Saturday Workshops are offered bilingually in Spanish and English. They are designed to build community and improve the museum experience for multicultural teens. Snacks provided! $10 fee includes free admission to all HMSC museums following the workshop. Advance registration required. Teens receive a membership worth $100 after attending three or more Teen Saturday Workshops per semester. Or, receive a free admission pass (worth $15) for a return visit if you attend one of the four sessions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;February 8: Writing Maya Glyphs &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;March 8: Divine Maya Cacao &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;April 12: Inside the Temple of Murals &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;May 17: Cochineal Red Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

Exploring Human Origins at Kenya’s Lake Turkana

Free Public Lecture – Online &amp; In Person 2025 Hallam L. Movius, Jr. Lecture Series Louise Leakey, Director, Koobi Fora Research Project; Research Professor, Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University; National Geographic Explorer at Large Kenya’s fossil-rich Turkana Basin has been—for over five decades—a cornerstone in unraveling the story of human origins in Africa. In this lecture, renowned paleoanthropologist Louise Leakey will delve into the groundbreaking discoveries at Lake Turkana, including hominins and fossil fauna that have reshaped our understanding of human ancestry. She will discuss the challenges of early exploration, and the impact of the Koobi Fora research camp, the National Museums of Kenya, and the Turkana Basin Institute, in advancing paleoscience. In closing, she will address opportunities to enhance research, collections care, and capacity-building at Lake Turkana through innovative funding, collaborations, and citizen science projects. Advance registration recommended for in-person and online attendance. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture, and the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University. Louise Leakey is a third-generation Kenyan paleoanthropologist who is carrying on the legacy of the famed Leakey family in the search for human origins in Kenya’s fossil-rich Turkana Basin. A National Geographic Explorer at Large, Leakey, daughter of Meave and Richard Leakey, and granddaughter of Louis and Mary Leakey, all renowned paleoanthropologists, became actively involved in fossil discoveries at age five when she was proclaimed the youngest documented person to find a hominid fossil. Educated in the UK, she earned a PhD in Biology from University College London in 2001. Leakey also serves as a research professor in Anthropology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a research associate at the National Museums of Kenya. Louise directs the paleo-anthropological expeditions of the Koobi Fora Research Project in northern Kenya. New discoveries by her team in recent years include multiple hominin fossils, as well as the 1.5 million-year hominin trackway published in Science in 2024. A new species discovered at Lake Turkana in 1999 extended human fossil diversity back to 3.5 million years and, according to the New York Times, “overturns the prevailing view that a single line of descent stretched through the early stages of human ancestry.” Additional fossils recovered from this time period in recent years have contributed to the understanding of the diversity in the hominin fossil record. In addition to her long-term field studies in the Turkana Basin, Leakey also works closely with local communities and alongside wildlife authorities to preserve Kenya’s unique plants and animals of Kenya’s north. A lively lecturer, she gives talks and distributes science stories to Kenyan school children as part of the outreach efforts of her research project through her organization Leakey Journeys and Expeditions. Born and brought up in East Africa, she has travelled widely throughout the continent. Her family has been involved in the field of human origins for several generations and has contributed enormously to the understanding of our African origins through their work in both Kenya and Tanzania. Her family has been involved in politics and government, national museums, and wildlife conservation. Her husband, Emmanuel de Merode, is Director of Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa’s oldest national park and home to endangered mountain gorillas. His team has worked tirelessly to secure the future of this protected area through significant investments in renewable energy in this war-torn region. Louise is a mother of two adult daughters, a pilot, and an educator. She has many colorful experiences and insights to share.

Science Spotlights Short of Breath? Here’s a Rock and the Icy Origins of Life

Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. 2:00–2:30 pm Short of Breath? Here’s a Rock When we think of electricity, we often picture wires, circuits and generators. But did you know that living things can also produce electricity? In fact, electricity powers many of the biological processes in living things, including us! Even more surprising is that bacteria can use electricity to “breathe rocks.” What does this mean exactly? Join Harvard scientist Federica Calabrese as she uncovers how some microbes evolved to live in oxygen-free environments and how we can harness “bio-electricity” to power on own electronic devices. 3:00–3:30 pm The Icy Origin of Life Have you ever wondered how life began? The answer might be hidden in space—on tiny cosmic snowflakes! In the freezing depths of space, dust and gas come together to form icy particles that hold the ingredients for making planets and maybe even life itself. Scientists can recreate these conditions in the lab to better understand how simple molecules can transform into the building blocks of life. Join Harvard scientist Alexia Simon as she explores how the coldest places in the universe may have helped life get its start! Recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Harvard Museum of Natural History (Classroom B, Third Floor)

Family Activities at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East

Free In-Person Event Join HMSC volunteers for hands-on, family-friendly activities and a live story reading at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East. Recommended for ages 5–12. Admission to the museum is free. Story Time reading begins at 2:00 pm. Sponsored by the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East

Murder, Poetry, and Scribes in Ancient Egypt

Free Public Lecture – Online &amp; In Person Margaret Geoga, Assistant Professor of Egyptology, The University of Chicago “The Teaching of Amenemhat” is the only ancient Egyptian literary work to describe the assassination of a king. Told from the perspective of the murdered Pharaoh Amenemhat I, the poem is remarkable for its grim subject matter and popularity in ancient Egypt and Nubia. While previous scholarship on “Amenemhat” has focused on the poem’s composition, Geoga’s lecture will focus on its enduring legacy after 1,000 years in circulation. Margaret Geoga will explore who read “The Teaching of Amenemhat,” how they understood it, and how ancient interpretations differ from those of modern Egyptologists. Advance registration recommended for in-person and online attendance. Free event parking at 52 Oxford Street Garage. Margaret Geoga is assistant professor of Egyptology at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures and the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at The University of Chicago. Her research focuses on ancient Egyptian literature, scribal culture, textual transmission, and reception in both ancient Egypt and later periods. Her other research interests include ancient Egyptian intellectual history, translation, literary theory, and the history of Egyptology. Her work has been supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, and the American Philosophical Society. She is also a Junior Fellow in the Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography (2023–25). Geoga holds a PhD in Egyptology from Brown University, where she also completed a concurrent MA in Comparative Literature. Prior to The University of Chicago, she was an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Humanities at the Wolf Humanities Center of the University of Pennsylvania. She also taught at Brown University and Providence College. Her current book project focuses on “The Teaching of Amenemhat,” an enigmatic Middle Egyptian poem depicting the murder of a pharaoh. Combining textual criticism, material philology, and reception theory, the monograph investigates how this unusual and highly popular text was passed down, edited, and reinterpreted over the course of approximately 1,000 years by its many ancient readers in both Egypt and Nubia.

The Biggest Mysteries of the Human Brain

6:00–7:00 pm Book Presentation, Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 7:00–8:30 pm Special Event, Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA Jorge Cham, Engineer-Turned Cartoonist, Writer, and Producer Dwayne W. Godwin, Professor of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine How much do we know about the brain? How much remains a mystery? Join us in celebrating Brain Awareness Week with a special event hosted jointly by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Harvard Brain Science Initiative. The evening will begin with short talks by bestselling author and cartoonist Jorge Cham and neuroscientist Dwayne Godwin, coauthors of Out of Your Mind: The Biggest Mysteries of the Human Brain (2025, Pantheon), and will be followed by a book signing and opportunities to meet and chat with Harvard brain scientists in the museum galleries. Copies of Out of Your Mind will be on sale at The Shop at HMNH. Wine, beer, and other beverages will be available for purchase. Valid government ID is required to consume alcoholic beverages. <a href="https://forms.office.com/r/ywvwaSzNMn">Advance registration recommended.</a> Free admission. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture in collaboration with the Harvard Brain Science Initiative.

Exploring the World of Rot

Britt Crow-Miller, Author, Founding Director of <a href="http://www.citywildpdx.org/">CityWild</a> and Senior Lecturer at University of Massachusetts, Amherst We may not always notice, but our world is rotten. Rot—the process of breaking down once-living materials of our planet—is, in fact, a major part of what makes our world livable. Join environmental educator Britt Crow-Miller for a fun, curiosity-filled and hands-on journey through her book, <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/britt-crow-miller/world-of-rot/9781635866698/">World of Rot</a> (Storey Publishing, 2024). In this one-hour session, participants will learn the what, where, when, and why of decomposition and get up close to some of the organisms at work in nature’s recycling system. Get ready to meet some hungry fungi, slimy slugs, and wiggly worms–some of these will be alive! This experience is for kids ages 8–12 with at least one adult caregiver. Space is limited to 24 participants. $15 members/$25 nonmembers per person, includes admission to the museum. Participants are encouraged to come early or stay late and explore the museum before or after the workshop. Families must register at least one adult and one child for this program. Each group will receive one copy of <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/britt-crow-miller/world-of-rot/9781635866698/">World of Rot</a>.

Making Milk: Mongolia’s Unique Role in Dairy’s History

Christina Warinner, Professor of Anthropology and Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Milk is both ancient and enigmatic. First transformed into dairy products over 9,000 years ago in the Near East, its production required the domestication of not only animals, but also microorganisms. Dairy technologies spread across Europe, Africa, and Asia, reaching as far as Mongolia 5,000 years ago. Today, dairy products are produced and consumed worldwide; annual global milk and dairy production exceeds 900 million tons. And yet, the majority of the world’s population is estimated to be lactose intolerant. How did such an unlikely and often indigestible food become a staple of global cuisines? Christina Warinner examines the long and often surprising history of milk in Mongolia, where more than ninety percent of the population should be lactose intolerant—but is not. This talk takes a fresh look at the history of milk in Asia and its unexpected ethnographic and archaeological paradoxes. Far from familiar, milk is an ancient food with a modern scientific mystery at its heart. Free admission. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, Harvard Museum of Natural History, and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture in collaboration with the Initiative for the Science of the Human Past; Department of Anthropology; Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University.

Science Spotlights: Late Night with Frogs

Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. Sonali Garg, Postdoctoral Fellow in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, The Hanken Lab Around 360 million years ago fish-like amphibians emerged from the water and gave rise to one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates on Earth today: frogs. Meet frog biologist Sonali Garg and explore how she combines field work with laboratory and museum research to discover new species and untangle their evolutionary histories. Learn about the ecological importance of frogs and why they are experiencing extinction threats worldwide. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture

Harvard Museum of Natural History, Classroom B (Third Floor)

Weave Your Way: Traditions of Philippine Textiles

This immersive two-hour workshop introduces participants to the rich history and artistry of Philippine weaving. Facilitated by Romae Chanice “Nice” Marquez, founder of Hibla Philippines, participants will learn the basics of setting up a frame loom, understanding warp and weft threads, and crafting their own woven creations. The workshop will also showcase traditional textiles, fostering appreciation for Filipino craftsmanship while supporting the sustainability of local weaving and sewing communities. Held in celebration of Philippine Arts Month, the event aims to inspire creativity and connection to cultural heritage through the timeless art of weaving. This experience is for beginners, ages 12 and up, interested in exploring the basics of weaving and learning about Filipino culture. Fees: $30 members / $35 nonmembers per person. Includes museum admission and materials. Participants are encouraged to come early or stay late to explore the museum. Advance registration is required. Participants ages 12–17 must be accompanied by an adult. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General in New York and Hibla Philippines.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.