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

ArtsThursdays: Astrobiology & Music

Free In-Person Event Museum galleries open and free to the public. Is there life elsewhere in our solar system, or beyond? How will we discover it? And if there is, what then for us on Earth? Explore these questions and more at the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture. This free event brings together astrophysicist and bestselling author Avi Loeb, the chamber ensemble of the Multiverse Concert Series, and science educators to explore astrobiology topics from both artistic and scientific perspectives. Schedule: 5–7 pm Earth &amp; Planetary Sciences Gallery Meet and chat with planetary scientists and researchers from the Center for Astrophysics. 7–8 pm Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street Enjoy an immersive concert inspired by the search for life in other worlds. Astrophysicist Avi Loeb, David Ibbett, Resident Composer at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard &amp; Smithsonian and the Multiverse Soloists join forces to explore astrogeology, exoplanets, and distant technosignatures using music, immersive visuals, and cutting-edge science. 5–9 pm Explore all 22 galleries of the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology Purchase drinks at the cash bar. Valid government ID required to consume alcoholic beverages Enter a free raffle to win museum gifts and membership Free and open to the public. Let us know you are coming! RSVPs are encouraged, but walk-in visitors are always welcome. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented in collaboration with the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard &amp; Smithsonian, the Harvard College Observatory, and ArtsThursdays—a university-wide initiative supported by the Harvard University Committee on the Arts.

¡Ser Súper is Super! The Power of Bilingualism!

Being bilingual is like having a superpower! It boosts your brain, opens doors, and connects you to people and cultures from around the world. Join bilingual museum educator, Javier Marin, for a fun-filled storybook reading in both English and Spanish that celebrates the power of being bilingual! After the reading, stick around for a hands-on craft workshop where kids and caregivers can get creative, practice their Spanish and build community together. Come join the fun, make friends, and see how powerful being bilingual can be! Recommended for ages 3—8. Regular museum admission rates apply.

Harvard Museum of Natural History, Romer Hall (Third Floor)

Conversation and Exhibition Preview | Castaway: The Afterlife of Plastic

TRES ilana boltvinik. Instituto de Artes Plásticas, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico; 2016 Gardner Fellow in Photography rodrigo viñas. Independent artist; 2016 Gardner Fellow in Photography In conversation with Madeline Murphy Turner, Emily Rauh Pulitzer Curatorial Fellow in Contemporary Drawings, Harvard Art Museums Castaway: The Afterlife of Plastic by the art collective TRES, is an art-research project that investigates plastic’s enduring presence in global ecosystems. Since 2016, TRES has searched for and photographed marine debris and plastic that has washed up on the Australian shores of Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Using photography, maps, and collected artifacts, the collective documents how plastic castaways of contemporary culture become embedded in landscapes—often unnoticed yet ever-present. Castaway’s visual poetry, mimicry, and humor aim to prompt reflection on humanity’s materiality, use, and deep entanglement with plastic. At the same time, the project speculates about new forms of coexistence in which life and synthetic matter evolve together in unexpected ways. Presented in Spanish with English translation. A reception and exhibition preview will follow in the galleries of the Peabody Museum. Free and open to the public. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Advance registration recommended. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Geological Lecture Hall

Castaway: The Afterlife of Plastic

In this exhibition, the art collective TRES invites us to share their 2016 journey to document, collect, and photograph debris along the beaches of Australia. Evoking archaeology, marine biology, and cartography, their images summon us to more deeply engage with the natural vistas and objects they have encountered, and to examine and interpret them with fresh perspectives. TRES transports us with photographs of glowing orbs that resemble celestial spheres more than the bottle caps they once were. Making their way as garbage to Australia from as far away as China, these objects have been scarred by Bryozoa, tiny micro-organisms which can be seen in the display case in this exhibition. Now, plastic items such as these lay scattered about the otherwise pristine-appearing landscapes. The rhythmic flow of images challenges us to make sense of the terrain. With hand-drawn maps and charts, TRES attempts to bring order to a perplexing world, where plastic objects resemble organic ones, and “natural” landscapes bear unmistakable traces of human-made pollution.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

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)

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.

Exploring Wampum Traditions with Elizabeth James-Perry Morning Session

Join Elizabeth James-Perry in an exploration of wampum, an integral part of Native American history, culture, and artistry. In this program, James-Perry, a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe, will delve into the significance of wampum—shell beads traditionally made by Tribes on the East Coast for storytelling, diplomacy, and record-keeping. She will discuss how wampum belts serve as historical documents and symbols of agreements, alliances, and shared memory within Indigenous communities. Through a live demonstration, James-Perry will showcase the making of a necklace using milkweed and glass trade beads, reflecting both traditional and contemporary methods. Participants will also engage in the practice of spinning deer sinew, an essential skill in Native craftsmanship. This experience offers a unique opportunity to learn not only the art of wampum making but also its enduring role in Indigenous identity, sovereignty, and cultural continuity. &nbsp; This experience is for ages 12 and up. &nbsp; After, check out the Two Row Wampum Belt replica on display in the Hall of the North American Indian. The Two Row represents an historic peace agreement between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch colonizers in the seventeenth century. The replica belt was made by Longhouse Faithkeeper Tony Gonyea (Beaver Clan, Onondaga Nation) in 2024. 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. Register online.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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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

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S19: interest based

WBUR’s 75th birthday celebrations 💫

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

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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

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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

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.