“By creating we think, by living we learn” Patrick Geddes
The Zoology Museum is open to the public on Friday afternoons during the summer vacation as well as occasional open days such as Easter and Doors Open Day.
Easter Weekend
Good Friday: 2 - 4.30pm
Easter Saturday: 10am - 12.30pm
Summer Openings
Every Friday afternoon between 3 June and 9 September, 2 - 4.30pm
Doors Open Day
Saturday 17 September: 10am - 12.30pm
Christmas Light Night
Friday 25 November: 9 - 10pm
2012 dates are yet to be confirmed but will be similar to the above
All events take place in the Zoology Museum unless otherwise stated
2012 Events
14 February, 6pm
Alan Elliott (Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh)
The Angus Botanists
The early 19th century saw a number of botanists that, despite their humble roots in Angus, had a major impact on the horticultural and botanical world. This talk explores some of these characters and the plants they found from their explorations in Africa, Australia, Americas and closer to home.
Originally scheduled for December 2011, this talk was postponed due to severe weather conditions and has now been rescheduled.
29 November, 6pm
Keith Skene (Biosphere Research Institute)
The Thermodynamics of Gardening: a new approach to conservation
Gardening is a rewarding but laborious hobby, and recent work in thermodynamics helps explain why it takes so much effort. The same research points to some fundamental lessons for anyone involved in conservation. Dr Keith Skene will explore how physics informs ecology in a talk based on his new book Escape from Bubbleworld: Seven Curves to Save the Earth, followed by a book signing with the author.
25 November 2011, 9-10pm
A Night at the Museum
After all the excitement around the city for Light Night, why not drop in for a late visit to the museum to see what our animals get up to after dark!
7 and 8 November, 6pm
Helen Keen: Robot Woman of the Future
Award-winning comedian and creator of BBC Radio 4's It Is Rocket Science, Helen Keen returns to Dundee with her esoteric mix of stand-up comedy, science and shadow puppetry. This new hour features: Robots! The Future! And a Woman! From clockwork French ducks to human computers, Keen presents an idiosyncratic guide to the way the 'cutting-edge' has changed the everyday world we live in. Last year's show was a sell-out so be sure to book quickly on museum@dundee.ac.uk or 01382 384310!
Tuesday 7 June 6pm
Dr John Rowan (Director of the Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience): Environmental change and the drive for sustainable futures
Dr John Rowan of the School of the Environment will talk about his work as director of CECHR, the Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience, a partnership between the University of Dundee and the Scottish Crop Research Institute. CECHR aims to tackle some of big issues facing the planet today arising from rising populations, natural resource depletion, loss of biodiversity, increasingly technology-dependent economies and pollution leading to climate change. It brings together science and technology, the arts and social sciences and health professions to explore interdisciplinary solutions to these complex problems.
Tuesday 17 May 6pm
Rhona Rodger (Social History Curator, The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum): The Dundee Whaling History Project
Rhona Rodger will be discussing the fascinating findings of the Dundee Whaling History Project, for which the museum received funding from the Scottish Government's Recognition Fund to map and research the various collections in the city related to the whaling industry. For much of the 19th century, Dundee was the European capital of this now highly controversial industry, which led directly to the city's involvement in the polar expeditions of Scott, Shackleton and others.
Tuesday 10 May 6pm
Notes from the Museum 3: Creative Writing inspired by the Zoology Museum
Notes from the Museum, the third annual evening of poetry and prose inspired by D'Arcy Thompson and his extraordinary collections, written and performed by students on the School of Humanities' Creative Writing courses and introduced by award-winning writer Professor Kirsty Gunn. These events always prove to be a real treat with beautiful and thought-provoking writing performed in the intimate but inspiring setting of the museum.
Forms of Meaning: D'Arcy Thompson Interdisciplinary Workshop
15 February 2011
Visual Research Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts
Find out more on the Tracy Mackenna and Edwin Janssen website
19 November 2010, 9-10pm
Late Opening for Light Night
After all the excitement around the city for Light Night, why not drop in for a late visit to the museum?
19 November 2010
5.30pm, D'Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building
Mary Midgley in conversation with Paul Noble
To pay tribute to D'Arcy's extraordinary interdisciplinarity, this unique event brings together leading thinker Mary Midgley ("the most frightening philosopher in the country") and the internationally renowned contemporary artist Paul Noble (who work has been called "a cross between Robert Crumb and Hieronymus Bosch").
See photographs and listen to a recording of the event.
17 November 2010, 6.30pm
Daftie and Johnnie: D'Arcy Thompson's lifelong friend, John Scott Haldane
A talk by Professor Martin Goodman (University of Hull)
Born just hours apart 150 years ago, D'Arcy's friendship was pivotal to the astonishing career of the physiologist John Scott Haldane, best known today as the inventor of the gas mask. Come and hear tales of one of the most extraordinary friendships in science, told by Haldane's biographer.
9 November 2010, 6pm
Helen Keen: The Primitive Methodist Guide to Arctic Survival
In 1866 the whaling ship Diana became trapped in the Arctic. Comedian Helen Keen tells the story of her great great great grandfather, one of the ice-bound crew struggling to survive. Packed with gags, silliness, stiff upper lips, dodgy props and useful survival tips for any 19th century polar expeditions you might want to join.
"Geekily amusing, enthusiastically presented... I found myself constantly rapt" - The Scotsman
"Fiercely intelligent comedy" - The Guardian
"Verve and energy... constant and unwavering wit" - Fest
Part of Dundee Science Festival
25 September and 25 October 2010, 6pm
DCA Cinema
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Nature's Hidden Beauties: Pioneering Natural History Films 1900-1912
As today's epic TV documentaries clearly demonstrate, Great Britain is a world leader in the field of natural history film-making. This pioneering role was established early on, and this evening's unique programme features some of the world's earliest natural history films. From wildlife on St Kilda to stunning experiments with stop-motion and micro-photography, these films show the extraordinary ingenuity of the David Attenboroughs of the Edwardian era.
The programme has been specially curated as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of Dundee's pioneer of life sciences, D'Arcy Thompson, with all of the films made during D'Arcy's time as professor of biology at University College, Dundee. Each film will feature live musical accompaniment by Justyna Szczachor and commentary by museum curator and film historian Matthew Jarron and life sciences tutor Dr Keith Skene from the University of Dundee.
Saturday 4 Sept 2010, 10.30 - 16.30
A multi-disciplinary conference exploring the legacy of D'Arcy Thompson
Thursday 2 Sept 2010, 5.30pm
Splashing Around: Themes from D'Arcy Thompson in the Visual Arts
A public lecture in the Tower Building to launch the second D'Arcy Thompson anniversary weekend and the D'Arcy Thompson art exhibitions in the Tower Foyer and Lamb Galleries
Tuesday 25 May 2010, 6pm
A talk on Swanning around in Scotland - Conserving our Wetland Biodiversity
Tuesday 18 May 2010, 6pm
An evening of short talks on the role of conservation and museums in maintaining and encouraging biodiversity. Speakers include Sian Foch-Gatrell, Cathy Caudwell and David Lampard.
Tuesday 11 May 2010, 6pm
The Philosophical Abuse of Animals:Killing with Kindness?
A talk asking why the animal has become such a central figure in contemporary philosophy and looking at how the 'philosophical-animal' has not only altered our understanding of animals but also the image we have of ourselves - for better or worse.
Saturday 1 - Monday 3 May 2010
A series of events to commemorate the birthday of D'Arcy Thompson including an afternoon of music and talks featuring the University of Dundee Chamber Choir and speakers Cathy Caudwell, Matthew Jarron, Mike Taylor and Patrick Randolph-Quinney; a lecture on 'The Development of Pattern and Form' by Prof Lewis Wolpert; a live street theatre event from the Walking Theatre Company (The Parrot and the Polymath) and an evening of poetry and prose inspired by D'Arcy and his museum, introduced by Prof Kirsty Gunn.
Tues 1 Dec 2009, 5.30pm
Evolution on Film
Concluding our celebrations of Darwin 200 with an entertaining look at the depiction of evolutionary theory throughout the history of cinema, presented by Andrew Scott (University of St Andrews) and Matthew Jarron (University of Dundee)
Tues 17 Nov 2009, 5.30pm
The Great White Shark: Maneater or Misunderstood?
A talk by University of Dundee Honours Graduate Sian Foch-Gatrell
Thurs 5 Nov 2009, 5pm
The Reintroduction of Beavers to Scotland
A discussion event with speakers including Simon Jones (Beaver trial project manager for the Scottish Wildlife Trust)
Wed 8 April 2009, 6.30pm
Darwin 200: Tayside's part in Evolutionary Theory
In association with the Abertay Historical Society, we present an evening of short talks on key local figures with a Darwinian connection, including Charles Lyell by Prof Rob Duck, Patrick Matthew by Hugh Henderson and D'Arcy Thompson by Matthew Jarron.
(Refreshments will be served in the Carnelley Building from 6.00pm)
Tues 31 March 2009, 6pm
Dundee University Rainforest Expedition
Dr Steve Hubbard talks about the recent Life Sciences student expedition to Trinidad to study the community ecology of rainforest birds. This talk had to be postponed from last year but has now been rescheduled.
Mon 23 March 2009, 6pm
Notes from the Museum
Kirsty Gunn, professor of creative writing, introduces an evening of poetry and prose inspired by the Zoology Museum, performed by students from the University's creative writing programme.
Tues 2 Dec 2008, 6pm
Edward Wilson: with Scott to the Antarctic
Wilson's biographer Isobel Williams looks at his extraordinary experiences as an artist and naturalist with Scott's Discovery expedition and his final, ill-fated Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole.
Tues 28 Oct 2008, 6pm
Monkey Business: The Biology of the Primates
Dr Keith Skene looks at the biology, ecology and behaviour of the primates. As the order of animals that includes human beings, they provide a rich resource in helping to understand our own species.
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