Whether they fly, swim, crawl, wriggle or walk, we are endlessly fascinated with the creatures of our world.
Over the last 300 years their dazzling diversity has been described with increasing precision through scientific illustrations.
Museum Victoria's archive of artworks, working drawings and rare books traces the development of scientific art and provides a glimpse into a world of uncommon beauty.
The Art of Science was an exhibition developed by Museums Victoria that travelled to Mornington, Ballarat, Adelaide, Mildura, Sale, Sydney and the Melbourne Museum between 2012–15.
Written by John Kean, The Art of Science presents the best of Museums Victoria's remarkable collection of natural history artworks.
Based on the museum's collection of rare books, field sketches, art works and taxonomic studies, the book features some of the most exquisite, rare and important illustrations of flora and fauna ever created.
Available for purchase from the Melbourne Museum shop and all good bookstores nationally.
Lifting the lid on plastic: the good, the bad and the ugly.
How disruptors and digital technology led to a frenzy of scientific discovery.
How the history of vaccine development shaped our ability to respond to worldwide pandemics.
Museums Victoria acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung Bunurong peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations where we work, and First Peoples across Victoria and Australia.
First Peoples are advised that this site may contain voices, images, and names of people now passed and content of cultural significance.