Science On Show

Discover fossils of extinct Ice Age marsupials preserved in Australian caves, plus the specialised gear and skills used to navigate an extreme underground environment. Let this hidden history of life change your view of the world today.

Presented by:
Tim Ziegler, Collection Manager, Vertebrate Palaeontology

See what a bulldozer can do to “improve” a beautiful fossil. A scrap in a commercial clay quarry removed the skull roof of a Bacchus Marsh Giant, a skull of the largest marsupial that ever lived, Diprotodon. Although no self-respecting fossil collector would do such a thing, because of this lucky happenstance, one can see the delicate internal structure of the head of this animal which brings with it some understanding of its lifestyle.

Presented by:
Dr. Thomas Rich, Senior Curator, Vertebrate Palaeontology

Ever wondered how scientists study life on the tiniest scale? Watch as we count live cells using a spectrometer and explore the hidden world of microscopic biology.

Presented by:
Dr Joanna Sumner, Manager, Genetic Resources
Dr Jennifer Hetz Rodriguez, ARC Linkage Fellow

From sea jellies to sea stars, dive into the strange and spineless creatures of the deep and learn how they survive and thrive without a backbone.

Presented by:
Melanie Mackenzie, Collection Manager, Marine Invertebrates
Chris Rowley, Collection Manager, Marine Invertebrates
Dr Genefor Walker-Smith, Collection Manager, Marine Invertebrates

Delve into the beautiful and bizarre world of insects. With magnifiers and microscopes, witness their astonishing forms and uncover what makes these tiny animals so mighty.

Presented by:
Dr Claire Keely, Assistant Collection Manager, Invertebrates
Simon Hinkley, Collection Manager, Terrestrial Invertebrates

Meet the live, wriggling residents of our local waterways – dragonfly, mayfly and other aquatic larvae –collected from the heart of Melbourne’s urban creeklands.

Presented by:
Dr Richard Marchant, Senior Curator, Entomology

Peek into our hidden library and discover rare science books from the Museum’s behind-the-scenes collection.

Presented by:
Hayley Webster, Manager Library, Museums Victoria

Peek into our hidden library and discover rare science books from the Museum’s behind-the-scenes collection.

Presented by:
Nina Whittaker (Senior Librarian) and Olga Hionis (Senior Library Officer)

Enter the microscopic realm with MV’s SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and uncover mind-blowing textures and forms invisible to the naked eye.

Presented by:
Dr Rolf Schmidt, Collection Manager, Invertebrate Palaeontology

Discover the epic tale of Horridus, the world’s most complete Triceratops fossil – from Hell Creek to Melbourne Museum – and what this dino still teaches us today.

Presented by:
Dr Erich Fitzgerald, Senior Curator, Vertebrate Palaeontology

Explore how meteorites hold the secrets of our solar system’s birth. These ancient space rocks are time capsules, helping scientists trace the origins of planets, moons, and even life itself.

Presented by:
Dermot Henry, Head Sciences, Museums Victoria Research Institute

Take a journey through deep time as we uncover the hidden stories of seven remarkable rocks found at Melbourne Museum. From fiery beginnings to fossilised forests, each stone is a chapter in Earth’s epic tale.

Presented by:
Dermot Henry, Head Sciences, Museums Victoria Research Institute

Will you roar as the fierce, carnivorous Tyrannosaurus or charge ahead with the mighty, plant-powered Triceratops? Create and colour your 3D paper mask and dive into the epic battle between these prehistoric titans.