Create a list of articles to read later. You will be able to access your list from any article in Discover.
You don't have any saved articles.
Climate Activist Greta Thunberg meets Dippy, the nation’s favourite dinosaur, at the Natural History Museum, London
Climate and environment activist Greta Thunberg recently visited the Natural History Museum in London, where she came face to face with some its most spectacular exhibits – including the nation’s favourite dinosaur, Dippy the Diplodocus and the first Mantellisaurus dinosaur specimen to ever be discovered.
Greta has teamed up with the Natural History Museum to produce an event for school students centred around biodiversity loss - one of the themes of her forthcoming book, The Climate Book. The event, which was jointly produced by her publisher Penguin Random House, will be premiered to schools via the Museum’s YouTube account in the Autumn school term, supported by learning materials and teaching resources to engage students with this vital subject.
During her visit Greta explored the Museum’s breath-taking galleries and met some of its 350 scientists. She also had the opportunity to get up close to the spectacular specimen of the critically endangered Philippine eagle, one of the rarest birds in the world due to deforestation and hunting.
Greta holds a specimen of one of the rarest birds in the world, the Philippine eagle. Image credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum
Learning Event
Greta took part in a discussion with Museum biodiversity researcher Dr Adriana De Palma and a small group of young people and school students about the importance of tackling biodiversity loss alongside climate change and how the solutions are linked. Dr De Palma is one of the more than 100 experts who have contributed to Greta’s new book which will be published on 27 October. The event was chaired by one of the Museum’s Science Communicator’s Khalil Thirlaway.
Speaking on the Museum’s TikTok channel, Greta discussed the importance of science and reflected on the Museum’s mission of creating advocates for the planet: “Science is both a warning signal, but also one of the best solutions that we have, and we need to invest in it. When we are facing such an existential emergency like the climate crisis, it's very important that everyone steps up. I think it's very important that institutions like the Natural History Museum take their responsibility and communicate the crisis itself, the science behind it, and how it's connected to other issues.”
The Museum’s biodiversity researcher Dr Adriana De Palma and Greta Thunberg. Image credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum
Dr Adriana De Palma says: “It is an honour to have contributed to Greta's book and take part in this event. One of the great things about working at the Natural History Museum as a scientist is the opportunity to really engage with young people - not just so we can speak about the scientific evidence but also so we can discuss our concerns about the planetary emergency, connect with each other through our love of nature and share ideas for inspiring change, both individually and as a community.”
Greta Thunberg in Hintze Hall with the first Mantellisaurus dinosaur specimen to ever be discovered. Image credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum
Notes to Editors
Natural History Media contact: Tel: 0779 969 0151 Email: press@nhm.ac.uk
About the Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is both a world-leading science research centre and the most-visited indoor attraction in the UK last year. With a vision of a future in which both people and the planet thrive, it is uniquely positioned to be a powerful champion for balancing humanity’s needs with those of the natural world.
It is custodian of one of the world’s most important scientific collections comprising over 80 million specimens accessed by researchers from all over the world both in person and via over 30 billion digital data downloads to date. The Museum’s 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency from biodiversity loss through to the sustainable extraction of natural resources.
The Museum uses its global reach and influence to meet its mission to create advocates for the planet - to inform, inspire and empower everyone to make a difference for nature. We welcome millions of visitors through our doors each year, our website has had 17 million visits in the last year and our touring exhibitions have been seen by around 20 million people in the last 10 years.