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Natural History Museum launches new Dig Deeper talk series
The Natural History Museum will deliver a new programme of expert-led talks, commencing with a special guest appearance from renowned physicist and universal rock-star Sir Brian May.
Attendees will delve into the Museum’s cutting-edge research and discover the hidden gems that lie behind the scenes in its collections.
Led by Museum scientists and focussing on a wide range of topics, from the secrets of asteroids to the world’s best wildlife photographers, these panel discussions will dig deeper into the Museum’s rich history, pioneering science and compelling collections.
The first talk in the series, Analysing Asteroids: From Bennu back to Base, will take place on 31 July and will be hosted by Sky at Night presenter Professor Chris Lintott. Tickets to join the livestream of the talk are now on sale here: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/dig-deeper-talks/dig-deeper-analysing-asteroids.html
Guests will be in for an out-of-this-world experience as they hear all about the exploration of asteroids from astrophysicist Sir Brian May, Principal Investigator on the OSIRIS-Rex mission, Professor Dante Lauretta and the Museum’s Cosmic Mineralogy and Planetary Sciences researcher Professor Sara Russell, who will be amongst the first to study the return sample.
Analysing Asteroids: From Bennu back to Base
31 July 2023, 18.30-21.00, Natural History Museum
On 24 September, NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex mission will return a sample of the asteroid Bennu back to Earth.
Professor Dante Lauretta and Sir Brian May will discuss their new collaborative book, Bennu 3-D: Anatomy of an Asteroid – the world's first complete atlas of an asteroid – and share thrilling 3-D imagery that provided vital information for the current OSIRIS-Rex mission.
While Museum researcher Professor Sara Russell will share how her team are preparing to analyse the returned sample to unlock the secrets it holds. She’ll be delving into how analysis of it could help reveal not only how planets are formed but how life as we know it began.
Sara and the team at the Natural History Museum will be among the first to study the sample in the autumn of 2023.
Bennu 3-D: Anatomy of an Asteroid, by Dante Lauretta and Brian May, will also be released on 27th July 2023. It is published by the London Stereoscopic Company and the University of Arizona Press.
Sir Brian May will discuss his recent collaboration with Professor Dante Lauretta to study the asteroid Bennu. Photo © Denis Pellerin
Further talks in the Dig Deeper series are already lined up to take place in September and November of this year. Guests can attend these talks in-person or join the online live-stream. Those interested can find out more and stay up to date on ticketing announcements here: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/dig-deeper-talks.html
The Forefront of Discovery: A Transforming World
14 September
As the climate crisis continues to transform environments across the globe in ways we’re still trying to understand, scientific fieldwork has never been more important. Take a journey with National Geographic Explorer Chris Rainier and our intrepid scientists as they reveal their latest findings and experiences from recent expeditions.
Into Focus: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
21 November
From hard-hitting photojournalism that shines a light on a planet under pressure to stunning photographs that capture elusive species and behaviours, this year’s exhibition is truly stunning. Join us as we discuss the stories behind the inspiring images and explore how wildlife photography can pave the way for meaningful conservation.
Why not become a Natural History Museum member, from just £62 a year? Members can book tickets before they go on sale to the public, and they can enjoy a discounted ticket price. Members will also get access to a special Members' Bar at the talks.
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Contact
Natural History Media: Tel: 0779 969 0151 Email: press@nhm.ac.uk
Press pack available here: Dig Deeper talk series
Notes to Editors
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. 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 37 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.