March 16-31, 2024 | Celebrating our Collections We’re thrilled to celebrate the museum’s collections during spring break 2024. From March 16-31, we’ll focus on one of our collections every day. Be sure to visit on your favourite day, and we hope you visit multiple times to see it all!  With themed colouring sheets, scavenger hunts, and activities we have everything in place for a self-led exploration of the collections. Investigate at your own pace throughout the day, and plan to join one of our half-hour highlights or hands-on activities featuring the day’s theme to round out your v ..read more

The Marine Invertebrate Collection Curatorial Assistant, Sheila Byers, has had the great pleasure of working with Dr. Francisco Solis-Marin, an expert taxonomist specializing in Echinoderms—the spiny-skinned invertebrates of our oceans. Francisco is on sabbatical from the National Collection of Echinoderms, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Mexico City. For the past six months, Francisco has worked through our wet (alcohol-based) and dry specimens of sand dollars, sea urchins, sea biscuits, sea cucumbers, sea stars, brittle stars, basket stars examining more than 1,000 specimen ..read more

Dr. Gertrude May Smith, 1902-1986. UBC BA Biology 1923; UBC MA Biology 1926, UCal Berkeley PhD 1934. (Photo credit: 1926 Graduation image from UBC archives. In the annals of history, there are certain individuals whose names may not be widely recognized but whose contributions have left an indelible mark on their fields. Gertrude May Smith is one such figure. As the first woman to join the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1930, Smith blazed a trail that would inspire generations of scientists to come. Born at a time when women’s opportunities in academia were ..read more

For almost 10 years, Beaty Boxes  have been bringing the Beaty Biodiversity Museum into classrooms and community spaces. Genuine, touchable museum specimens set Beaty Boxes apart from other outreach kits, stimulating inquiry and discussion and enhancing learning experiences. Repairs and maintenance are essential to keeping these boxes in circulation, your donation will ensure we have the supplies and specimens to keep these boxes in circulation. These funds will be used directly to order custom-made plastic trays for each box, keeping specimens safe, secure, and organized, with less rep ..read more

You are invited to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum Staff and Volunteer Holiday Party! Who: BBM staff and volunteers. Children and partners are welcome! When: Thursday, December 7, 2023, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Where: BBM Niche Cafe What: Holiday Pizza Party! Pizza – all veggie, with gluten & dairy-free options Desserts – potluck, bring one if you want to! Crafts –opportunity to make a festive biodiversity-themed craft Collections – the museum will stay open for a walk around (no food or drink downstairs) Music – enjoy some festive background music Partners and children are welcome! If you ..read more

The MAKING CONNECTIONS project is a collaboration between the Beaty Biodiversity Museum (BBM) and faculty from Forestry, Botany, Zoology, and Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. Based at the BBM and working in collaboration with students, researchers, and museum professionals, MAKING CONNECTIONS is a cross-departmental team working on developing educational units for a new biodiversity science course focused on natural history collections and science communication. The MAKING CONNECTIONS team is excited to be working on a brand new UBC undergraduate course that will appeal to a diverse grou ..read more

Bill Nye the Science Guy is coming to town! Get your tickets while they last with a special offer for the Beaty Museum’s community. The countdown is on to save the world from catastrophic climate disaster, but is it too late? Bill Nye doesn’t think so. A cultural icon who made science accessible and “cool” for kids in the ’90s, Bill Nye is back, and this time with a new mission: to help rescue Earth’s inhabitants from climate change …with science! Join us at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, on June 20, 2023, at 8:00 PM for “The End Is Nye”, and use code BN10 for 10% off ticket prices. Deliver ..read more

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password ..read more

Things are changing at the Beaty! A significant expansion to the Beaty Biodiversity Research Center, located next to the museum, will be happening this spring. The construction period starts in April 2023 and the conclusion will be in spring 2025. As with any major construction project, we anticipate delays and unforeseen circumstances – we may need to cancel or change our bookings and rentals at short notice. We thank you for your patience as we undergo this exciting transformation! The Beaty Biodiversity Museum will remain open during the expansion period, and operations will continue as no ..read more

March 11 – 26, 2023 | Drop-in activities at 12:00 pm daily Join us this Spring Break for a different activity every day, brought to you by volunteers, staff, curators, and special guests! From identification tips & tricks to art, games, crafts, and hands-on activities, you’ll be a biodiversity pro in no time. Check out the museum calendar for our full Spring Break and daily program schedules. Meet under the whale at 12:00 pm unless otherwise noted. Some activities may take place outdoors, dress accordingly! The Beaty Biodiversity Museum reserves the right to change or modify programming a ..read more