About the Event

About the event

UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day is an annual celebration that showcases the incredible diversity of life on Earth and the scientific efforts to understand and protect it. Held on the UC Davis campus, this free, family-friendly event invites the public to explore the university’s world-renowned natural history collections, museums, and research centers through interactive exhibits, engaging activities, and behind-the-scenes tours.

Visitors can delve into a wide range of topics, from ancient fossils and preserved plant specimens to live animals and cutting-edge research on biodiversity and conservation. The event offers hands-on opportunities to examine rare specimens, learn about ecological systems, and discover the latest breakthroughs in environmental science.

What sets Biodiversity Museum Day apart is the chance to meet the scientists and students behind the research. Whether you’re exploring the Bohart Museum of Entomology, the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory, or the Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, you'll gain unique insights into the work being done to protect the natural world and address global challenges like habitat loss, climate change, and species conservation.

Perfect for visitors of all ages, UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day inspires curiosity, fosters learning, and highlights the vital role biodiversity plays in our lives. Join us for a day of discovery, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the wonders of the natural world.

FAQs

• What is the best way to experience Biodiversity Museum Day?
• We would suggest picking several collections to visit this year and then return next year to see the others. We intend for people to spend time at each collection instead of racing between them.
• I have a toddler. Which collections are suitable for this age group?
• The Arboretum is outside and a great space for young visitors to explore. This collection will be quieter and more spacious than the rest, so if you need a calming area head over there. The Raptor Center and the Bee Haven are also outside and great for exploring. The Bohart has live insects to pet and the Botanical Conservatory has plants everywhere, but their greenhouses have narrow aisles. Holding or carrying your toddler through the greenhouses is an enjoyable way to take in that collection.    
• I have a teenager. Which collections are suitable for this age group?
• Anthropology is open into the afternoon and they have flint knapping. The Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology is also a favorite as they deal with birds, mammals, fish and reptiles and amphibians. The Botanical Conservatory also has a great carnivorous plant collection. Paleontology has ancient fossils on display.  
• Hidden gems?
• This is the one day the Phaff Yeast Collection and the Nematode Collection are showcased to the general public. They also have some of the smallest, but mightiest organisms. These scientists are so enthusiastic that you will want to become a microbiologist or a nematologist.
• I will be visiting with 9 year olds to 90 year olds. Which collections are crowd pleasers?
• While all of them are fascinating, Paleontology and the pressed plants at the Center for Plant Diversity - Herbarium can easily delight a wide range of ages.
• What is new this year?
• The Bee Haven and the Anthropology Museum weren't able to participate last year, but they are back this year. Also, the Design Museum collaborated with us 2018 and they are participating this year with an exhibit honoring the 50th anniversary of Village Homes, an eco-friendly housing development here in Davis. We are also hosting a speaker series from 4:00-5:00 pm with speakers from four of our collections (Nematodes, Bee Haven, Paleontology and Phaff Yeast). You can enjoy this 1-hour long session (~15 minutes each) in person (Get directions), live via Zoom or as a recording after the event.
• Where can we grab a bite to eat?
• The event map has some options for eating. We have hot trucks that came just for this event, so please support them! They will be located on Storer Mall between the Botanical Conservatory and Katherine Esau Sciences Hall (Nematodes and Center for Plant Diversity- Herbarium) between 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. (The map shows them on the opposite side of that building, so just walk around to the other side.) The dining halls have a set fee and then it is all-you-can-eat. You are welcome to bring your own food or explore Downtown Davis for other options.