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 Calendar of Events
FEBRUARY—Living Waters
Fish, shrimp, and snails provide us with more than just food—they’re also indicators of the health of our freshwater and ocean ecosystems.
From the coral reefs of south Florida and the Philippines, to the deep-sea vents of the Pacific, learn how Field Museum researchers are studying some of the most species-rich and unique communities on Earth.
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FEATURED SCIENTIST
 Rüdiger Bieler, Ph.D.
Department of Zoology
Head and Curator, Invertebrates
Mollusks are one of the most diverse groups of marine invertebrates, including animals as different as the snail and the octopus. Zoologist Rüdiger Bieler’s research focuses on marine mollusks and especially on the diversity of mollusks in island groups such as the Florida Keys and offshore regions of Chile.
As part of the National Science Foundation program—Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET)—Bieler is involved with training students in research on Venus Clams, the largest group of marine bivalves with more than 500 species that include many that are the basis of the world’s clam fisheries. Students are gaining experience with important techniques such as field collecting, anatomical comparison, and DNA sequencing.
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PUBLIC PROGRAMS
February 14
11a.m. – 2 p.m. |
Scientists at the Field: Aaron Rice and Dr. Justin Grubich
Adult and Family Program
Free with Museum Admission
Stanley Field Hall
Explore the most diverse group of vertebrates on Earth: fishes! There are over 27,000 described species of fishes, which can be used as indicators of the health of both oceanic and freshwater ecosystems. Aaron Rice and Dr. Justin Grubich will be on-site with fish skulls, specimens, and hi-speed video footage to illustrate the diversity of coral-reef and neotropical freshwater fishes. The specimens will demonstrate the difference in their feeding and swimming abilities: current topics of research for the Museum's Fishes Laboratory.
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Lecture: “Mollusks—Megadiversity in the Sea”
Featured Scientist Dr. Rüdiger Bieler
Adult and Family Program
Free with Museum Admission
Unearth the world of mollusks with Museum scientists whose work involves scuba diving, deep-water dredging, and the study of existing Museum collections.
Zoologist Rüdiger Bieler, Curator of Invertebrates at The Field Museum, will talk about his many collecting expeditions and share some of the more unusual mollusk specimens, from the yoyo clam that wears its shell on the inside and bounces up and down on its foot to worm-like snails that cement together to form massive reefs.
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February 27
6 – 8 p.m. |
Family Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Field Museum
Division of Fishes
$15, members $12
Registration Required (312) 665-7400
Dive into the Museum’s Division of Fishes! Established in 1894, The Field Museum’s fish collection holds nearly 1.7 million specimens today. It’s ranked among the largest, most diverse, and most important fish collections in the world.
Mark Westneat, Ph.D., Associate Curator of the Division of Fishes, will lead a behind-the-scenes tour of the collection.
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Year-round
Thursday & Fridays
12:30 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday
11:30 a.m.
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Gallery Tour—All Things Living: Explore Biodiversity
All Ages
Free with Museum Admission
Explore fragile ecosystems as you learn about Field Museum scientist’s latest research.
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FEATURED EXHIBITION
What Is An Animal?
Everyone knows that cats, horses, and elephants are animals, but some animals are not so easily recognizable—especially those that live in the water. For example, did you know that coral is really the skeleton of a living animal, and that barnacles and sea sponges are animals, too?
This interactive exhibition covers the scope of the animal kingdom, focusing on the characteristics that all animals share and demonstrating how scientists classify animals. Learn the difference between a sea pansy and a garden pansy, and marvel at the strange life of a sea biscuit.
Permanent Exhibition
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RELATED LINKS
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Introduction | Investigate Biodiversity | YBC | Meet the Scientist | Explore Global Diversity | Events and Programs | Take Action! | Teaching Biodiversity | Biodiversity Exhibition | Credits
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