An adult and two children interact with a museum staff member who stands behind a counter in the Science Hub. On the counter are objects and specimens related to the content in the exhibit. A large video screen hangs on the wall behind the counter.

Grainger Science Hub

Category: Exhibitions

Exhibition Summary

Ticketing

Included with Basic admission

Targeted age groups

All ages

Alert

Anchor: #youve-never-seen-our-collection-like-this

You’ve never seen our collection like this.

Discover specimens that are usually under lock and key. Get up close and personal with the Field Museum’s collection.

With nearly 40 million items in our collections, less than one percent is on display. So we pick some of our favorites and move them to the Grainger Science Hub…for a limited time only.

Take a closer look: get close to select specimens, get a feel for the tools we use in our research, and explore new discoveries with educators. There’s something new to check out every time you visit. If you can't make it to the museum, you can still get hands-on with science with Hub at Home activities.

Science Hub visitors of all ages can ask staff questions about our specimens and the new discoveries at the Field Museum.

See what our scientists are up to in regularly changing displays.

Exhibition highlights:

  • Hand-picked selections brought from behind closed doors
  • Specimens to spark your curiosity
  • Educators on hand to answer questions
  • Rotating exhibits about our scientific research

Now in the Hub

Anaconda

Eunectes murinus - the green anaconda - is the largest snake species in the world. Now\, for the first time\, museum visitors are invited to experience up-close the full skeleton and tanned skin of the Field Museum’s 17-foot long green anaconda specimen. Join Grainger Science Hub educators as we explore snake anatomy, camouflage, and dive deeper into the many misconceptions surrounding these amazing reptiles. Also featured in the exhibition are nine additional snake specimens from around the world, including a carpet python, a yellow-bellied sea snake, a paradise flying snake, and Ophiophagus hannah, the king cobra.

New Uses for Old Specimens

In 1926, Field Museum scientists collected 55 species of birds during an expedition to Ethiopia. The team included famed artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes, whose specimen preparation and paintings helped to convey the color, essence, and exuberance of these amazing birds.

Today, Field Museum scientists are studying these same specimens in ways the expedition team couldn’t have imagined. By comparing the DNA of historic specimens to those of today, we can better understand how animal population levels and species connectedness may have changed. Understanding how human activity shapes biodiversity patterns in animals is a key component in rallying support for conservation of land and wildlife protection.

Come view a selection of the 1926 bird specimens up close, along with examples of Fuertes’ art that brings out their personality and charm. Science Hub educators are on hand to discuss challenges that migratory birds face in large cities such as Chicago, share local bird specimens with you to touch, and help brainstorm ways that the average citizen can help.

Science Hub at Home activities

Think and act like a scientist at home with Science Hub at Home—a collection of activities brought to you by the Grainger Science Hub team. Each resource is inspired by some of our favorite items from the Field's collections. Gather a few supplies from around your house and get ready to make your own paint, jump like a frog, and go on a scavenger hunt!

Enjoy Science Hub at Home activities by downloading our printables featured below and find even more of these at-home resources in the Learning Resources hub.

Activity Highlights

68th Annual Members' Night

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