Insects live in a world dominated by odors that are produced by food, potential mates, and would-be predators. An insect's antennae are key to making sense of this complexity, because they are sensitive to chemicals that distinguish friend from foe or food from toxin.
Meet Postdoctoral Researcher Rowan French and investigate the biology and importance of chemical communication in shaping the lives and diversity of insects. See plant-feeding beetle specimens up-close, learn about some of the compounds beetles use to find their food plants or mates at the &ldquo;smell station&rdquo;, and discover how scientists take advantage of beetles' chemical sensitivities when designing traps for management, conservation, and research.

Antennae and Aromas: A Beetle’s Guide to Love, Lunch, and Survival

Scientists, researchers, and collections managers are behind the scenes every day, uncovering new information and taking care of our collection.

During Meet a Scientist, you can find them in the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibition/halls-and-galleries/grainger-science-hub">Grainger&nbsp;Science Hub</a>. They'll discuss their work and share real items from the museum&rsquo;s collection of nearly 40 million objects. From collections care to field work, and dinosaurs to ecology, there&rsquo;s a world of science to explore.

Visit the&nbsp;Science Hub on select weekdays for an up-close look at what our researchers do every day.

Most moths live their lives after dark &mdash; and most of their stories go untold. Join Field Museum Scientific Affiliate Alissa Doucet to explore the secret lives of moths, from their stunning diversity and surprising behaviors to their roles as pollinators and indicators of environmental change. See real specimens, ask questions, and discover why these nighttime insects matter.

Meet a Scientist in the Grainger Science Hub

The Secret Lives of Moths: Uncovering Hidden Nighttime Stories

Scientists, researchers, and collections managers are behind the scenes every day, uncovering new information and taking care of our collection.

During Meet a Scientist, you can find them in the Grainger Science Hub. They'll discuss their work and share real items from the museum&rsquo;s collection of nearly 40 million objects. From collections care to field work, and dinosaurs to ecology, there&rsquo;s a world of science to explore.

Visit the Science Hub on select weekdays for an up-close look at what our researchers do every day.

Come celebrate Women in Art and Science with Rebecca Banasiak, Collections Assistant and Mammals Preparator, and her volunteers, and learn about artistic practices within the sciences.&nbsp;
Scientific and natural illustrations will bridge art and science, celebrating STEAM principles in action. Learn about the materials and techniques involved in scientific illustration, how these skills are applied for research publications, and use what you&rsquo;ve learned in a hands-on illustration experience using stippling techniques.

The Connection Between Art and Science

Come meet Field Museum Collections staff Chris Philipp and Julia Kennedy as they discuss rarely-displayed masks from the A.B. Lewis collection, new contemporary items, and various media from the Field's Papua New Guinea collection. At nearly 35,000 items, the Field Museum cares for the largest collection of material from the country of Papua New Guinea currently in the United States.
This session is the third in a series that celebrates Wan Bel: a PNG Collective Global Exhibition, commemorating the country of Papua New Guinea's 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Young visitors and a museum educator examine a teaching specimen together in the Grainger Science Hub

Papua New Guinea Collections Celebration

Scientists, researchers, and collections managers are behind the scenes every day, uncovering new information and taking care of our collection.
During Meet a Scientist, you can find them in the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibition/halls-and-galleries/grainger-science-hub">Grainger&nbsp;Science Hub</a>. They'll discuss their work and share real items from the museum&rsquo;s collection of nearly 40 million objects. From collections care to field work, and dinosaurs to ecology, there&rsquo;s a world of science to explore.
Visit the&nbsp;Science Hub on select weekdays for an up-close look at what our researchers do every day.

Meet a Scientist

See the latest science firsthand in the Grainger Science Hub.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, February 18

Wednesday, March 4

Friday, March 6