Natural History Museums and the Anthropocene
FYSEMR 51S
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Natural history museums are more than just buildings: they’re treasure troves of stories, mysteries, and jaw-dropping discoveries that have shaped our entire understanding of life on Earth. Think Darwin, dinosaurs, and deep-sea wonders! But did you know that the real magic often happens *behind the scenes* in collections rarely glimpsed by the public?
In this seminar, you’ll unlock access to Harvard’s world-class Natural History Museums. Each week, you’ll go behind the closed doors to explore how these institutions fuel scientific breakthroughs, steward millions of unique artifacts, and connect with a changing world in the digital age. You’ll discover how museums are at the very center of today’s most urgent scientific questions, from climate change to species conservation, and how technology is sparking a new revolution in museum science.
You won’t just read about it. You’ll get your hands dirty! Explore the outdoors with fresh eyes, using innovative resources and field tools. Dive into Harvard’s vast collections, meet museum staff, engage with these collections, and see how exhibits come to life. Your seminar experience builds toward a real-world capstone: working in teams to create your own museum exhibit. You’ll weave together everything you've learned, curiosity, science, and creativity, into a showcase for the public.
Students will also engage directly with this subject through outdoor exploration of nature guided by cutting-edge resources and tools developed for this purpose. The capstone project will be a collaborative effort to devise a museum exhibit that unites major themes of the term.
Class Notes
First-Year Seminars are available only to first-year students. You may apply to both Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 First-Year Seminars via the FYS lottery between July 6 and August 6, 2026 at 11:59PM-midnight.
You may apply to as many seminars each term as you would like, but we recommend you apply to at least six in fall and three in spring.
As part of your application, you must provide a brief statement on why you are interested in each seminar. You will be notified of lottery results for both fall and spring seminars at 5 pm on August 11. If you are unsuccessful in the lottery, you may still join any seminar with open seats. A list of open seminars and instructions on next steps will be available on the First-Year Seminar Program website August 11 at 12 Noon.
Not Available for Cross Registration
