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Women of Science at the New York State Museum

March 21, 2026 (This Event Has Passed)

10 am - 2 pm
All Museum Galleries

Free

Join us for Women of Science, a free, family-friendly event celebrating female scientists and their contributions to a wide range of scientific fields. Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to meet inspiring women scientists from the New York State Museum’s Division of Research and Collections and other local scientists, learning about their disciplines, current research projects, and collections.

The day’s schedule features hands-on educational activities, tabling activities with participating scientists, brief science talks, and several interactive “Ask a Scientist” panels for families with younger children, teens, and adults. Don't miss this chance to discover the exciting world of science and gain insight from the women shaping its future!

Schedule of Events

10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Meet the Scientists: Tabling in the Galleries
Scientists will be stationed throughout the galleries to share their
research, specimens, and answer questions.

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM 
Kids Storytime + Scientist Q&A
Location: Huxley Theater

  • Archaeologists and What They Do — followed by Q&A with Dr. Daria Merwin, Co-Director, Cultural Resource Survey Program
  • On a Mushroom Day — followed by Q&A with Dr. Patty Kaishian, Curator of Mycology
  • Because of an Acorn — followed by Q&A with Diana Murphy, Botany & Mycology Collection Manager 

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
Film Screening: The Nature of Nature: Biodiversity in the Hudson Valley
Location: Huxley Theater
Film screening followed by Q&A with biologist and The Nature of Nature producer Laura Heady

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM 
Science Talk: Women of Science at the New York State Museum with Dr. Daria Merwin
Location: Huxley Theater
Short presentation followed by audience Q&A.

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Concurrent Tours & Gallery Visits

  • Collections Tour: Paleontology (Limited to 12 people – registration required) Location: Meet in the Main Lobby
  • Collections Tour: South Street Seaport (Limited to 12 people – registration required) Location: Meet in the Main Lobby
  • Gallery Tour: Outcasts: Mary Banning’s World of Mushrooms (Open to all) Location: South Lobby 

12:45 PM – 1:15 PM Concurrent Tours & Gallery Visits

  • Collections Tour: Minerals (Limited to 12 people – registration required) Location: Meet in the Main Lobby
  • Gallery Tour: Cohoes Mastodon (Open to all) Location: South Lobby 

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Closing Panel: Ask a Scientist
Location: Huxley Theater
An open Q&A session with local scientists.