Sargassum—A Curse and a Blessing

2026-03-27 – 2026-10-18

Secret Service: Women in Natural Sciences

2026-09-25 – 2027-10-31

From grass paper to coffee-ground cups—renewable resources for greater sustainability?

2026-09-23 @ 13:00

At our open-concept themed stations, visitors can drop by spontaneously and delve deeper into scientific topics. Our experts are on hand to answer both general and tricky questions. From grass paper to cups made from coffee grounds—are renewable raw materials the key to greater sustainability? On September 23, 2026, the 9th Hessian Sustainability Day will take place. Under the motto “Sustainable Hesse: Together. More. Make a Difference!”, a variety of events will be held to generate new ideas together…

Thinking Outside the Box—How Our Diet Affects Biodiversity

2026-09-23 @ 18:00

With Gabriela Rabeschini: Corn from the U.S., rice from Pakistan, beans from Kenya, and soybeans or steaks from Argentina—some of our food travels halfway around the world before it ends up on our plates. Currently, a good half of the farmland that Germany uses to produce its food is located outside its borders. But what impact does growing food and animal feed locally have on the environment? The soil, biodiversity, water, and climate—they…

Special Exhibition "Edmond: The Last Days of the Dinosaurs"

2026-09-23 @ 19:00

What was the world like before a meteorite brought the Age of the Dinosaurs to an end? The exhibition “Edmond: The Last Days of the Dinosaurs” takes visitors on an amazing journey into the past. In addition to the impressively well-preserved and extremely rare mummy of the Edmontosaurus “Edmond,” original fossils from the excavation site in Wyoming (USA) help tell the story of the final chapters of the Mesozoic Era. The clock is turned back—to a world of primeval landscapes,…

At Night at the Senckenberg Museum

2026-09-25 @ 22:00

Have you always wanted to explore the museum at night? Now’s your chance! Join us for an exciting tour of our museum with one of our guides after closing time. Enjoy a guided tour with a twist! In a special atmosphere, you’ll walk through the dimly lit exhibition in mixed groups of about 15 people, guided by the light of your flashlights. Admission: 15 minutes before the event. Participants must be 16 years or older.

Special Tour for the 7th Sponsorship Day

2026-09-26 @ 12:30

Sponsorship Day at the Museum! We’re thanking our museum sponsors for their support and inviting them to an exclusive guided tour—covering Senckenberg, the sponsored exhibits, and those that are still waiting to be sponsored.

Highlights – A Glimpse into the Diversity of Our Properties

2026-09-30 @ 18:00

with Jan Wacker Over 200 years of collecting have provided our exhibition with many first-class exhibits. Among the museum’s spectacular objects, for some it’s the anaconda, for others perhaps the dinosaurs—or is it the reef or the deep-sea exhibit after all? But in addition to the classics, there are also quite a few highlights that you only notice at second glance. They may be a bit hidden, but they also have great stories to tell. Please note: Accessibility…

Vacation Tour: Six-Legged Superheroes—Insects

2026-10-05 @ 15:00

Tiny and incredibly diverse: Insects are nature’s true superheroes! This family tour takes you on a journey of discovery through the fascinating world of these six-legged crawlers. Which is the world’s largest beetle? How do ants find their way back to their nest, and what do wasps want with your lunch? What special abilities make beetles, bees, and other insects true masters of survival? Exciting exhibits and surprising facts invite children and adults alike to marvel, ask questions…

Summer Workshop: Bringing Dinosaurs to Life Through Drawing

2026-10-07 @ 11:00

In the dinosaur drawing class, we take a closer look: What can our fossils—footprints, skeletons, and skin and feather impressions—tell us about what living dinosaurs looked like? And what can’t they tell us? We’ll learn what science has already discovered about horns and claws, colors, and plumage. Do you have any ideas about what we can learn from animals living today to fill in the gaps? Armed with this information, we’ll grab our pencils and learn to draw long necks using simple shapes…

Let's Protect Biodiversity!

2026-10-07 @ 18:00

with Michael Kubi What do birds, insects, and a tropical coral reef have in common? They all showcase the beautiful and fascinating diversity of life, and you can marvel at them in our museum. But biodiversity isn’t just beautiful—it’s also important! Today we’re taking a tour through the diversity of life. It’s not just about getting to know individual species. The focus is on the question of what biodiversity actually means, how it arises, and how the different…

An Alliance for the Ocean

2026-10-08 @ 17:30

Dr. Jan Steger and Laura Kraniotis invite our Senckenberg members to take a look behind the scenes at the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA). We’ll learn how the “Discovery Unit” works and what happens in the lab to the specimens sent to Frankfurt by researchers from all over the world. How do you get tiny organisms under a microscope? And how are they prepared in the first place? Curious questions are absolutely welcome on this tour.

Wolves Return to Germany – Research on the Return of Wolves

2026-10-09 @ 14:00

with Dr. Nilanjan Chatterjee A century after disappearing from the region, wolves are once again crossing borders and restoring ancient ecological connections. This research traces Europe’s most compelling wildlife comebacks by the new colonizing population from Germany, offering fresh insights into their behavior, adaptation, and successful return. This Science Live event will be held in English with German translation. The event will take place in English with German translation.…

Blood Donation

2026-10-09 @ 14:30

The German Red Cross offers the opportunity to donate whole blood at Senckenberg twice a year. On this day, the blood drive will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Donations are only possible with an individual appointment; please register (starting a few weeks before the event) at: terminreservierung.blutspende.de/m/ffm-senckenbergx Not sure if you can donate (at this time)? Take the quiz at: www.drk-blutspende.de/spende-check/bawuehe Note: The entrance is not through the Natural History Museum, but through…

Biodiversity—We Discover the Diversity of Life

2026-10-11 @ 15:00

with Michael Kubi Today at the museum, everything revolves around the diversity of life. About two million species have been scientifically described so far, and many more remain unknown. How do different species influence one another? And what impact does the current rate of species extinction have on us and the planet? Join us on a journey through exciting, diverse habitats and learn why biodiversity isn’t just beautiful—it’s also vital to our lives. The…

Vacation Tour: A Journey Back to Prehistoric Times—The Last Days of the Dinosaurs

2026-10-12 @ 15:00

How did dinosaurs live at the end of the Cretaceous Period—and why did they go extinct? On this family tour, we’ll take a journey back in time to the last days of the dinosaurs: featuring original fossils, fascinating insights from paleontology, and clear explanations for all dinosaur fans, big and small. Please note: Accessibility cannot be guaranteed everywhere. This tour is not intended for large groups.

Rhein-Main Documentary Nights: Grzimek’s Legacy – How Far Should Nature Conservation Go?

2026-10-12 @ 18:00

Conservationist and former Frankfurt Zoo director Bernhard Grzimek spent decades advocating for the protection of Africa’s wilderness—though not always without criticism. Against this fitting backdrop, the zoo is discussing how far nature conservation should go. The event will take place at the Frankfurt Zoo, Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1, 60316 Frankfurt am Main. The BMFTR Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA), in collaboration with the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, has organized the Rhine-Main Documentary Evenings…

Insects – Diversity on Six Legs

2026-10-13 @ 13:00

At our open-concept themed stations, visitors can drop by spontaneously and delve into scientific topics. Our experts are on hand to answer both general and tricky questions. Themed Station: Insects—Diversity on Six Legs Are insects just gross and annoying crawlers? Not at all! Insects are useful and fascinatingly beautiful creatures! Under the microscope, insects reveal an incredible variety of colors and shapes just waiting to be discovered. Check out the most species-rich…

Seas and Oceans—The Underwater World

2026-10-14 @ 18:00

with Dr. Gesa Poetzsch About 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Oceans are the world’s largest habitat: They are home to an estimated two million animal and plant species, not all of which have been discovered or studied. But not all oceans are the same: from the deep sea to tropical coral reefs, there is a wide variety of habitats to discover. Which specialized species thrive kilometers below the surface despite conditions that are actually hostile to life…

Special Exhibition "Secret Service: Women in Natural History"

2026-10-14 @ 19:00

Women have shaped the natural sciences in many ways—yet their contributions have often been overlooked, marginalized, or attributed to male colleagues. This special exhibition showcases eleven women who worked at the Senckenberg Society or are connected to it in other ways. On this guided tour, we’ll get to know some of the women featured in the exhibition—including Maria Sibylla Merian, Tilly Edinger, Louise von Bose, Aenny Fahr, and Johanna Rebecca…

Summer Workshop: Dinosaur Dig Workshop

2026-10-15 @ 11:00

Come along on a dinosaur dig! In this workshop, children ages 7 and up can step into the role of scientists and learn in a fun way how fossils are unearthed. The uncovered finds are then examined more closely and compared to the dinosaurs in the museum. If you want to learn more about fossils and bones, this excavation tour is just the thing for you. Participation without a parent is not permitted.

Caterpillars & Butterflies—The Colorful World of Sibylla Merian

2026-10-17 @ 10:00

Today we’re following in the footsteps of Maria Sibylla Merian. She lived in Frankfurt over 300 years ago and was a courageous woman, researcher, and artist! She studied insects and recorded her observations in drawings and prints. Today we’ll try our hand at that, too—after a short guided tour, we’ll head over to the “Merian Print Workshop.” Participation without a parent is allowed.

Expedition Museum: Blossoms & Foliage – Merian Print Workshop

2026-10-17 @ 12:00

Our special exhibition is all about female researchers right now! One of them was Maria Sibylla Merian, who lived in Frankfurt over 300 years ago. She was passionate about nature and observed insects very closely. As an artist, she captured her discoveries in paintings and prints. After a short guided tour, we’ll follow in her footsteps—in the “Merian Print Workshop,” we’ll get creative ourselves! Participation without a parent

Marvelous Mollusks and the Blueprint of Life – Experience Biology Up Close

2026-10-18 @ 14:00

with Dr. Lisa Männer and Sigrid Hof Today we’re taking a closer look at the second-largest phylum of animals on Earth! Who are we talking about? Snails, clams, and other mollusks. But what do these animals have in common? And why are even animals with hard shells classified as mollusks? Together, we’ll explore the fascinating diversity of shapes and species among mollusks under the microscope. We’ll also delve into the blueprint of life: DNA. What exactly is DNA? How does a…

Nature, of Course? Culture, of Course? A Cultural Studies Journey

2026-10-21 @ 18:00

with Mirjam Mautner We often perceive nature and culture as opposites. At the natural history museum, it seems perfectly clear what it’s all about: nature—of course! But as you walk through the rows of taxidermied animals, another thought occurs: Weren’t these also prepared and displayed by a human using tools and a great deal of artistic sensitivity? How much culture is there in a natural history museum? Join us on a cultural-studies and philosophical journey,…