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Save the Date !
After our inaugural BlackInNHMs week in 2021 our 2022 event is scheduled to start on October 16th. Please see the summary above or check out more details below!
About Black in Natural History Museums Week
Given the history of natural history museums and the commitment of many museums to diversify their audiences as well as their staff and faculty, we love featuring various museums and professionals for this initiative each year. During this week celebrated annually, we hope to inspire many Black professionals to reimagine their relationship with the biodiversity of our planet, while highlighting career opportunities in museums and related fields.
Want to Join Us?
Follow us on social media and look back at our activities we shared!
Get Involved
From day one, we encourage participants and future NHM professionals to directly engage in biodiversity collection with us by kicking off a 7-day, global blitz. The aim is to explore the diversity of life around us (in your backyard, on your balcony, or in a local area). Anyone can take part in this activity and share what they find on social media. You can choose to organize as a group or work individually. We will post options of groups you can join.
To participate, all you need is a smartphone, tablet, or a camera and computer.
It’s easy to participate! Simply: (1)create an account on iNaturalist (2)join this project, (3)and find some local biodiversity to document!
The list of scavenger hunt items will be released a week prior to the event so you can plan a trip to your local museum. If you don't have the time to participate in our scavenger hunt, please highlight some of your favorite spots, places, exhibits, artifacts, and more in your museum. Why is it your favorite thing in the museum? If it’s your favorite spot - why do you love it so much? Share through social media!
To participate, all you need is a smartphone, tablet, or a camera and computer.
Explore your local natural history museum with our scavenger
Explore your local natural history museum with our scavenger
Bioblitz
Search the Museum
Donate Now
We need your help in supporting more Black people in natural history. Please consider donating to help us promote a community for those who have been historically excluded.
Check Out All the Events
Sunday, October 16
Allow us to reintroduce ourselves, our name is BlackInNHMs
This event will provide space for members that are Black in NHMs to introduce themselves on social media either directly through their accounts or indirectly by submitting video introductions. The event will also “Allow us to reintroduce ourselves, our name is BlackInNHMs”. We will engage in conversation about our roles as the first board members of Black in Natural History Museums. We will discuss the broader vision of our organization and the plan going forward. We will use this space to also gather community input from members that are BlackInNHMs.
Synchronous: panel with the board - Register Below
Asynchronous: Roll Call, Video share on Twitter
Hashtag: #BlackinNHMs, #RollCall
Time: 12 pm EST
Wednesday, October 19
Contemporary Figures
This event will explore the career trajectories of Black curators. By the end of the panel, the audience will understand the role of a curator in NHMs and will hear the various paths our panelists took to these positions. Panelists will also share their perspectives on the importance of capacity building for collections, including strategies for broadening participation.
Synchronous: Curator Panel
Hashtag: #AskACurator
TIME: 2 - 3 pm EST
Monday, October 17
Barriers to inclusion
This event will open the cabinets to reveal resources that are lacking to support Black folx in natural history museums. Understanding money matters as an important resource, we will have a 2-hour session to discuss means to obtain funding. This session will consist of a 45-minute talk from NSF program officers (Herron, Marenda, Kearney, Fehlberg), and 45 - 60-minutes questions (panel style with the NSF program directors).
Synchronous: Information session with NSF & 2 invited speakers, Panel
Asynchronous: Submit questions beforehand
Hashtag: #MoneyMatters, #FindingResources
Time: 12 - 2 pm EST
Thursday, October 20
Search the Museum
The list of scavenger hunt items will be released, so you can take a
trip to your local museum. On this day we hope that people share what they found at the musuem. If you don't have the time to participate in our scavenger hunt, please highlight some of your favorite spots, places, exhibits, artifacts, and more in your museum.
Explore your local natural history museum with our scavenger
hunt. The scavenger hunt will start on Oct 20 and end on Oct 22.
Asynchronous: Twitter & at your local museum
Hashtag: #SearchYourMuseum
TIME: Oct. 20 - 22
Tuesday, October 18
Behind the Scenes
This event will look at NHMs as libraries of life and highlight the specimens, artifacts, and objects that have contributed to our basic understanding of life on earth. We will also highlight younger researchers (postdocs & graduate students) and show the innovative science that is possible because of these invaluable specimens.
Pay attention to our social media content. We will be highlighting the items, collections and
people working in some natural history museums.
Friday, October 21
Mentoring and Community Conversations
Black in Natural History Museums is hosting a social on Friday October 21st at 6:00-8:00 EST at the conclusion of Black in Natural History Museums Week. This is a virtual space for Black folx associated with natural history museums to get to know one another in a relaxed space. This event is free to attend, family friendly and LGBTQ+ friendly
Synchronous: Evening Social
TIME: 6 - 8 pm EST
Saturday, October 22
Black In Natural History Homecoming
As we wind down the week, share your favorite highlights of the
week (use the hashtag: BlackInNHMs). The Scavenger Hunt
winners will be announced at this time.