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sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Sedgwick Museum
@sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
250 followers 36 following 25 posts
Come on in and explore 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history, from meteorites and mountains to dinosaurs and diamonds. Free, no booking required
sedgwickmuseum.cam.ac.uk

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sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Sedgwick Museum Lates: Behind the Scenes uncovered

Free, 18+ evening event.
Thursday 20th November, 6-9pm

Delve into our work behind the scenes. Featuring @jackdashby.bsky.social ‘in conversation’ as we discuss his book ‘Nature’s Memory, Behind The Scenes at the World’s Natural History Museums’.
A drawer of rocks. There are rocks of many colours from grey to orange to red to purple. They are arranged in a gradient. A drawer of shells. Most are spiral shells of a white colour sitting against the blue colour of the bottom of the drawer.
November 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
jackdashby.bsky.social
CALLING ALL #CAMBRIDGE MUSEUM & NATURAL HISTORY NERDS!
This Thursday, the fabulous @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social opens late for "Behind the Scenes Uncovered" - alongside a bunch of cool activities, I'll be doing an "in-conversation" about my book #NaturesMemory.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sedgwick-m...
Sedgwick Museum Lates: Behind the Scenes Uncovered
Explore the Museum in an atmospheric evening setting, as we share our work and collections behind the scenes.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
dododinosauruk.bsky.social
A look back at our Gravel Hunters workshops @dinoconuk.bsky.social this year. We’re so proud to have redesigned this fascinating learning resource created by @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social. The resource pack is free to download from the Sedgwick Museum’s website🦑🪸
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
richardfallon.bsky.social
Walking down the Madingley Road today I'll be sure to look out for ichthyosaurs. In the @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social, of course.
Close-up of an ichthyosaur jaw, Myopterygius campylodon (Carter). Location: Madingley Road, Cambridge.
October 13, 2025 at 7:05 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Interested in developing your career in archives management? 

Keen to contribute to delivering a high quality service to archive users, and a great communicator?

This role could be for you.

Further information:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/archive...
A picture of two Sedgwick Museum staff members looking at a book from the Archive. Across the picture are the words ‘We’re hiring’. A page of text that reads: Archive Assistant Interested in developing your career in archives management? This new role provides an exciting opportunity to work alongside the Museum Archivist, and contribute to the development and promotion of the Museum's archive as an international focus for collections research. Hours: Full time, Fixed term (4 years) Salary: £27,319-£31,236 Closing date: 12th October 2025
October 3, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
richardfallon.bsky.social
A Planorbis discus from the Bembridge Limestone of the Isle of Wight, presented to the @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social by none other than Lord Tennyson. There rolls the deep where grew the tree!
October 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
tomsharperocks.bsky.social
23 September 1835: Mary Anning writes to Cambridge geologist Adam Sedgwick in Dent, Yorkshire, anxious to hear that the £50 ichthyosaur she sent him earlier in the month, ℅ the Geological Society, met with his approval. It clearly did and it is still in the collections @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Portrait of Mary Anning wearing a green cloak and a straw bonnet tied with a red ribbon. Portrait of a youngish Adam Sedgwick in a dark jacket and academic gown. Extract of a letter from Mary Anning to Adam Sedgwick: [I] 'trust you will be gratified with the Ichthyosaurus when you see it - I directed it to Professor Sedgwick Geological Society Somerset House'. The ichthyosaur skeleton referred to in Mary Anning's letter, purchased by Adam Sedgwick and presented by him to the Cambridge University geological collection. Its head with its long, pointed jaws to the right and tail to the left and well-preserved body and paddles. The mount has a painted label 'ICHTHYOSAURUS Communis Lias. Lyme Regis. Presented by Profr. SEDGWICK.'
September 23, 2025 at 9:02 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Today’s #MineralMonday is Biotite.
 
Biotite is a silicate mineral which is usually found in igneous or metamorphic rocks and commonly black or dark green in colour. It is a mica mineral which gives it the characteristic property of fracturing into fine, flexible sheets.
 
#Biotite #SedgwickMuseum
An igneous rock with a large biotite crystal held in the hand of a Sedgwick Museum staff member. The crystal is so large, it is all you can see from this angle. It is green-back in colour but appears black in the image. Its sheet- like texture can be seen on its surface. The same rock held at an angle that allows you to see other crystals in it. The other crystals are pink and white I colour. Another angle shows the sheet like texture of biotite from the side. The thin sheet layers can be seen clearly.
September 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
camunivmuseums.bsky.social
What will you discover this #SummerAtTheMuseums?
☀️🔎🔭🎨💎🦖

Check out our full summer events calendar online from today!

Browse all events and book your place: museums.cam.ac.uk/theme/summer
An illustration with text in the centre reading Summer at the Museums, What will you discover this summer? Surrounded by museum drawings, including a sun, crayons, butterfly, magnifying glass, telescope and dinosaur.
July 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
This majestic fossil shell is a #StaffFavourite. 🌊🐚
 
Commonly known as a scallop, this shell belongs to the Pectinidae family.

This fossil is approximately 3 million years old but Pecten maximus can still be found along the English coast today.
 
#Pectinidae #Bivalve #SedgwickMuseum
Pecten maximum held up outside the Museum with the building in the background. The fossil shell is the width of two of the staff member’s hands holding it up. It is an orangy-red colour. There are beautiful ridges in the shell. A closer look at the fossil shell. A few marks can be seen on the shell which look like they were barnacles.
July 1, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
camunivmuseums.bsky.social
Sign up for family fun this #SummerAtTheMuseums! 💌 ☀️ 🗓️

Enjoy a great value day out with your family at local museums this summer. Join us to spark your imagination, explore big topics and enjoy time together.

Sign up to hear when the full events calendar launches: bit.ly/SummerAtTheMuseums
An illustration with text in the centre reading Summer at the Museums, What will you discover this summer? Surrounded by museum drawings, including a sun, crayons, butterfly, magnifying glass, telescope and dinosaur.
July 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
We had a wonderful time celebrating Pride Month on Wednesday with everyone who attended our late opening, ‘Rock Up and Chill'. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🦖

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and contributed to our collaborative artwork.

#PrideMonth #RockUpAndChill #QueerHistory #SedgwickMuseum #EarthSciences
A window on which is our collaborative artwork. There are black letters stating ‘Everybody’s Welcome’ around them are a collage of coloured acetate paper. Some is different colours others have rocks under a microscope printed on them. Visitors sitting and making their contribution to the collaborative artwork. There is microscopes through which you can look at minerals under a microscope. These were used as inspiration for the art.
June 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
How old are the oldest known fossils?
 
This fossil is called a stromatolite which are the most ancient known fossils dating back approximately 3.5 billion years. Stromatolites were among the earliest lifeforms on our planet.
 
#Stromatolites #SedgwickMuseum #EarthSciences #EarthHistory
A cut and polished stromatolite fossil held up in front of the Museum building. A close up of the stromatolite fossil showing the layers and domes formed within. The layers are no more than a mm thick.
June 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Do you know how many species of trilobites have roamed the Earth? 🌍
 
Over their 250 million-year existence, there were over 20,000 different species! During their long history, they diversified into many species with different sizes, habitats, and anatomy.  
 
#TrilobiteTuesday #SedgwickMusem
May 20, 2025 at 10:19 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
“Minerals are from the Earth and the Earth belongs to everyone. So everyone should be welcome in society.” – Y10 work experience student, 2022
Two pairs of hands holding a variety of minerals which are different colours. On the left, 5 minerals which are blue, pink and white are held in the same configuration as the transgender flag. On the right, 4 minerals which are yellow, white, purple and black are held in the same configuration as the non-binary flag. Underneath the hands is green foliage acting as a backdrop.
May 7, 2025 at 8:47 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
This toothy grin could once have been found in parts of England 35 million years ago. 🐊
 
This fascinating fossil is an extinct relative of the alligator and is thought to have enjoyed a similar diet of fish, mammals and birds. Its generic name is Diplocynodon.
 
#SedgwickMuseum #EarthSciences
A photograph of a skull belonging to an alligatoroid with the generic name of Dyplocynodon. The skull is sitting in a museum cabinet with other specimens on the shelf just below. The Diplocynodon skull photographed at a closer angle to see the teeth in more detail. Other specimens in the cabinet can be seen in the background.
May 1, 2025 at 11:21 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Did you know bivalve fossils can provide information about past environments? 🌊

Michael and Julia, from the University of Cologne, have been studying fossil bivalves in our collection to understand if bivalve morphology is linked to the environmental conditions in which they lived.
 
#FossilFriday
A photograph taken in the Collections Research Centre in our Second Palaeontology Store. In the foreground is a drawer containing bivalves from the Jurassic. Behind the drawer is Julia photographing bivalves with Michael sitting just behind her. Cabinets full of drawers can be seen around them. A close up of the drawer that Julia and Michael were working on when the photograph was taken. Each specimen is sitting in a small cardboard tray with a label in. The fossils are all creamy-white in colour.
April 25, 2025 at 1:29 PM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Did you know this fossil is commonly referred to as a ‘Devil’s toenail’?

Gryphaea got the name ‘Devil’s toenail’ from British folklore. They were associated with the Devil due to their characteristic large, thick, curved shells that resemble toenails.
 
#MolluscMonday #SedgwickMuseum #EarthSciences
A Gryphaea fossil held by a Sedgwick Museum staff member. The fossil is positioned standing up so we can see the two valves showing the characteristic curved thick walls. A Gryphaea fossil held by a Sedgwick Museum staff member. The fossil is positioned side on so we can see the curve of the shell which is very reminiscent of a toenail.
April 14, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
themuseumofliz.bsky.social
What kind of labour gets recognised, when we think about minerals in museums?
Who do we involve in recovering and telling their stories?

Helpful prompts from @ellietheelement.bsky.social in @originalgcg.bsky.social EDI symposium this morning, relevant to our thinking @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
April 9, 2025 at 10:45 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
These fascinating fossils look like intricate works of art. 🖼️
 
Even though they have been entombed in stone for over 150 million years, these delicate creatures look as if they are still swaying with the currents of the sea. 🌊
 
#FossilFriday #Crinoids #SedgwickMuseum #EarthSciences
A close up of a crinoid fossil slab. The slab contains multiple crinoid fossils that look a bit like stone lilies. A close up of a crinoid fossil slab. The slab contains multiple crinoid fossils that look a bit like stone lilies. This slab is darker in colour than the first one with more crinoids visible.
April 4, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
cambridge-earthsci.bsky.social
🎉 The latest issue of GeoCam is here! Meet our new Head of Department, uncover fascinating research, hear alumni stories, explore student mapping trips, and enjoy vibrant updates from @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social

📖 Read in full here: www.esc.cam.ac.uk/alumni/alumn...
Front cover of GeoCam 2025 showing a mountainous view with blue sky.
March 27, 2025 at 10:23 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Did you know that, under the right conditions, rocks can bend?
 
For today’s #TectonicTuesday, here are some folds in banded amphibolite found in Norway.

Studying the geometry of folds can help us understand the deformation history of rocks.
 
#TectonicTuesday #SedgwickMuseum #EarthSciences
A folded amphibolite being held up in front of a wall of 13 other rocks. The amphibolite is grey with darker grey bands in it. The bands are folded in an undulating way. The rock wall behind is brown in colour and there is an array of rocks displayed. Some are folded and others are fractured.
March 25, 2025 at 11:28 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
To mark the 240th Birthday of Adam Sedgwick, the Friends of the Sedgwick Museum attended a celebratory drinks reception followed by their annual dinner.
 
To learn more about becoming a member, head to our website and click ‘Support Us’.

#FriendsOfTheMuseum #SedgwickMuseum #AdamSedgwick #Geology
The Friends of the Sedgwick Museum posing for a group photo. There are 24 of them standing underneath Iggy our Iguanodon who has been lit with orange and pink lighting for the occasion.
March 24, 2025 at 11:15 AM
sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social
Our collection is regularly used by an array of researchers. 🔬

Here is Kaia, a Masters student at UCL, measuring a fossil coelacanth from the Cretaceous which was found in Maidstone, Kent. Kaia studied a variety of bony fish to inform her research. 🐟

#SedgwickMuseum #CollectionsResearch
Kaia, a visiting researcher, measuring a coelacanth fossil. She is using a digital calliper. There is a camera set up above the fossil to enable Kaia to take photos of the specimen. A close up of the Coelacanth Kaia is studying. It is sitting on a white background.
March 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Sedgwick Museum
themuseumofliz.bsky.social
Overall, the @sedgwickmuseum.bsky.social is working to make being LGBTQ+ mainstream rather than marginal in Earth science
🏳️‍🌈
#LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBTQ+HistoryMonth
February 28, 2025 at 9:57 AM