Royal Society of NSW 2026-2 Visits Program

The Australian Museum
Partners in Discovery: Celebrating Two Centuries of Science—and looking to the Future

Date: Tuesday, 17 November 2026 from 5.30 pm AEDT
Venue:  The Australian Museum, cnr William and College Streets, Sydney
Cost:  To be advised
Registration:  Registration information to follow
Enquiries: By email to RSNSW Programs

The Royal Society of NSW has built on its heritage over the last few years with a tour from ‘Padua to Cambridge’ exploring the roots of science in the Western tradition, followed by a series of field visits to the Institutions of Science that paired with the Royal Society in the 19th century, to provide the bedrock science on which our standing today is built.

The fourth and final visit in this series is to the Australian Museum for a special evening – an absolute “must be there” occasion! Our previous visits covered Botany, Astronomy and Institutions. The Australian Museum complements these by providing the taxonomy and species description for vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, and by becoming the reference centre for identification, classification of fossils and their use in strata dating. Foundation activities for both disciplines.

For more than two centuries the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Museum have helped shape Australian science. Both emerged from the early scientific ambitions of colonial New South Wales, with generations of scientists contributing to both organisations through research, publications and public engagement. Together they helped lay the foundations of scientific inquiry in Australia.

As Australia’s first museum prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2027, the Museum Director and CEO, Kim McKay, has extended an invitation to the  Royal Society’s Visits Program to join a special preview event recognising the long and remarkable relationship between our two institutions.

The evening will include a preview screening of the Museum’s new Bicentenary documentary, a panel discussion, audience questions, drinks and canapes.

This promises to be a fascinating opportunity to celebrate the shared heritage of two of Australia’s oldest scientific institutions while gaining an early insight into the Australian Museum’s Bicentenary celebrations.

Details to follow. Save the date: Tuesday, 17 November 2026 from 5.30 pm

Share link:

Share link: