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 and Time: Tuesday, 17 November 2026 5.30–8.30 pm AEDT
Venue:  The Australian Museum, cnr William and College Streets, Sydney (enter via the ramp on College St)
Registration:  Registration is required before 2.00 pm AEDT on Monday, 9 November 2026.
Numbers: Limited to 100 places.
Entry: RSNSW members, $60; Non-members and guests, $60
Enquiries: By email to [email protected]

Please register now

The Royal Society of New South Wales is delighted to invite members and their guests to a unique evening at the Australian Museum as part of the lead-up to its 200^th Anniversary in 2027.

Presented exclusively for the Royal Society, this special after-hours event offers an opportunity to experience a preview of the Australian Museum’s major new one-hour documentary exploring two centuries of the AM’s history and transformation before its official release.

The preview will be followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Kim McKay, Director and CEO of the Australian Museum and Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW. The panellists will be Emeritus Professor Robert Clancy, Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW and Professor Shane Ahyong, Acting Chief Scientist, Australian Museum.

The evening will open with drinks and canapés in the Wild Planet Gallery, with further opportunities for questions and discussion following the panel.

Event Highlights

• Exclusive preview screening of the Australian Museum’s new documentary in the Museum’s Theatre.
• Panel discussion exploring the Australian Museum’s remarkable 200-year history, our shared roots and intertwined contributions to Australian science, future directions and opportunities to advance scientific knowledge and public engagement.
• Drinks and canapés with speakers and guests.

Whether your interests lie in science, history, museums or the development and dissemination of knowledge in Australia, this promises to be a memorable evening marking two centuries of achievement while looking ahead to the future of science, discovery and public knowledge.

Kim McKay AO is Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, Australia’s first museum and the nation’s leading cultural and scientific institution. Appointed in 2014 as the first woman to lead the Museum in its history, Kim has overseen a major transformation program, including the award-winning Project Discover redevelopment and significant growth in public engagement. A respected environmental advocate and communications leader, she co-founded the Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World campaigns and has held senior roles with National Geographic and Discovery Channel. In 2008, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the environment and the community. Kim is a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW.

Professor Shane Ahyong is Acting Chief Scientist and Senior Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Museum. An internationally recognised marine biologist, he is a world authority on the evolution and classification of crustaceans, including mantis shrimps, crabs and lobsters. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has described more than 300 new species and published extensively on marine biodiversity. Shane serves on several national and international scientific bodies, including the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature and the World Register of Marine Species. He is currently listed among Stanford University’s top 2% most influential scientists worldwide.

Professor Emeritus Robert Clancy is Foundation Professor of Pathology, Medical School, University of Newcastle, and a clinical immunologist. His interest in history of science is reflected in organising and running five European tours, including “The History of Medicine and Pharmacy, Following the Course of the Black Death: From Venice to London” (with Christine Clancy) and “The History of Science: Venice to Cambridge” for the Royal Society, and others to Antarctica. Author of numerous texts, including the book The Long Enlightenment: The History of Science in Australia From Its Beginning To Mid 20th Century, which includes the sciences and their integration with the Australian Museum and the Royal Society of NSW. Robert is a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW.

Registrations are now open. We encourage early booking to avoid disappointment.

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