Science Buff Lecture: Wonderful Cambrian Beasts and Where to Find Them

Science Buff Lecture Series

Featuring Javier Ortega-Hernandez, PhD
Harvard University
2025-2026 Paleontological Society Distinguished Lecturer

Time: 7:00PM
Museum is open from 5 to 9 p.m.

The Cambrian fossil record is famously full of so-called “weird wonders”, extinct soft-bodied organisms with an otherworldly appearance that have captured the imagination of researchers and the public alike. But where do these strange animals come from? Why are they preserved so exquisitely? What does this mean for understanding the early evolution of animals? Come and learn the answers to these questions and maybe walk away with even more questions of your own.

All ages

Lecture Admission: $25 nonmembers; $5 with membership or school ID

Sponsored by:

Buffalo Geological Society

New York State Archaeological Association

Optional Add-on: Geology Rocks! Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Time: 5:00PM

Holmes! What kind of rock is this? Sedimentary, my dear Watson. Learn why this and other CoRn Y jokes are funny by investigating the Museum’s Geology Collection. Come behind the scenes and see the rock cycle, marvel at our minerals and discover our large fossil collection.

Ages 18+

10 spots available; preregistration required.

Lecture Admission + Behind-the-Scenes Tour at 5:00pm: $50 nonmembers, $30 with membership or school ID