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- Is the museum open to the public? (or What are the hours and cost of admission to your public museum?)
- UCMP is actually a research facility rather than a public museum, and it's collections are not open to the public. However, UCMP does have some specimens on display on the first and second floors on the west side of the Valley Life Sciences Building (VLSB). Information about some of these public exhibits can be found on our website. The display also includes an exhibit tracing the evolutionary history of humans, highlighting Berkeley's contributions to various fields of paleontology. More information can be found here. In addition to UCMP's paleo-displays, the University and Jepson Herbaria has some examples of prehistoric plants in the VLSB first floor atrium just outside their Administrative Offices (across from UCMP's T-rex skeleton); the Essig Museum of Entomology's window displays are located on the first floor (also near T-rex); and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology's window displays are on the third floor around the top of the spiral staircase. On the east side of the building, the Golub Microscope Collection is on display in the Onderdonk Lobby. All of these exhibits are FREE and available for viewing during the building's regular hours of operation. The Valley Life Science Building is also home to the Bioscience and Natural Resources Library, which sets the hours of operation for VLSB. Please visit the library's website for this information.
- My child is really interested in dinosaurs. What other dinosaur museums are in the Bay Area? (or Where can he/she learn more about dinosaurs?)
- There are no local museums devoted entirely to dinosaurs at this time, but UCMP's website offers a wealth of online resources for K-12 students and teachers interested in science and paleontology. The site also includes information about UC's undergraduate and graduate programs in related fields in the Departments of Integrative Biology, Earth and Planetary Sciences and Geology.
- Where can I park near UCMP's location on campus?
- Parking on campus can be a real challenge. As there is no free parking on campus and limited available spaces on surrounding streets, public transportation is highly recommended. The Downtown Berkeley BART Station is located two blocks from the west side of campus, not far from UCMP's location in the Valley Life Sciences Building. AC Transit bus stops are located all around the campus perimeter. Visit BART and AC Transit for more information. Visit the University's Parking and Transportation Department for information on visitor and off-campus parking.
- Where is UCMP located on campus?
- The museum's location on the UC Berkeley campus and hours can be found here.
- Does UCMP offer any public programs or events?
- Each year, UCMP presents a weekend Short Course on topics of general interest. The course is appropriate for the general public, and also contains information and activities of particular interest to science teachers and educators. The Short Course usually takes place in the spring, and the topic, date and campus location are posted on our website 2-3 months in advance. Information about past Short Courses can be found here. Information on our other public programs can be found on this page. The museum also participates in CalDay, UC Berkeley's annual open house event which is held every April. For information about dates and event activities, please visit the official CalDay website.
- I have a fossil, can you identify it for me? (or Is this a fossil, can you take a look and let me know what it is?)
- Unfortunately, we can't identify fossils that you have found since we have limited staffing and resources. However, you are welcome to come to our annual Cal Day open house when students and curators will be available to help answer your question. You may also find some clues through various links on UCMP's Paleontology Portal page, such as the Fossil Gallery and the MyFossil website maintained by professional and vocational paleontologists.
- I need to interview a paleontologist for a school assignment. Is there one at the UCMP that I can interview?
- Due to limited staffing and resources, the museum's scientists are not always available for interviews. However, UCMP's Paleontology Portal website includes a page called PaleoPeople, which features interviews with paleontologists at various universities and institutions around the U.S. and includes personal histories and science research. Additional information on both professional and vocational paleontologists can be found on the MyFossil website.
- Are the dinosaur fossils on display at the UCMP in the Valley Life Sciences Building real?
- The original fossil bone material is often too heavy for display purposes. Replicas or casts made from the original bones are commonly used in fossil displays such as ours.