UoR-NHM Partnership Open Day 2026

Registration is now open to staff for the UoR-NHM Partnership Open Day on Thursday 8 January 2026, 10:00-16:00.

This will be a celebration of the UoR-NHM partnership’s successes so far, and an opportunity for staff from both institutions to engage with each other and with the partnership further as work continues on NHM’s new state-of-the-art collections, research and digitisation centre at TVSP.

We have a range of exciting talks and conversations planned for the Open Day, and we are looking forward to welcoming many members of staff from both institutions as well as guests from the British Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the British Film Institute.

If you are intending to attend, please fill out this registration form no later than 9:00 on Monday 8 December and select options for the morning, afternoon, or all day.

We very much hope you will be able to join us.

Programme

10:00 Refreshments and networking

10:45 Welcome from Professor Parveen Yaqoob (Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, UoR) and Dr Tim Littlewood (Executive Director of Science, NHM)

10:55 The UoR-NHM partnership: highlights of activities and future opportunities

11:10 A supportive context: NHM Unlocked, NHM National Programmes, DiSSCoUK, Sustainability at UoR, Climate Ambassadors Scheme

12:10 Project presentations

12:50 Closing remarks from Dr Doug Gurr (Director, NHM)

13:00 Networking lunch

13:45 Parallel sessions 1:

• Digital Collections
• Archaeology and Ancient Environment
• NHM lab facilities at Thames Valley Science Park

15:00 Parallel sessions 2:

• Collections and Culture
• Palaeontology and Evolution
• AI Tools and Innovation for Research

16:00 Event ends