Events at the Museum of Natural History in September 2019
Anniversary year - 40 years of Insektarium!
Event focus "Spiders - hunters on eight legs" from 11 July to 30 September
They hunt and kill silently, give us the creeps and are almost everywhere - we're talking about spiders! Hardly any other group of animals polarises more. Yet things would be bad for us humans if they didn't exist, because the world's spiders consume more meat than humans eat, namely up to 800 million tonnes of insects per year. Without them, we would probably suffocate in insects. Yet they themselves are not only hunters, but also hunted. Around 8000 animal species in the world feed exclusively on spiders.
With the event focus "Spiders - hunters on eight legs" from July to September 2019, the Museum für Naturkunde would like to honour these fascinating predators in a special way. During this unique period, a silk spider is allowed to freely build its large web in the insectarium. Visitors can not only get to know one of the largest spider species in the world, but also take part in spider feedings. And if you want, you can even pick up a large hairy tarantula yourself.
Tuesday, 3 September, 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Public spider feeding in the Insectarium
Location: Museum of Natural History, museum ticket office
Admission: Adults 5 euros / Concessions 2.50 euros / Children and young people up to 18 years free
Tuesday, 3 September, 5 to 6 p.m.
Working group for nature-loving children aged 6 to 13.
AG Naturforscher - Spinnen mit Superkräften Location: Museum für Naturkunde, Museumspädagogisches Kabinett
Admission: free, only with pre-booking on 0371 / 488-4552 or zierold(at)naturkunde-chemnitz.de.
From the improbable power of a horned mite to the "safety rope" of a jumping spider, outstanding abilities of the eight-legged creatures as well as fossilised representatives found in Chemnitz are examined.
Wednesday, 18 September, 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.
"Fiume Achates" - On the trail of Sicily's ancient agates
Lecture by Ralf Schmidt
Location: TIETZ, lecture theatre, 3rd floor
Admission: free
Sunday, 15 September 2019 / 10 am to 5 pm
Day of the Geotope
Location: Window into the history of the earth, Glockenstraße 16, 09130 Chemnitz
Admission: free, registration required at fenster(at)naturkunde-Chemnitz.de or 0371 27369367
On National Geotope Day, the scientific excavation opens its doors and invites visitors to enter into a dialogue with the researchers. The latest finds from the 2019 excavation season will be presented.
The "Window into the Earth's History" project is funded by the ESF.
June to September 2019
Join the cheeky caterpillar Luise on an exciting discovery tour through the Insectarium. Meet colourful butterflies, busy bees and strong ants.
Find out what a beekeeper does and how an egg becomes a butterfly. You can take home a candle made from beeswax.
Admission is free for children and young people under the age of 18. There is a material charge of 2 euros per participant.
Only with pre-booking on 0371 488-4555 or ehle(at)naturkunde-chemnitz.de.