Nature Overheard: Tune in to your streets with the Natural History Museum

08 - 09 July 2023 10:00 - 18:00 The Royal Society Free
an elderly woman and a young boy are in a garden closely observing a plant

This event is part of the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition 2023.

Join the Natural History Museum's Nature Overheard project to investigate how noise pollution affects insects near roads. Discover why insects are crucial for a healthy environment and how noise disrupts their communication. Come talk to scientists, explore Museum specimens up close, and find out how you can get involved!

Insects are important for a healthy environment, but noise can make it hard for them to communicate with each other. They may have to change their sounds to be heard in noisy places. Until now, we have not been able to investigate on a large scale how noise affects them, but new technology makes studying this problem easier. Acoustic Biology Researcher at the Museum Ed Baker has been developing the technology to disentangle background noise and detect insects and other wildlife.

Attending the event

The Nature Overheard team will be in the City of London 3 room at the following times:

Saturday 8 July 2023, 10am — 6pm

Sunday 9 July 2023, 10am — 6pm

  • Free to attend
  • In person only
  • No registration required
  • Suitable for everyone
  • Travel and accessibility information - contact us directly to arrange any specific accessibility requirements
  • Food and drink will be available for purchase at our onsite café

For all enquiries, please email us.