Boats returning from the Ceylon Pearl Banks in March 1829

How to Study: Pearls of the Past

In this blog series for National Marine Week, Geography PhD Student Anna Guasco describes the many ways Cambridge postgraduate researchers study life in the ocean. Here she interviews: Tamara Fernando: Marine Historical Ecology and Archival Methods Tamara is a PhD student in the Faculty of History. She is from Sri Lanka. Using a historian’s tools to explore these stories of underwater change, ecosystem variance, and … Continue reading How to Study: Pearls of the Past

rcw30July 29, 2021July 27, 20212 Comments

Banner image of nautilus craft and materials

Crafty Creatures

Crochet a Nautilus: beginners guide

Volunteer Natasha says: This quick and easy little crochet shell is a brilliant way to use up those leftover scraps of yarn and would look great as a decorative addition to any crafty project, like on a cosy blanket or hanging on a mobile! You can use any fibre/material yarn of your choice but be aware that thicker yarns will produce larger shells and the … Continue reading Crochet a Nautilus: beginners guide

saras9690July 21, 2021July 21, 2021Leave a comment

Puggle Club

Animal Alphabet: Q is for Quoll

Join us every Tuesday as we make an alphabet from the animals in the Museum of Zoology. Today is the letter Q: Q is for quoll, quill, quetzal, quahog and quilt (not an animal at all, but a beautiful patchwork animal map of the world created for us by a brilliant team of volunteers). Can you think of any others? Join us next week as … Continue reading Animal Alphabet: Q is for Quoll

rcw30July 28, 2020Leave a comment

Nature Classroom

Shell Detectives

Have you ever picked up a shell on the beach and wanted to know more about it? Have you turned it over in your hands, looked inside, wondered what the animal that lived in there was like? Well, now is your chance to be a true Shellock Holmes as this Nature Classroom is all about shells. We will be looked at what shells can tell … Continue reading Shell Detectives

rcw30June 15, 2020August 5, 20224 Comments

Shell University Museum of Zoology, copyright University of Cambridge, Jamie Gundry CC

Research Stories

Secrets of the shell

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Dr Victoria Sleight Department of Zoology “I want to understand how molluscs make their beautiful shells. We know that shells are made from a mixture of mainly calcium carbonate and a few proteins, but there are many questions … Continue reading Secrets of the shell

saras9690April 23, 2020May 6, 2020Leave a comment