Virtual Labs

What does a palaeontologist actually do? What is the best part of their job and what sort of things do you need to know to become one? Helen Ryan, technical officer of palaeontology at WA Museum, lets you in on some of the things she gets up to in her varied role as a palaeontoligist at WA Museum.

The Museum’s palaeontology collection has over 1,500,000 specimens. Go behind-the-scenes with Dr. Mikael Siversson to learn how these specimens help us understand the history of living things in Western Australian. Mikael will also discuss his own work researching shark fossils found in WA.

In this lab, we’re diving into the unknown! Learn how scientists use technology to record unknown species from the deep ocean.  Dr. Lisa Kirkendale and Dr. Nerida Wilson are two of the WA Museum’s experts in aquatic zoology. Together they will talk about their field work exploring the Ningaloo Canyons on the Falknor deep sea expedition. 

How can DNA samples from the Northern Quoll help save their species? Hear about the importance of this conservation approach and how exactly you collect DNA from a quoll that doesn't sit still for long!

Dr Brian O’Brien was an Australian physicist whose career in space science began in the 1960s designing and launching satellites into space to measure auroras. He also pioneered the study of lunar dust during the Apollo missions, his experiments even ran on the moon! Be inspired and amazed hearing not only about Brian O'Brien's amazing scientific knowledge, but his passion for his scientific endeavours and ever-changing career that spanned 60 years in science.

Discover how scientists classify species, looking under the microscope and explore the many spiders lurking in the stores of the Museum.

There are some giant fossil skeletons being uncovered in the Pilbara!

Dr Kenny Travouillon, Curator of Mammalogy at WA Museum, firstly shares the story of the Diprotodon fossils they have been uncovering at the De Boulay Creek site in northern WA.

Join Dr Andrew Hosie, curator of crustacea and worms at WA Museum and hear about his current research project. We'll outline the stages of crab development and how identifying crab larvae from plankton samples, then using genetic barcoding to aid in identification, might be useful in future management of our aquatic resources.