The Natural History Museum, After Hours: Science Uncovered - Tiptoe into the science research labs under the cover of night

The Natural History Museum’s After Hours: Science Uncovered is part of the European Researchers’ Night, designed to bring the public closer to the scientific research and study that goes on every day, behind the exhibition scenes, to preserve the world’s natural history.

For just 1 night, the Natural History Museum will open its research institute doors to the public, giving us more access than ever before to the researchers that work out of view on a range of topics including climate change and ecosystem maintenance. After Hours: Science Uncovered, will include behind the scenes tours and talks, as well as the opportunity to see specimens that are usually not for public viewing and to ask leading scientists direct questions about their study and profession.

There will also be the opportunity to bring your own specimens in for the scientists to identify, so if you think you’ve just discovered fairies in your back garden, you’ll be able to get it verified by the scientists to make sure it’s not just a snail with a couple of leaves stuck to its back. I’m taking my dad in, because to this day, I’m convinced he’s from a subspecies that splintered off from the Neanderthal Man. Neandercombeoverthetops is the name I’m gunning for.

Taking place on the 24th September 2010 from 4pm to 10pm, After Hours: Science Uncovered promises to pull out some of the most interesting and bizarre specimens that have been tucked away in and amongst the museum’s millions of specimens that are kept out of the reach of the public. This is one of your few chances to see them.

Three bars will be open to shmooze with some of the country’s leading scientists, plus there will be nipples, and if the pic on their website is to be believed these will include pineapple and cheese on a stick, so get yourself in gear for a class night of wild scientific partying. If it all doesn’t turn into a blur of white lab coats cavorting in an orgy of biblical proportions, I’ll be very surprised.