Research Projects

Find out about research projects recently undertaken by the Natural History team.

CoBiD – Collections-Based Biology in Dublin

This was a collaboration with staff of the School of Biology and Environmental Science of University College Dublin. The museum and university staff provide a course for final year students that included museum curation and research. The project saw the cataloguing of 40,000 specimens, and improved access to collections for researchers. The college course and our work with adult education won the Best Access and Outreach Initiative in the Museum of the Year Awards 2004.

Visit the CoBiD website

Invertebrate Ireland Online

This is a collaboration with staff of the Ulster Museum and a number of other partners. Our aim is provide online checklists for the invertebrate fauna of Ireland. These lists summarise the species of insects, spiders, slugs and other small animals that make up the majority of our island fauna.

Visit Invertebrate Ireland Online

Taxidermy Restoration

Since 2003 staff have been working with a taxidermy company to restore exhibits in the Natural History Museum.

View the work of Bouten & Zoon on their website

Irish Cetacean Genetic Tissue Bank

Irish whales and dolphins that get stranded around our shores are being sampled in order collect DNA. This helps to understand cetacean populations in our waters. The work is done in partnership with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Visit the Irish Cetacean Genetic Tissue Bank