Research and Collections

Collections-Based Research to Understand the Natural World

The Canadian Museum of Nature is a scientific leader in species discovery and Arctic research.

Our multidisciplinary team of scientists conduct leading-edge research in the natural sciences.

Animals, fossils, minerals, plants and algae—more than 14.6 million specimens are preserved in Canada's natural-history collection.

Explore a rich repository of art and photos from our collections through digitized images and stories.

Access data from the museum's collections: search, map results, and download data and images. Search our collections.

Let us use our natural-history and collection-care expertise to help you with your needs.

The museum is a national leader and an important international contributor in the field of collection-based scientific research.

The museum's multidisciplinary team specializes in collection-based research in the life sciences and Earth sciences.

Check out this view on Arctic-related activities, events, research, etc. at the museum.

The library and archives are open by appointment. Search our catalogue online.

The museum's science experts regularly publish their work in scientific journals.

Informing the Present by Breaking Down the Past (Literally!)
Join the museum’s Shyong En Pan as he explains how scientists can better understand valuable specimens only after they break them.
Lovely to Meat You: An Introduction to the Carnivorous Plants of Canada
Join the museum’s Marrissa Miller as she introduces readers to several species of carnivorous plants found in Canada.