The 56th Annual Rutgers University Geology Museum Open House will take place on Saturday, January 27, 2024 between 9 am and 3 pm. Join us for a day of ancient seas-themed activities! All events will be held in Scott Hall and the Rutgers Geology Museum located on the College Avenue Campus in New Brunswick, NJ. For information on parking, locations, etc. please check out the Open House information page.
Join us for a day of Ancient Seas-Themed Activities!
**Parking is available in the Rutgers lots 11, 26, 30, and the College Avenue Deck after registering.
Please register your vehicle here to ensure that you do not receive a parking citation.**
Mineral Sale
- 9 am** to 3 pm, Scott Hall Room 135
- Credit cards, checks, and cash are accepted.
- 6.625% NJ sales tax will be applied to all purchases. Customers must provide proof of tax exempt status for the tax to be waived.
- **Early admission is available with Emerald and Diamond Level Museum Membership!
Lecture Series
All lectures will be held in Scott Hall Room 123.
10 am to 11 am: "Growing with Trilobites: Studying Growth and Evolution in this Iconic Fossil Group"
Mark Nikolic, PhD Student, American Museum of Natural History
11:30 am to 12:30 pm: "The Serpent Rises from the Waves: On the Origin of Mosasaurus, Lizard King of the Cretaceous"
Amelia Zietlow, PhD Student, American Museum of Natural History
2 pm to 3 pm: "What Shark Teeth Can Tell Us About Ancient Oceans"
Dr. Alliya Akhtar, PostDoc, Princeton University
Kids Activities
All kids activities are free and no pre-registration is required.
Activities will run in 3 sessions: 10:30-11:30AM, 12:30-1:30PM, and 1:30-2:30PM.
- Room 103- "Dinosaurs & Graffiti" - Children's book reading by author Rob Ambrose
- Room 104- Plankton Races
- Room 105- Mystery Skulls
Make-and-Take Activities and Guest Appearances
All arts & crafts stations and guest appearances will be held in the Geology Museum between 11 am and 2:30 pm.
This year's guests include Field Station Dinosaurs and the Friends of Mineralogy: NJ Chapter!
Rock and Mineral Identification
Friends of Mineralogy: NJ Chapter will be running a rock and mineral identification station in Scott Hall Room 106 between 11 am and 2 pm.
Historic Schanck Observatory Tours
Visitors can sign up for Observatory tours at the Geology Museum on the day of the event and will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis.
Participants must be at least 9 years old and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. This program involves walking up a steep and narrow staircase. Please read this document for more information and requirements for this tour.
