First Fridays at the Natural History Museum

Over the past decade, First Fridays at the Natural History Museum (NHM) has introduced young and adult audiences to both the museum itself and a new kind of museum experience. Contemporary science, culture, and individual experience converge during these after-hours events. First Fridays events feature discussions and tours; live performances by musicians, bands and DJs; and the entire museum is open to explore, often with pop-up performances and surprises in its historic halls and brand-new exhibitions.

First Fridays 2016: Big Screen, Bigger Science features a series of events that take place at the intersection of science and fiction. From Jurassic paleontology and space travel, to crypto insects and zombie-like pandemic killer viruses - how much science is there in science fiction? Scientists will discuss the good, the bad and the ridiculous in film – and how Hollywood continues to inspire the next frontier of science exploration. Each discussion forum will be moderated by Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times journalist, author and Emmy-winning television and radio host.

STRANGER THAN FICTION
It’s no April Fools, the April 1 edition of First Fridays starts with the "Stranger than Fiction" tour led by Alyssa Morgan, Collections Manager of Gems & Minerals. Go backstage and shine a light on the bizarre props and rare specimens that inspire Hollywood blockbusters. Curators and researchers will share astonishing stories about the specimens and artifacts that fill the NHM’s behind-the-scenes collections and inspire the imagination. Tours are scheduled for 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. 15-person capacity per tour. Tour tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

IN SPACE, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU EMOTE
Dr. Sean Carroll, professor of Physics at California Institute of Technology, and Professor Clifford V. Johnson, professor of Physics at the University of Southern California will explore the influence of space and time travel in movies. Discussion takes place at 6:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC
Live music performances by Night Beats at 8 p.m. and Car Seat Headrest at 9:15 p.m.

DJ LOUNGE
From 5:30-10 p.m., get your groove on in the DJ lounge, located in the African Mammal Hall. First Fridays resident DJ, Aaron Byrd welcomes special guest Mo:Rockin (aka Morgan Menco), a Southern California native who cut his teeth in the early 2000s club and party scene, then made his way to Colorado. His unique mixing style and exciting stage presence have made Mo:Rockin a staple in the electronic music scene.

STRANGER THAN FICTION
The May 6 edition of First Fridays kicks off with the "Stranger than Fiction" tour led by Nefti Camacho, Collections Manager of Herpetology. Go backstage and shine a light on the bizarre props and rare specimens that inspire Hollywood blockbusters. Curators and researchers will share astonishing stories about the specimens and artifacts that fill the NHM’s behind-the-scenes collections and inspire the imagination. Tours are scheduled for 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. 15-person capacity per tour. Tour tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

VELOCIRAPTOR IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS
Dr. Michael Habib, Assistant Professor in the Keck School of Medicine of USC and a Research Associate in the Dinosaur Institute at NHM, and Dr. Nathan Smith, Associate Curator in the Dinosaur Institute, dig into a conversation about film and dinosaurs. Discussion takes place at 6:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC
Live music performances by Korey Dane at 8 p.m. and Escondido at 9:15 p.m. Pop-up Performance by Paul Bergmann at 7:15 p.m.

DJ LOUNGE
From 5:30-10 p.m., get your groove on in the DJ lounge, located in the African Mammal Hall. First Fridays resident KCRW DJ, Aaron Byrd welcomes special guest DJ Jedi, an Emmy Award-winning Los Angeles-based DJ who is admired for his eclectic style of mixing, song selection and sublime turntablism.