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Baker’s yeast are way cool…

Sunday November 3 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Yeast are humans’ oldest domesticated microorganism, and for thousands of years we have used them to produce many useful, and often delicious, products. But did you know yeast do more than just make your bread rise?

As yeast grow, they convert sugars primarily into carbon dioxide and alcohol, but through this process they also produce a huge variety of aromatic compounds. Some of these aromatics are fruity, and can also be found in apples, bananas, and berries. Other compounds may smell like cloves, herbs, or vegetables. And they can also make weird smells that you’d never associate with baking or brewing: from nail polish, to baby vomit, even the buttery smell of microwavable popcorn! Balancing all of these flavours is critical, and learning more about how and why yeast make them will help us breed better yeast strains for the breads and beers of tomorrow.

Dr. Karissa Milbury (@Point_Mutation) researches the complex aromas that are produced by Baker’s yeast (A.K.A.Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or brewer’s yeast) during fermentation, through her role as a Mitacs Postdoctoral Fellow at UBC and Renaissance BioScience Corp.

Let us know if you'll be joining us!

New Researchers Revealed video!

Finola Fogarty describes her research on genetic diversity within the Orange-crowned warblers.

Researchers Revealed is an exciting new series profiling the research performed in UBC’s Biodiversity Research Centre. Produced by Philippe Roberge, the series looks at new ways in which researchers harness technology to study the natural world in ways that were not possible before.

UTOWN @ UBC Nature Club Family Days!

Next Edition November 3, 2019

A FREE program for campus residents, these drop-in sessions are designed for children 5-12 years old accompanied by an adult (not suitable for preschool-aged children). All sessions will be held at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, with experts from the Pacific Museum of Earth and around UBC making guest appearances.

Drop in between 10:30 am – 1:00 pm the first Sunday of the month to enjoy special activities for families plus all of our regular museum programming, Raising Big Blue movie, museum tours, and more!

Pre-registration encouraged. Drop-ins welcome as space permits. Thank you for pre-registering so that we can prepare for the number of children attending.

Biodiversity Lecture Series

Tuesday, November 5 | 7:00pm

At the Jack Poole Hall in UBC's Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre

This year we are excited to welcome Dr. Beth Shapiro for her talk: Can (and should?) biotechnology reverse extinction?

Dr. Beth Shapiro is an ancient DNA scientist and author of the book How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction, and she will be discussing the real science behind the emerging idea known as “de-extinction”.

Free event. RSVP required. For more information, please check the event's link here.

Membership
A Beaty Biodiversity Museum membership means joining and supporting a lively community of people inspired by biodiversity, engaged with the natural world, and dedicated to conservation.

About the Museum
The Beaty Biodiversity Museum is Vancouver's natural history museum, dedicated to building greater understanding, and a shared sense of community and wonder, around biodiversity.

Museum Hours

Tuesday - Sunday

10:00am-5:00pm

Third Thursday of the month, museum open until 8:30pm with admission by donation after 5:00pm.

Closed on Mondays

Visit our website for more information and what's on at the museum.

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Upcoming Events

Nocturnal: The Heart of the Fraser Screening

21 November 5:00 - 8:30pm

Special Nocturnal edition! Screening of The Heart of the Fraser documentary and a Q&A session with Dr. Ken Ashley, Director of the BCIT Rivers Institute and expert in aquatic fisheries restoration and environmental engineering.

The film highlights one of the most valuable ecosystems in the world, the Fraser River, and calls attention to the continuing destruction of this culturally-rich ecosystem in the lower Fraser River. It shows the profound changes development has had on the landscape, and the efforts to protect and restore the gravel reach from further degradation.

Admission by donation after 5pm. All ages welcome. Drop in at any time!

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Current Exhibitions