Venom CoLab at EarthFest at the American Museum of Natural History!

Venom CoLab, our collaborative science experience for 6th-8th graders, has officially launched! 

This Saturday, our team got to introduce learners of all ages to the wonder of venom, and the surprising way deadly venom inspires new medicines. Visitors played the Natural Selection game from Venom CoLab, where players control a snake catching mice to survive. Over ten generations, venom becomes more common in the snake population, making it easier for the venomous snakes to catch mice and defend themselves against predators. This game embodies principles of natural selection, showing how venom is a powerful adaptation for many organisms. The chapters that follow put students in collaborative groups of scientists working together to study the peptides and proteins in venom to find new treatments for health problems like cancer, autoimmune disorders, pain, and blood clotting, all inspired by the work of real scientists. 

Our launch of Venom CoLab at The American Museum of Natural History on Saturday, April 5th was part of their annual EarthFest celebration. Beyond the museum’s regular exhibitions, visitors were treated to activities identifying specimens from the museum’s collection, oyster tanks and presentations from the Billion Oyster Project, interactions with organisms and Radiolab’s Terrestrials podcast, examining plankton and insects under microscopes, and more! 

Thanks to the Museum and all of the curious and enthusiastic visitors we met!