About Monkeys After Dark: Adults

This adults-only event features the opportunity to discover current research exploring the sex lives of our closest animal relatives and experience Monkeys: Our Primate Family exhibition afterhours.

Learn about research into the cognitive, social and reproductive evolution of primates through short talks with scientific experts. Our guest speakers are Callum Gibson, Chimpanzee keeper at Edinburgh Zoo, and top scientific researchers, Charlotte Brassey and Matilda Brindle.  

See our primate handling collection with our museum experts including Principal Curator, Dr Andrew Kitchener. Explore 3D printed models and new digital software with our guest speakers to learn more about primate anatomy. 
 

Good to know

  • Our exhibition shop will be open on the night.
  • Entrance to this event will be via the glass doors at the rear of the museum on Lothian Street. 
  • Please note that filming and photography will take place at this event.

Our speakers

Callum Gibson
Charlotte Brassey
Matilda Brindle
Callum Gibson

20:15–20:30 & 21:00–21:15
Auditorium, Level 1

Callum Gibson is the Chimpanzee keeper and Budongo team leader at Edinburgh Zoo. Callum will share recent developments in primate cognitive research.

Charlotte Brassey

20:30–20:45 & 21:15–21:30
Auditorium, Level 1

Dr Charlotte Brassey is a Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Manchester Metropolitan University. Based on primate specimens from National Museums Collection Centre, her research investigates the evolution of male and female primate genitalia.

Matilda Brindle

20:45–21:00 & 21:30–21:45
Auditorium, Level 1

Dr Matilda Brindle is an evolutionary biologist at the University of Oxford. Her work looks at primate sexual behaviours and morphology (the study of the form and structure of organisms). Matilda will discuss her research on the sexual and social evolution of primates and other animals, exploring how sexual behaviours such as masturbation and the evolution of the penis bone are related to reproductive success.

Accessibility and facilities

We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.

The event will take place both in the Auditorium on Level 1, and inside the 'Monkeys: Our Primate Family'exhibition on Level 3. 

Getting to the exhibition gallery

Lifts are available to all floors of the museum. You can check the museum map or ask a member of staff for the nearest lifts. 

There are escalators in the Collecting Stories gallery on Level 1 leading to the exhibition gallery on Level 3.

Information on lift and escalator dimensions is available on the AccessAble website.  

Toilets

There are toilets on all levels of the museum. Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are available on most floors. There is a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0.  

You can access the museum map to find those nearest toilets or ask a member of our Visitor Experience team for directions. 

Seating

Seating is available throughout the exhibition.

There are 4 wheelchair spaces at the front of the auditorium.

Large print labels

Large print labels are available in this exhibition.

Hearing induction loops

There are hearing induction loops:

  • at the information desk outside the exhibition gallery
  • in the Auditorium
Sensory resources

Ear defenders are available to borrow for free from the exhibition ticket desk on Level 3. 

A limited number of sensory backpacks are available at the information desks in the Main Entrance Hall and the Tower Entrance. These backpacks cannot be booked in advance.

Visit our accessibility page for full access information for the National Museum of Scotland buildings.

If you have any questions about accessing this event, please email us in advance at publicevents@nms.ac.uk.

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