The Lawrence Hall of Science
The public science center of the University of California, Berkeley.
Wednesday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Animal Discovery Zone 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. View Additional Hours >
We’ll bring our science programs to you.
We partner with school districts to support science learning. We offer district-wide elementary, middle, and high school programs, either virtually or in-person.
We collaborate with a range of partners to innovate in science education. Together, we go further.
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11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Exhibit
Meet live animals and learn about their habits and habitats! Explore animal adaptations, discover how different critters use color in nature, and more. From axolotls to chinchillas, make furry, slimy, and scaly animal friends.
Veiled Chameleon
Blue-tongued Skink
Bearded Dragon
Axolotl
Turtles
Gecko
Insects
Snakes
Chinchilla
Rabbits
Hamsters
From simple to spectacular, animals come in as many colors as they do shapes and sizes. Their colors and patterns help them survive, but not always in the ways you might think! Observe animals like Delta the veiled chameleon, Xonga the Brazilian rainbow boa, and others to discover how their color and behavior help them survive and thrive in their habitat.
An ecosystem is the interaction between a community of nonliving and living things, including people. How do humans change their ecosystem in ways that other organisms can’t?Axolotls and humans have shared the same waterways crisscrossing modern-day Mexico City for centuries. Yet now wild axolotls are almost extinct. As people worked to provide enough food and space for the growing city, they changed and polluted the aquatic habitat. This affected both people and other animals. Learn about axolotls and investigate how humans can balance the needs of people and wildlife in the ecosystems we share.
What is an adaptation? It helps a group of animals survive in their habitat. An adaptation can be a behavior, like building a nest or hibernating, or even specialized body structures, such as gills or scales. Adaptations are passed along over many generations. Over millions of years, some groups of animals have changed a lot, while others have changed very little. Learn about adaptations by observing Indiana the legless lizard and other amazing animals!
11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Why do some lizards change color? How does a snake hear without ear holes? Bring your curiosity with you as you are guided through an interactive exploration of our animal ambassadors and their care during our Critter Connection program. Join our knowledgeable facilitators as we investigate your questions and discover new ones together. Although some of our animal ambassadors don’t mind interacting directly with visitors, some may be for observation only. We hope to foster that understanding as we learn about and from our animal friends together.
We’re reimagining our animal programs for the next generation of young scientists! Learn more about what’s coming and how you can make a difference.
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Admission
General
Age 3+: $20
Kids under 2: FREE
Members: FREE
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3D Theater
$4 + Admission
Planetarium
See What’s Happening Today
Today’s Schedule >
Behind-the-Scenes at The Animal Discovery Room
Meet Alondra Blandon, our Animal Discovery Room manager, and get a behind the scenes tour.