Science Alliance

Part of Children & Families

science-alliance-2460-1384
A program for middle school students at the American Museum of Natural History.

Learn new skills doing what you love—and meet our scientists. Explore the Tree of Life, our universe, and humankind. Make friends and collaborate on scientific discoveries!

Join Science Alliance

All classes are for students in Grades 6–8. Students can choose the topics they want to explore: anthropology, astrophysics, conservation science, earth science, and evolutionary biology. 

During the school year, Science Alliance runs three sessions: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Classes will be offered on Thursdays and Fridays after school and Saturdays during the day. Class listings for Spring will be available in February.

  • Thursday and Friday classes meet from 4:30–6:30 pm for eight weeks.
  • Saturday classes meet from 10 am–3 pm for four weeks. 

During the summer, Science Alliance offers a six-week Summer Science Academy where students explore a different scientific discipline each week. Summer Science Academy meets 9 am–4 pm.

How to Register

  • Please note that the grade level for Fall, Winter, and Spring programs below refers to the grade your child will enter in the 2022 academic year.
  • For Summer Science Academy, the grade refers to the grade your child will enter in Fall 2023
  • Students should sign up for classes based on the designated grade bands. 
  • To register for each program, click the “purchase” button.

Fees

  • Fall, Winter, and Spring courses are $1,000 each.
  • The six-week Summer Science Academy is $6,000 for the entire summer.

We have a limited number of reduced tuition (50% off) and free tuition seats in Science Alliance.

Tuition Assistance applications are currently closed.

You can use the income eligibility chart below to see if you qualify for free or reduced (50%) tuition:

Household Size Free Tuition Reduced Tuition Full Tuition
2 people 76,400 or below $76,401–$157,575 $157,576 or higher
3 people $85,920 or below $85,921–$177,210 $177,211 or higher
4 people $95,440 or below $95,441–$196,845 $196,846 or higher
5 people $103,120 or below $103,121–$212,685 $212,686 or higher
6 people or more $110,720 or below $110,721–$228,360 $228,361 or higher

Should you have any trouble registering using the program links, please call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 to purchase or be added to the waitlist.

Cancellation Policy

  • To receive a full refund (100%), you must cancel at least 30 days before the start of the program. 
  • To receive a partial refund (50%), you must cancel at least 15 days before the start of the program.
  • If you cancel less than 15 days before the start of the program, you will not receive a refund. ​
  • To cancel your registration in any of our programs, please call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200

To learn more about the programs, read the descriptions below, or contact us at [email protected].

Join our mailing list and learn about other middle school offerings.

Spring 2023 Sessions

CLASS
AGE GROUP
DATES & TIMES

Class:
Human Story

How have migration and adaptation shaped our genetic makeup, and why do we see genetic variation between populations? This course will introduce students to the unseen parts of biology and evolution. We will explore how scientists visualize DNA, evolutionary relationships between species, and the various mechanisms of evolution.

Fridays: 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26, 6/2, 6/9, 6/16

Registration Closed 

Cost: $1,000

Registration Closed

Age Group:
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Middle School, Youth

Dates & Times:
Fridays, 4:30–6:30 pm.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Middle School, Youth

Fridays, 4:30–6:30 pm

Class:
Ocean Worlds

Over the past few decades, observations from space exploration missions have allowed scientists to determine that planetary bodies within our solar system contain vast reservoirs of water. These “ocean worlds” may be the best future targets for exploring whether life exists beyond Earth. In this course, students will take a deep dive into the dynamic physical processes of Earth’s oceans, the unique organisms that have adapted to ocean environments, and the tools and technologies used to explore  ocean depths. We will then look toward the skies to see what is known about our solar system’s other ocean worlds, culminating with a challenge to design a future mission to explore them.

Thursdays: 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15

Registration Closed 

 

Cost: $1,000

Registration Closed

Age Group:
Grade 6, Middle School, Youth, Grade 7, Grade 8

Dates & Times:
Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm.

Grade 6, Middle School, Youth, Grade 7, Grade 8

Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm

Class:
Introduction to Microbiology

Explore the diversity of our microbial planet: the bacteria, protists, and viruses that are all around us, in us, and on us. Students will build a Winogradsky column in Central Park to observe how microbes interact with soil, swab various halls in the American Museum of Natural History to explore the microbes living on our exhibits, culture bacteria in the classroom, learn how to make a simple stain and a Gram stain for analyzing bacteria under the microscope, analyze the health benefits of various microbes in the human microbiome, and explore some of the consequences of the overuse of antibiotics.

Thursdays: 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15

Registration Closed 

Cost: $1,000

Registration Closed

Age Group:
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Middle School, Youth

Dates & Times:
Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Middle School, Youth

Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm

Class:
Astro Explorations

Humans have gazed into the sky for centuries and wondered how our lives are connected to the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars that dot our night view. Through the science of astronomy, we have uncovered not just connections to our own lives, but to the universe at large. This class is designed as an introductory step into astronomy. We will survey the history, scale, and motions of the universe and learn about the ways that humans continue to gain a coherent picture of the cosmos. Along the way, we will also explore how Museum astronomers carry out their observations and other work to make new discoveries.

Fridays: 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26, 6/2, 6/9, 6/16

 

Registration Closed 

Cost: $1,000

Registration Closed

Age Group:
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Middle School, Youth

Dates & Times:
Fridays, 4:30–6:30 pm.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Middle School, Youth

Fridays, 4:30–6:30 pm

Summer 2023

CAMP
GRADE LEVEL
DATES & TIMES

Camp:
Summer Science Academy

Join the Science Alliance Summer Science Academy and enjoy weeks of science exploration at the American Museum of Natural History. Each week students will engage in a new theme covering a range of scientific topics, including evolution, ecology, anthropology, astronomy, and Earth and planetary sciences.  Students will explore the unique places where science happens by visiting the Museum’s collections and labs and meeting scientists. This academy will nurture students’ innate curiosity while allowing them to generate new questions about the natural world. 

Program Dates: Monday, July 10–Friday, August 18  

Program Time: 9 am–4 pm Monday–Friday

Program Cost: $6,000

Click Here to Purchase

Registration Open

Grade Level:
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Middle School, Youth

Dates & Times:
July 10–August 18, 2023.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Middle School, Youth

July 10–August 18, 2023

 

Support for the Museum’s education and evaluation programs is generously provided by a grant from the Bezos Family Foundation.

The Museum’s Education Collection is generously supported by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and Elysabeth Kleinhans.