This summer, the Natural Science and Heritage Scheme 2025 was a paid opportunity for five school placement students and three undergraduates to engage with the museum and its visitors.

This year's theme was 'We Are Nature'. Our training and engagement activities focused on communicating the idea that Humans – We – Are a part of Nature and therefore Natural History. Why does this matter? Words shape how we see the world. By updating our definition of nature to include ourselves, we can begin to repair our relationship with the Earth, recognising that our survival depends on the ecosystems we share. To protect nature is to protect ourselves—because we are nature. Training helped students understand both the legal and artistic ways of expressing this concept. What you see in this case is a coming together of that theme at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The case has been designed, created, and executed by our placement students, showcasing their experience in the museum and their relationship to the theme.