
The members of the Carnegie Discoverers share a passion for discovery and adventure and are enthusiastic supporters of Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Founded in 2006 by Dr. Richard Moriarty, the principal purpose of the Carnegie Discoverers is to assist and support Carnegie Museum of Natural History in promoting its scientific, educational, and cultural missions and in the development of new and larger audiences for the institution.
Through a number of special events each year, Carnegie Discoverers explore and learn about many amazing facets of natural history. These opportunities afford our members a unique relationship with, and a keener appreciation of, Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Dr. Richard Moriarty
Members of Discoverers can look forward to the following events for Fall 2025:
September 2025 – Egypt Lecture
Speaker: Lisa Haney, Ph.D., Assistant Curator, Egypt on the NileOctober 2025 – Vertebrate Paleontology Lecture
Speaker: Sarah Davis, Ph.D., Collection Manager, Vertebrate PaleontologyNovember 2025 – Gems & Minerals Lecture
Speaker: Chris Emproto, Ph.D., Post Doctoral Fellow, Minerals & Earth SciencesA sampling of recent lectures:
The Stories We Keep: Conservation as the bridge to connect visitors, staff, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s collections
Annick Vuissoz, Project Conservator
Future-proofing Museum Collections: Collections Care and Access at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Kathy Hollis, Director of Collections Care & Access
A Diamond in the Rough: Bringing Carnegie’s Ornithological Collection into the 21st Century
Serina Brady, MSc2, Collection Manager, Ornithology
An Island in a Sea of Sand: Describing New Amphibians and Reptiles from Angola’s Most Mysterious Mountain
Mariana P. Marques, Collection Manager, Amphibians and Reptiles
Looking Closely: Lessons from the Carnegie’s “Natural History Art” Collection
Deirdre M. Smith, Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh; Assistant Curator
(Mr.) Yukking It Up: The Science of Poison, Venom, and Toxicity in the CMNH Collection
Eight Mini-talks from Scientific Staff Members
Nature out of place? Confronting the topic of invasive species
Mason Heberling, Associate Curator, Botany
Searching for the Thylacine: The Sad History of the Tasmanian Wolf
John Wible, Curator, Mammals