Children can participate in hands-on educational activities in the new program presented virtually by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. (photo courtesy of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County)

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is partnering with Nickelodeon to explore the “Science of Slime” with experts and educators showcasing the many ways plants, animals and other organisms use slime to survive.

With the help of popular Nickelodeon characters and Ryan Alessi from Nick’s “All That,” children and families can get to know some of the world’s slimiest species – including frogs, fish and snails – through fun and educational videos, do-it-yourself activities and weekly live programs with NHM scientists.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to showcase how fun scientific work and discovery can be, and to make our research and collections accessible and engaging for the widest possible audience,” said Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, NHM president and director.

“We are grateful to Nickelodeon for this partnership and for inspiring young people to see some of their favorite programs and the world around them in a new light. With the videos, events and activities, we hope to provide encouragement and tips for how to pursue careers in science and natural history and show what it’s like to work at a science-focused museum,” she added.

The new “Science of Slime” webpage will feature child-friendly information and allow visitors to access content and downloadable activities. NHM’s gallery interpreters and scientists collaborated on a slime-inspired virtual tour that will take viewers on a journey through museum halls and behind-the-scenes. Hosted by Alessi, the video offers a new perspective on specimens on display at NHM and in the collections, many rarely seen by the public. DIY activities developed by NHM’s 2020 marine science interns will help audiences continue their at-home exploration with simple activities and projects for families with Nickelodeon characters from “SpongeBob SquarePants” paired with informational videos.

Each Monday and Thursday through Dec. 14 (except on Thanksgiving), NHM’s education team and Live Animal Program will host webinars for students and teachers, who can participate in virtual classrooms. The sessions will allow participants to meet a scientist and learn about a live animal. Questions can be submitted and answered.

“NHMLAC is the ideal partner for a scientific exploration of Nickelodeon’s slime and in helping to make science fun and accessible to kids,” said Andrew Machles, vice president of public affairs at Nickelodeon’s parent company, Viacom.

“We have collaborated with the museum’s experts to create content that we hope will inspire more kids to connect with nature and pursue an interest in scientific careers,” he added.

For a schedule of programming, visit nhm.org/slime.