[NMScience] June events at Natural History

[Morris, Tish, DCA]

New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
June Calendar of Events
 (And July/August trips/tours)
_________________________

Chaco Astronomy
Anna Sofaer with Paul Pino
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 7 p.m.

High on a butte in New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon at summer solstice in 1977, Anna Sofaer encountered an astonishing phenomenon--a single shaft of light bisecting a spiral petroglyph, crafted long ago by the ancestors of today’s Pueblo people. Her recognition of its significance led to thirty years of research and recovery regarding astronomical expressions in the complex architecture and art of an ancient  people. These efforts changed forever our perception of the meaning and purpose of Chaco. Ms. Sofaer will present information from her new book documenting thirty years of research regarding the “Sun Dagger” site, lunar and solar alignments of the major Chaco buildings, and implications of the true function of the Great North Road. Chaco Astronomy is featured in the Museum’s new exhibit “Space Frontiers.”

Ms Sofaer will be joined by Paul Pino, Tribal Council Member and former War Chief of Laguna Pueblo. He will speak of his  insights about Puebloan heritage and its relationship to Chaco. Anna Sofaer is Director of the non-profit Solstice Project, that conducts research, preservation and education efforts on the astronomical expressions of the Chacoan Culture of the Southwest. She has worked with anthropologists, astronomers, geographers, and modern Pueblo people. She produced, directed and co-wrote “The Mystery of Chaco Canyon” shown on PBS and National Geographic channels.

$7 adults, $6 members/seniors, $4 students. Purchase in advance to guarantee your seats at: www.naturalhistoryfoundation.org or at the door before the talk; doors open at 6:15 p.m.


Curator’s Coffee
Join us for a casual discussion followed by a themed tour. Limited to 20 people and includes coffee, light refreshments and Museum admission.

Art in the Age of Dinosaurs
Matt Celeskey
Thursday, June 25, 2009,  9:30 a.m.

The Museum is well known for its important fossil, mineral, and biological collections, but it also boasts an equally impressive collection of natural history art. Join exhibit designer/illustrator Matt Celeskey for an informal lecture and walking tour through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous halls, with an eye toward the art on display. Learn how artists work with scientists to reconstruct the distant past from stones and bones, and discover how the Museum has used the talents of muralists, sculptors, illustrators, and preparators to make the Age of Dinosaurs come alive.

Matt Celeskey has been part of the Exhibits Department at the Museum for over ten years, and his designs and illustrations can be seen in many of the Museum's permanent displays, publications, and computer interactives. His lifelong interest in fossils led to a career as a paleo-artist, helping museums and researchers reconstruct long-extinct animals and environments.

$7 public, $3 members. Meet at the Museum’s M Café
Download registration form at www.NMnaturalhistory.org or email: programs.NMMNHS at state.nm.us


Trips

Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Project (BEMP) 
Field Trip to Alameda/Rio Grande Open Space
Kimi Scheerer
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 – 8 a.m.-noon OR
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 – 8 a.m.-noon

Begun in 1997, the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program (BEMP) collects scientific data along the middle Rio Grande valley from volunteers, mostly school children from over 40 schools. Join us for a morning discovering bosque biology and participate in this 12-year study of the health and ecology of our cottonwood forests. Participants will learn about how youth are actively involved in citizen science and how this data is used by the University of New Mexico, the Long Term Ecological Research network, and public land managers. Data will be collected from the BEMP sites near the San Juan Chama Drinking Water Diversion Dam and will include monthly precipitation, leaf litter biomass, and monitoring multiple groundwater table wells. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy while discussing how climate change has affected the health of the Rio Grande bosque.

Kimi Scheerer is the Education Coordinator for BEMP and thoroughly enjoys “BEMPin’ it Up!” at schools and different community events around New Mexico! Ms. Scheerer relocated to Nuevo Mexico in 2006 after a career in marine biology at various nature centers, aquariums, ecological institutes and residential school programs, 

Costs: $5 (grant funding is allowing us to reduce the price for this trip)

Field Trip 
Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research Station
Scott Collins, Ph.D.
Saturday, July 18, 2009, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Sevilleta is one of the largest refuges in the National Wildlife System, but it is generally closed to the public.  Join us on a rare trip to this important New Mexico refuge. The Refuge is host to a Long Term Ecological Research Station (LTER), a biological field station operated by the University of New Mexico Biology Department.  The refuge is positioned at the intersection of several major biotic zones: Chihuahuan Desert grassland and shrubland to the south, Great Plains grassland to the north, Piñon-Juniper woodland in the upper elevations, Colorado Plateau shrub-steppe to the west, and riparian vegetation along the middle Rio Grande Valley. Because of the confluence of these major biotic zones, the Sevilleta presents an ideal setting to investigate how climate variability and climate change act together to affect our New Mexico ecosystems. We will get to explore the refuge and learn about current research being done there. We will drive on the refuge in vans.  

Scott Collins, Professor, & Director, Sevilleta LTER, earned his doctorate in Oklahoma. His research interests include: plant community dynamics; the role of disturbance in communities; fire ecology; landscape ecology; grassland ecology; analysis of species distribution and abundance.

$50 public, $40 members


Classes
All classes will be held at the Museum. Class sizes are limited. Pre-registration required, download forms from www.NMnaturalhistory.org or email: programs.NMMNHS at state.nm.us.  For questions about the geology class call Jayne Aubele at 505-841-2840 or email: jayne.aubele at state.nm.us.

Geology of Albuquerque
Jayne Aubele
Thursday, August 20, 2009  9 a.m. to noon

Albuquerque’s landscape is a snapshot of the geologic past and a record of the dynamic geology that formed our state. Did you know that the Rio Grande, the Albuquerque Volcanoes, and the Sandias are all part of the same geological story? Did you know that the Sandias are NOT part of the Rocky Mountains? Do you want to learn more about where you live and why it looks the way it does?  Join Jayne Aubele in this one-session museum class and learn about the geology of the greater-Albuquerque area. Materials included.  No prior knowledge of geology is required.

Jayne Aubele is Educator/Geologist at the Museum. Her focus is volcanoes, and she has mapped and researched the geology of New Mexico and the Southwest as well as the Moon, Mars and Venus. She is the co-author of the geology section for the Field Guide to the Sandia Mountains; and geologic technical advisor and on-camera geologist for the 2008 KNME-TV program, The Sandias.

$20 public, $15 members

Drawn from the Collection- Naturalist Illustration Program 
Cynthia Padilla
Tuesday, August 4th and Wednesday, August 5th 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 
  
Naturalist illustrations are simple but accurate drawings executed ‘in situ’ to document sightings, identify specimens, or to simply capture the flora and fauna of a special place. Learn how to draw while examining a fascinating collection of museum treasures including minerals, fossils, bones, moths, butterflies, bird and small mammal study skins and mounts.
 
The workshop, lead by international instructor Cynthia Padilla, includes a private behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum’s Bioscience Collection, lead by Collections Manager Patti Gegick on Tuesday August 4th, and a tour of the Geosciences Collection, lead by  Collections Manager Justin Spielmann on Wednesday August 5th. 

This immersion in art and science is not to be missed.  This program is designed for beginners to professionals, educators, and life-long learners. Join us for this relaxed classroom and museum setting. Emerge with a sketchbook of quick scribbles, convincing renderings, notes and notations, measurements and musings. Classes are indoors. Supply list will be given upon registration. A certificate will be presented upon completion.

Cost: $200 public, $175 members,. 

Download forms from www.NMnaturalhistory.org or email programs.NMMNHS at state.nm.us. Call August Wainwright with questions at 505-841-2861. 


Museum Collections Tours
Join us for behind-the-scenes tours of our Bioscience and Geoscience collections. Learn the importance of museum collections, how they are used, and how they are preserved and maintained. Free with Museum admission. 

Geoscience tour
3 to 4 p.m. on Fridays
July 10, August 7 
Geoscience Tour: All children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.

Bioscience tour 
11 a.m. to noon Fridays
June 19, July 17, Aug 21
Bioscience Tour: All children must be above age 7 and accompanied with an adult.

For more information call 505-841-2892; Reservations welcome.

Astroscience tour
Thursday, June 18, 2009, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Come learn more about the exciting new exhibit, “Space Frontiers.”  The exhibit highlights the very important history of space exploration in New Mexico, from ancient to modern times and beyond.  Then tour the inner workings of the Planetarium Dome and join the staff for safe solar viewing in the Observatory. 


Tish Morris
Senior Education Specialist
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
1801 Mountain Rd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
505-841-2882
tish.morris at state.nm.us
www.NMnaturalhistory.org



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