The Electronic Newsletter of The California Academy of Sciences
March 2003

*~*~*~* Coming Attractions *~*~*~*

NEW EXHIBIT OPENING
150 Years of Science: Exploring Nature's Wonders
Opens Saturday, March 1
Before Cable Cars, the Pony Express, or even Golden Gate Park, there was the California Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1853, the Academy will kick off its 150th anniversary this year with a special exhibit - 150 Years of Science: Exploring Nature's Wonders. Opening on March 1, 2003, the new exhibit will feature an enormous timeline streaming through the Academy's halls, giving visitors the chance to walk through 150 years of history as they learn how world events and major discoveries have shaped the pursuit of science and the Academy.

From the Academy's founding during the gold rush days of the Wild West (our first President was shot during a heated card game) to its flexibility during World War II (the Instrument Shop was enlarged and converted into a repair shop for U.S. Army and Navy navigational equipment in 1941), the Academy's history has been nearly as colorful and impressive as its collections, which will also be highlighted in the exhibit. Throughout the exhibit, outposts dedicated to each of the Academy's areas of focus will feature amazing stories from the research departments' histories as well as a few of the treasured items from their collections - many of which have never before been displayed. Included in this all-star line-up will be enormous tortoise shells collected during the first Academy expedition to the Galapagos Islands, a live scorpion that fluoresces under ultra-violet light, and ancient Maya artifacts from highland Guatemala that survived San Francisco's major 1906 earthquake and fire.

Throughout the Academy, additional historical markers will highlight scientific or technological innovations within existing exhibits, like the Steinhart Aquarium's coral reef tank or alligator pit. Special signage will show visitors what these spots were like when they were new and why they are significant today. At the end of the time line, visitors will have the opportunity to preview some of the exciting designs and exhibits for the New Academy, which will open to the public in 2008.

Community Conversations
Public Discussions about the Academy's Future Plans
March 4 at 7:00 pm, April 1 at 6:30 pm
Would you like to learn more about the Academy's plans for the future? As part of the planning process for the Academy's upcoming rebuild of its aging facility in Golden Gate Park, you are invited to attend a Community Conversation to learn more about plans to improve the Academy's building, exhibitions, educational programs, and visitor services. Dr. Patrick Kociolek, Curator and Executive Director of the Academy, will present the vision for the future of the Academy, and ideas will be exchanged about the Academy's temporary museum in downtown San Francisco. The public is invited to share suggestions about how the Academy can better serve its diverse local audiences. Information for the first two Community Conversations follows:

March 4th, 7:00 pm, California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park
The Academy's 150th anniversary exhibit, 150 Years of Science: Exploring Nature's Wonders, will be open for viewing from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. (Public transit routes serving Golden Gate Park are as follows: #44 O'Shaughnessy, #5 Fulton, #71 Haight-Noriega, #21 Hayes and the N-Judah).

April 1st, 6:30pm, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, 515 Cortland Ave
(Public transit routes serving BHNC are #24 Divisidero, #67 Gold-Arrow Loop).

Giant sable antelope

A Certain Curve of Horn
Lecture by John Frederick Walker, Author
Thursday, March 6, 7:30 pm
ENTER TO WIN FREE TICKETS
The giant sable antelope of Angola, with its striking coal-black coat and gracefully curved horns that reach over five feet long, was unknown to the world outside its highland habitat until 1916. Through the years, this revered and elusive sable has been transformed from a highly sought-after natural history prize, to a forgotten relic of a warring Angola, to a political symbol and conservation icon. Modern history threatened the giant sable antelope when a civil war erupted in Angola in 1975, restricting knowledge about the antelope for over 27 years. With the recent ending of the civil war, Walker joined an expedition that confirmed for the first time that the species had survived - a major feat, since the nation lost 90% of its large animals. The giant sable antelope lived through Africa’s longest running conflict in part because of its symbolic significance to each of the warring sides. Join Walker as he tells this tale, accented by stunning photographs of the antelope and its habitat. Academy Bytes subscribers can enter to win a free pair of tickets by replying to this message with "antelope" in the subject line. For more information, call (415) 750-7096 or email lectures@calacademy.org.

NEW PLANETARIUM SHOW
150 Years from Earth
Opens March 14
When we look at the night sky, we're looking so far out into space that the light we see from distant stars took years--if not centuries--to reach our eyes. For example, the light we see tonight from the Hyades star cluster in Taurus the Bull left its stars when the California Academy of Sciences was founded in 1853! What other objects can we observe in the heavens within the distance that light has traveled in the past 150 years, and what do they tell us about the Earth and its place in the Universe? Planetarium shows cost $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for youths 6-17 or seniors over 65.

*~*~*~* Explore the Natural World *~*~*~*

Youth & Adult Courses
It's here! The latest course catalog is now online. Look for plenty of returning favorites, as well as an array of new offerings - several of which are related to the Academy's 150th anniversary. From adult field trips to spring-holiday Junior Academy classes, there are courses for all ages and interests.

Don't miss out on our early spring offerings. Discover everything from molluscs to the moon while Tidepooling at Duxbury Reef (March 15). Take a comfortable 4- to 5-mile hike while Exploring Point Reyes Habitats, and pass elk, sea stars, and seals along the way (March 23). Not interested in trekking outside? From the comfort of Morrison Planetarium, learn to locate Leo the lion, Virgo the maiden, and Cancer the crab in Skies of Spring (March 24, 31 & April 7). For registration information and more details, including other course offerings, please see our online catalog or call (415) 750-7100.

*~*~*~* Fun Facts and News from the Scientific Community *~*~*~*

DID YOU KNOW? Madagascar may be best known for its lush jungles and endangered lemurs, but the deserts along the island's west coast host another set of equally endangered species - Pachypodium plants. True to their name, which means "thick foot," these prickly plants survive hot, dry climates by storing water in thick, tuberous trunks. With this adaptation, many Pachypodium species can survive temperatures of over 150° F, which often arise in rocky areas along the country's west coast. To learn more about these imperiled plants, click here, or visit the Academy's Science Now exhibit.

And, for breaking news from the global scientific community, check in at the Academy's This Week update.

Once a month, Academy Bytes brings you tidbits about the latest at Golden Gate Park's California Academy of Sciences; events, updates, and fun science facts. Questions? Contact the editor: Stephanie Greenman (sgreenman@calacademy.org).