Andrew Ng (415) 321-8121
ang@calacademy.org
What's On in January at the California Academy of Sciences
Exhibits, Events, and Lectures
Exhibits
DINOSAURS: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries – through February 4, 2007
Prehistoric thinking has evolved. Journey back 130 million years to walk amongst life-size models of dinosaurs, reptiles, and birds; watch a mechanical model of a T. rex skeleton walk in place; examine the evidence for feathered dinos; and learn how many preconceived notions about these ancient beasts are being shattered as recent discoveries are brought to life using the latest technologies. Open from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco. (415) 321-8000.
African Penguin Colony – ongoing exhibit
Watch the Academy’s African penguins dip and dive in their tank and maintain their shelters. Every day at 11 am and 3:30 pm , visitors can enjoy feeding shows and ask questions as an aquatic biologist dons a wet suit, takes temperature measurements, and then tosses vitamin-stuffed herring and capelin to the penguins. Each feeding takes 20 minutes. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 321-8000.
SSsssnake Alley – ongoing exhibit
They’re scaly, slinky, and slithery, and they line the walls of a winding passageway called SSsssnake Alley. View Steinhart Aquarium residents that formerly made their home in the Swamp in Golden Gate Park , including the anaconda, ball python, pine snake, vine snakes, African rock python, California kingsnake, ground boas, and emerald tree boas. Feedings take place every Friday at 2 pm. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 321-8000.
Coral Reef – ongoing exhibit
View a two-story, 20,000-gallon coral reef tank that features dozens of tropical reef fish as well as a wide variety of colorful corals. Children will especially love seeing the common clownfish (often called Nemo) and the blue tang (otherwise known as Dory). Wetsuit-clad divers enter the tank every Monday and Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm to care for the corals and clean the tank walls. Academy biologists are using this enormous tank to test ideas for the even larger 212,000-gallon coral reef tank that will be a part of the new Academy when it opens in Golden Gate Park in 2008. Open every day from 10 am - 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 321-8000.
Xtreme Life: On Earth and Beyond? – ongoing exhibit
Does life exist beyond Earth? Join the journey to answer this question by looking for life in some of Earth’s most extreme environments, then look for similar environments in space. Highlights of the exhibit include an interactive projection of the surface of Mars, a touchable meteorite, underwater video footage of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and a “Microbe Hall of Fame,” where visitors can find the single-celled organisms that endure the hottest, coldest, saltiest, most acidic, most basic, and most radioactive environments on the planet. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 321-8000.
Discovery Tide Pool – ongoing exhibit
During your next trip to the aquarium, don’t let the fish have all the fun – start splashing at the Discovery Tide Pool, where visitors can handle a few of the animals that live along the California coastline, including turban snails, hermit crabs, and mussels. The Tide Pool is staffed with naturalists and trained nature lovers who can answer questions about the animals and their habitat. Open every day. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 321-8000.
January Events
PENGUIN FEEDINGS
Every Day at 11 am & 3:30 pm
During daily penguin feeding shows, visitors may watch and ask questions as one of the Academy’s aquatic biologists dons a wet suit and tosses vitamin-stuffed herring and capelin to the penguins. Each feeding takes 20 minutes. Free with museum admission.
California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street , SF, 94103. (415) 321-8000. www.calacademy.org.
PASSPORT THROUGH TIME
Every Day from 10 am - 5 pm
Dinosaurs weren’t the only ones facing a crisis 65 million years ago. Assume the role of a real creature that lived alongside the dinosaurs, then journey to the Naturalist Center to find out whether you survived the mass extinction. Your passport will be stamped either “EXTINCT” or “EVOLVED”! Free with museum admission.
California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street , San Francisco , 94103. (415) 321-8000. www.calacademy.org.
CORAL REEF CARETAKING
Mondays, January 8, 22, and 29 at 2 pm
Wednesdays, January 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 at 2 pm
Watch as an Academy biologist suits up in SCUBA gear and dives into the Academy’s two-story Coral Reef tank to care for the reef’s inhabitants. During this 20-minute dive, the biologist will clean the tank windows and feed the anemones and fish. A second biologist will be on hand to answer questions. Free with museum admission.
California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street , SF, 94103. (415) 321-8000. www.calacademy.org.
SNAKE FEEDING
Fridays, January 5, 12, 19, and 26 at 2 pm
Watch as an Academy biologist feeds the anaconda, python, vine snakes, and more, while answering all your SSsssnake-related questions. Free with museum admission.
California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street , San Francisco , 94103. (415) 321-8000. www.calacademy.org.
CHILDREN’S STORY TIME
Saturdays, January 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 10:30 am
Explore nature with a story for children ages 3-5. Free with museum admission.
California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street , San Francisco , 94103. (415) 321-8000. www.calacademy.org.
THIRD THURSDAY 
Thursday, January 18 from 5 - 9 pm
Filled with clownfish, corals, and cocktails, the Academy after-hours is the place to be on the third Thursday of this month. Explore DINOSAURS and aquarium exhibits while listening to chill music and enjoying a cash bar. $5 admission after 5 pm .
California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street , San Francisco , 94103. (415) 321-8000. www.calacademy.org.
GLOBAL WARMING DISCOVERY: A HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATION
Sunday, January 21 from 11 am - 4 pm
Be a space scientist. Your discoveries on other planets can help save life here on Earth. Free with museum admission.
California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street , San Francisco , 94103. (415) 321-8000. www.calacademy.org.
January Lectures
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16
Drifting Continents and Globe-trotting Dinosaurs
Lecture by Dr. Scott Sampson, Chief Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Utah Museum of Natural History
A number of paleontological expeditions to the island of Madagascar over the past decade have resulted in spectacular and significant discoveries of dinosaurs and other vertebrates that date to the late Cretaceous, about 70 million years ago. These fossil finds have provided valuable insight into the fragmentation of the southern supercontinent Gondwana. Join Sampson, on-air host of a four-part documentary series on the Discovery Channel called Dinosaur Planet, as he delves into the marvelous dance of continental movements and biological evolution that we are only now beginning to unravel. 2 pm & 7:30 pm; free for members, $8 non-members; California Academy of Sciences , 875 Howard Street, San Francisco. Purchase tickets by calling (415) 321-8000 or at the door, when available.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23
Steve Wozniak, Co-founder of Apple Computers
In conversation with Roy Eisenhardt
As part of the Conversations at the Herbst Theatre series, Steve Wozniak will talk about his book iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon – How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It. 8 pm; $17 members, $19 non-members; Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. Purchase tickets by calling (415) 392-4400 or visiting www.cityboxoffice.com.
The California Academy of Sciences, including Steinhart Aquarium and the Natural History Museum, is open to the public at 875 Howard Street. Admission to the Academy during the DINOSAURS exhibit is: $10 for adults, $6.50 for youth ages 12 to 17, seniors ages 65+ and students with valid ID, $2 for children ages four to 11, and children ages three and younger will be admitted free of charge. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. www.calacademy.org (415) 321-8000.
The California Academy of Sciences, the fourth largest natural history museum in the United States, is home to Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium and the Natural History Museum. The Academy is beginning an extensive rebuilding project in Golden Gate Park. Pritzker prize-winning architect Renzo Piano is designing the new Academy, which is expected to open in 2008.
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