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What's on at the California Academy of Sciences
Exhibits, Lectures, Programs and Events
August 2002
-Exhibits & Happenings -
Skulls
ONGOING through late 2003
Skulls includes almost 1,700 different dead heads -- ranging from monkeys
and giraffes to warthogs and rats to bears and dolphins. Created by Academy
staff, this exhibit is festooned with 860 sea lion heads in a 93-foot-long
undulating display. Skulls shows visitors what the study of human and
animal skulls can reveal about behavior, injury, disease, evolutionary
adaptation, and more. This strange and stunning display will captivate
young and old alike.
X-Ray Ichthyology
Ongoing through 2003
Prepare to look at fish in a whole new light. X-Ray Ichthyology captures
forty-six fish from the Academy's ichthyology collection on X-ray film.
Blown up and backlit, these large-format photographs transform scaly swimmers
ranging from piranhas to guitarfish into eerie, luminescent works of art.
Photo Contest Winners
April 20, 2002 - December 2002
From France to Fresno, children ages 618 have submitted photographs
to the Children's Photography Contest at the Academy. Come see the winning
entries on display in Wild California Hall.
Powers of Ten
OngoingJanuary 2003
Come visit a place where the farthest reaches of the Universe and the
familiar features of your own back yard are just a few steps and a few
zeros apart. Using a series of photographs based on the landmark film
of the same name by Charles and Ray Eames, Powers of Ten explores 44 powers
of ten, beginning with 1026 meters (the size of the known Universe) and
ending at 10-18 meters (the size of the smallest known subatomic particles).
At each station, videos and objects from the Academy's vast research collections
allow visitors to investigate scientific discoveries relating to different
powers of ten.
Nature Discovery - ongoing
Each year the California Academy of Sciences offers children, families
and adults more than 200 field trips, workshops and classes focusing on
science and the natural world. Explore tide pools in Marin, discover birds
in Golden Gate Park or learn how to draw and paint animals in Steinhart
Aquarium.
Children's Story Time - ongoing
Story Time takes place in the Skulls exhibit at the California Academy
of Sciences each Saturday at 10:30 am. Children from ages 3 to 7 are welcome.
Free with admission
Free Wednesday
The first Wednesday of every month is free, all year long! The museum
stays open until 8:45 pm on Free Wednesdays - at 5 pm step into Morrison
Planetarium for a free half-hour concert. Wednesday August 7, 10 am -
8:45 pm California Academy of Sciences, Free
Steinhart Aquarium
Come watch live sharks, alligators, penguins, hundreds of fish and a living
coral reef at the Steinhart Aquarium. The Steinhart houses over 600 varieties
of aquatic life in 165 individual tanks. Open ocean fish swim around you
in the 100,000-gallon fish roundabout (feedings take place at 1:30 pm
daily). Penguin feedings take place at 11:30 am and 4 pm each day. California
Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park Open 365 days of the year
-Lectures-
Birds of East Africa
Dr. Richard Tenaza takes us on a journey of the savannas, mountains and
Rift Valley lakes of East Africa in search of the bird life that dwells
in these diverse landscapes. Having led over 20 trips in the region, Dr.
Tenaza presents an instructive and photographic exploration of over 200
species of birds, their behavior, their habitats, and the associated mammalian
wildlife. Wednesday, August 14 at 2 & 7:30 pm; Morrison Auditorium;
Free to Members/ $8 non-members
What Just Happened?
James Gleick looks at the implications of our new technological opportunities
and asks whether our lives have been changed in truly vital or merely
frivolous ways. He explores how our physical reach has been extended,
by remote or by wireless; how the electronic version of familiar habits
raise new questions about old issues of copyright, privacy and patents.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED - is a time capsule: it is at once a fascinating portrait
of what just transpired, and an illuminating look at what may still come
in the future. Thursday, August 22, 7:30 pm Morrison Auditorium, $6 members/$8
non-members
Seeing in the Dark
Science writer and amateur astronomer Timothy Ferris brings his experiences
to Morrison Planetarium, as he speaks about his latest work, Seeing in
the Dark. He discusses how amateurs can engage in serious scientific research,
and how some are collaborating with professional astronomers on cutting-edge
projects. Ferris takes us inside this revolution that is sweeping astronomy
and shows how anyone can get started in it, just by going outside on a
dark night with a star chart and learning his or her way around.
Thursday, September 5, 7:30 pm Morrison Planetarium $3
- Kids: Things to Do -
A Journey to the Land of Faerie
The fairies of the Celtic lands are as tall as mortals, but much more
beautiful and powerful. They dwell in the "other world" of Faerie,
which exists alongside our world, though invisible to us. Accompanying
herself on the harp, Nancy Thym tells and sings about mortals carried
off by fairies. Saturday, August 10, 1 pm; Morrison Auditorium (415) 750-7165
Cultural Traditions of the Silk Road
Ballet Afsaneh, one of the few performing arts companies to preserve and
present the cultural traditions of Central Asia. They will present two
programs highlighting the dance, music, and poetry of this region. (415)
750-7165
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan
Saturday, August 17, 1 pm; Morrison Auditorium
Persia
Saturday, August 24, 1 pm; Morrison Auditorium
Rebuilding Australopithecus
See the facial reconstruction of our ancient ancestor the "Taung
Child" and learn how modern forensic technology is applied to the
skull reconstruction process in an australopithecine cranium. Friday,
August 2 through Sunday, August 4; 10 am to 5 pm
Make a Skull
Examine real skulls and then make simple machine skull model complete
with false teeth and hinged jaws to further study how function dictates
form in this orthodontic adventure. Mondays in August; 12:30 pm to 3:30
pm
How Do They Do That?
How do animals locate prey without seeing it or hearing it? Or swallow
prey bigger than their heads? Uncover the connection between skulls and
skill, as we explain animal senses by looking at skulls. Tuesdays in August;
11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Mysterious Victims of Flying Predators
Examine the hunting technique of hawks, eagles and other flying predators,
then help us reconstruct the scene of the crime as we identify the skulls
of their prey. Wednesdays in August; 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Bare Bones
Take a crash course on recognizing animals by their skulls alone. Examine
human, hyena, turtle and rodent skulls, learning important details used
by experts to compare species.
Thursday, August 1, 8, 15, 29; 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Marine Mammal Skulls
Join a fun, family mini-lecture that explains different aspects of the
anatomy and function of marine mammal skulls.
Friday, August 9 & 16; 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Skulls Culture
Explore some of the beliefs and practices associated with skulls around
the world. Topics include the head-shrinking in the Shuar sub-tribe of
Jivaro Indians and Aztec skull burials. Saturday, August 10, 17, 24, 31;
11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Bird Skulls
Meet a live toucan, touch real bird skulls and explore avian skull morphology,
adaptations and conservation. Sunday, August 11, 25; 11:30 am and 1:30
pm
Skull Detective
Examine mammal, bird, reptile and fish skulls and look for clues that
may reveal what the skull owner ate and how it lived. Friday, August 23
and 30; 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
-Field Trips-
Secret World of Bats
Bat expert Dr. Dave Johnston will lead a family seminar and mini field
trip to Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park. This lake is one of the city's best
places to observe Big Brown and Mexican free-tailed bats swoop for insects.
Seminar and Field Trip for Families with Children Ages 6 and up - Saturday,
August 10, 6:30-9:30 pm $25 adults/$20 children, members; $30 adults/$25
children, non-members
Tennessee Valley at Dusk
Hone your nighttime observational skills in southern Marin County by trying
to communicate with great horned owls, and searching for bats and bobcats.
For families with children ages 8 and up. Instructed by environmental
educator Chris Giorni. Family Field Trip - Saturday, August 24; 6:30-9:30
pm members $20 adults/$15 children; non-members $25 adults/$20 children
Pescadero Marsh
Explore the relatively undisturbed San Mateo County lagoon's ocean waters,
rocky coast, sand dunes, freshwater marsh, and mud flats provide a rich,
diverse habitat for a wealth of birds, including black oystercatchers,
wandering tattlers, northern shovelers, and black turnstones. Instructed
by birder Dan Murphy. Adult Field Trip - Saturday, August 31; 8:30-11:30
am $30 members/$35 non-members
The Late Summer Night Sky at Hume Observatory
Hunt for star clusters in the Milky Way, and view the conjunction of Venus
and Jupiter in the west after sunset at the Academy's Pepperwood Nature
Preserve in Sonoma County. Instructed by astrophysicist Darryl Stanford.
Adult Overnight Field Trip - Saturday-Sunday, September 7-8; 6:30 pm Saturday
to 9 am Sunday (RAIN DATE: September 28-29) $55 members/$60 non-members
Birds of Limantour Beach
Explore the tidal flats, marshes, and riparian habitats of the Point Reyes
National Seashore, where great horned owls, adult male summer tanagers,
white-tailed kites, and purple martins have been spotted. Instructed by
naturalist David Wimpfheimer. Adult Field Trip - Sunday, September 8;
9 am - 4 pm $40 members/$45 non-members
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