California Academy of Sciences

California Academy of Sciences » General Information » Newsroom » What's On at the Academy -- Exhibits, Events, Courses and Lectures -- April 2005

Stephanie Greenman Stone (415) 379-5121
sstone@calacademy.org

What's On in April at the California Academy of Sciences
Exhibits, Events, Courses, and Lectures

EXHIBITS

For a high resolution version of this image, email Stephanie at sstone@calacademy.org.

African Penguin Colony - ongoing exhibit
Watch as The Academy's African penguins dip and dive in their new tank, which contains four times as much water and nearly twice as much land as their old home in Golden Gate Park. Enjoy feeding shows every day at 11:00 am and 3:30 pm. During the shows, visitors may watch and ask questions as one the Academy's aquatic biologists dons a wet suit, measures the temperature of the air and water, and then steps into the pool to toss 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. (415) 379-8000.

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 often to care for the corals and clean the tank walls. Academy biologists are using this enormous tank to test ideas for the even larger 225,000-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 to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000.

For a high resolution version of this image, email Stephanie at sstone@calacademy.org.

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, African rock python, ball python, pine snake, vine snakes, California kingsnake, ground boas, and emerald tree boas. Stop by and say hello to some of your favorite slithering snakes. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000.

Touch Tidepool - ongoing exhibit
During your next trip to the aquarium, don't let the fish have all the fun - start splashing at the Touch Tidepool, where visitors can handle a few of the animals that live along the California coastline, including sea stars, turban snails, hermit crabs, and sea cucumbers. The tidepool is staffed from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm almost every day with naturalists and trained nature lovers who can answer questions about the animals and their habitat. Even when facilitators are not present, clear plexiglass tank walls allow visitors to view the tidepool inhabitants. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000.

For a high resolution version of this image, email Stephanie at sstone@calacademy.org.

ANTS: Hidden Worlds Revealed - through April 2005
Curated by Academy entomologist Brian Fisher, ANTS: Hidden Worlds Revealed showcases six colonies of live ants, each of which display distinctive nest building and food collecting behaviors. Four of the species represented - Harvester ants, Carpenter ants, Honeypot ants, and invasive Argentine ants - are commonly found in California. The other two species, however, come from farther afield. Leaf Cutter ants, which cultivate gardens of fungus in order to ensure a steady food supply, make their home in the tropical rainforests of South America, while meat-eating Army ants migrate through parts of Africa and the Americas in search of prey. Each of the six live ant colonies offers visitors the chance to look inside the chambers and tunnels of the ants' nests and watch them forage for food. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000.

Steinhart Aquarium - ongoing exhibit
View thousands of fishes, a captivating array of reptiles and amphibians, and the Academy's beloved penguin colony at Steinhart Aquarium every day. Now that the animals are happily housed at 875 Howard Street, visitors may view them in up-close displays that bring the back of the house to the front, allowing the public to see the equipment and technology required to keep an aquarium running. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000.

Scientific Illustration - March 1 - August 31, 2005
Recent works by the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators will be on display through August 31, 2005. The skills of the scientific illustrator must extend far beyond the ability to create an attractive drawing. In addition to mastering the standard repertoire of artists' techniques, successful scientific illustrators must be proficient in a host of techniques and methods unique to their field. View watercolor, graphite, and digital works by Northern California masters. Open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000.

APRIL EVENTS

EVERY DAY
Penguin Feedings
During daily penguin feeding shows, visitors may watch and ask questions as one of the Academy's aquatic biologists dons a wet suit, measures the temperature of the air and water, and then steps into the pool to toss vitamin-stuffed herring and capelin to the penguins. Each feeding takes 20 minutes. Every day at 11 am and 3:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

For a high resolution version of this image or others, email Stephanie at sstone@calacademy.org.

Army Ant Feedings
Known as the "Huns and Tartars of the insect world," Army ants are such voracious eaters that one colony can decimate an area of more than 1,800 square yards in a single day. Now you can watch these fascinating ants eat during a scheduled feeding every afternoon. Every day at 2:15 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

EVERY WEDNESDAY- SUNDAY
Hands-on Science at the Academy
Hands-on learning demonstrators teach visitors of all ages how to examine microscopic aquatic life or study adaptations of marine animals. Takes place every Wednesday through Sunday in April at 4 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1
Coral Reef Caretaking
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. 1:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Wild Animal Mimics
Meet a live snake that pretends to be venomous, and see other examples of insects, birds and reptiles that try to fool other animals in order to survive. 1 pm & 2:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Children's Story Time
Children ages three to seven are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 2 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Scientific Illustration Demonstration
Meet a scientific illustrator and experience a live demonstration of drawings used for scientific publications and research. 3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2
Children's Story Time
Children ages three to seven are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 10:30 am; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Jewish Klezmer Music
The Red Hot Chachkas perform klezmer music - a lively, foot-tapping combination of Hebrew melodies, Yiddish songs, and Eastern European folk traditions. The band includes unusual instruments, such as the tsimble, and invites the audience to join them in familiar songs such as the tumbalaika. 1 pm; California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

What's That Ant In My Kitchen?
You can participate in an exciting scientific project - the Bay Area Ant Survey. Learn how to collect and identify local ant species, then go collect! Data sheets and ant collecting kits will be provided for all participating families. 1-3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5
Skull Detectives
Dissect owl pellets with Academy naturalists, learn how to use scientific keys to identify skulls, compare your bones with those of herbivores, and prepare your own specimens to take home. 1-3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

For a high resolution version of this image, email Stephanie at sstone@calacademy.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 7
Tarantula!
Get up-close and personal with a live tarantula, and discover the fascinating secret life of these misunderstood arachnids. 1 pm & 2:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8
Children's Story Time
Children ages three to seven are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 2 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

The Academy's two-story Coral Reef tank. For a high resolution version of this image, email Stephanie at sstone@calacademy.org.

Coral Reef Caretaking
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. 1:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9 (THE ACADEMY CELEBRATES EARTH DAY)
Children's Story Time
Children ages three to seven are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 10:30 am; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Threatened and Endangered Species of the World
Over 15,000 species of plants and animals currently face extinction, including one third of all amphibians and one half of all freshwater turtles. Learn about how these animals become threatened, see and touch threatened and endangered specimens, and find out what you can do to protect species and habitats in your community. 1-3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Earth Day Festival
Hosted by Howard the Gi-ANT, the Academy's huggable mascot, the Earth Day festival at the California Academy of Sciences will feature a wide range of educational activities and presentations by a number of local environmental organizations. Academy scientists will share specimens they have collected across the globe, and birds of prey will make special appearances. 10 am - 5 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15
Children's Story Time
Children ages 3-7 are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 2 pm; California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Scientific Illustration Demonstration
Meet a scientific illustrator and watch a live demonstration of drawings used for scientific publications and research. 3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, SF. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16
Children's Story Time
Children ages 3-7 are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 10:30 am; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Fantastic Fish Finding
Come get your hands wet and slimy while you practice using dichotomous keys to identify common fish of the San Francisco Bay. 1-3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21
Third Thursday
Filled with cocktails, conversation, clownfish, and corals, the Academy after-hours is the place to be on the third Thursday of every month. Explore exhibits and aquarium displays while listening to live music and enjoying a no-host bar. 5-9 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. $5 admission.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22
Children's Story Time
Children ages 3-7 are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 2 pm; California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23
Children's Story Time
Children ages 3-7 are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 10:30 am; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24
California Mammals
Explore the diversity of California mammals. Touch pelts, examine skulls, and discover more about wild animals and their adaptations to life in diverse habitats. 1-3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
Lunch Break Lecture Series: Birds and Mammals of the Sea of Cortez
Join us for an armchair journey into the Sea of Cortez, and explore the life history of the seabirds and mammals that inhabit its waters. 12:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28
The Amazing (and tasty) Dungeness Crab
See real crab larvae, touch crab specimens, and explore the life cycle of the Dungeness crab. 12:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Children's Story Time
Children ages 3-7 are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 2 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Venomous Fish
See preserved specimens of some of the world's most venomous fishes, and learn about their ecology and behavior. 1-3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 379-8000.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30
Children's Story Time
Children ages 3-7 are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. 10:30 am; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

Lithuanian Straw-work
Alberta Astras and Mary Currier demonstrate the techniques of Lithuanian straw-work, fashioning geometric shapes from flattened wheat shafts. Many of the designs, such as lattice mobiles, stars, and snowflakes, are customarily used as ornaments on the Lithuanian Christmas tree. 1 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francsico, 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

APRIL COURSES & LECTURES

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, APRIL 2-3
Pepperwood by Day and Night
Overnight field trip with Ron Dammann, Rhonda Lucas, and Juan-Carlos Solis
Explore the many natural wonders of Pepperwood Preserve. During the day, search for wildflowers, western pond turtles, and pileated woodpeckers. At night, visit the Hume Observatory to look for Saturn, Jupiter, and other celestial objects. Choose to camp near the property's cottage or sleep indoors. Suitable for families with children ages eight and up. 1 pm Saturday - 4 pm Sunday; $75 adults & $65 children for members, $85 adults & $75 children for non-members; Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5
Spring Wildflowers of the Bay Area
Seminar and field trip with Glenn Keator
The Bay Area is home to one of the world's greatest arrays of beautiful wildflowers. Talk about the basics of identification, and practice keying species using microscopes. See wildflowers in their natural environment on two local field trips, determined according to conditions. Suitable for adults and teens ages fifteen and up. Continues April 12, 19, 24 & 26 and May 1. Four Tuesdays: 7-9 pm, plus Two Sundays: 10 am-3 pm; $100 members, $110 non-members. Seminars in Academy Classroom, California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco. (415) 379-8000. Field trip locations to be determined.

MONDAY, APRIL 11
The Letters of Richard Feynman
Panel Discussion with Douglas Osheroff, Timothy Ferris, and Wolfgang Panofsky
Richard Feynman, brilliant physicist and beloved teacher, is an iconic figure in the world of science. While there have been many books celebrating his myriad scientific achievements and personal eccentricities, his personal correspondence has remained largely hidden from view. Both his love letters to his first wife and his decades-long attempt to resign from the National Academy of Sciences reveal the full wisdom of a man many felt close to, but few really knew. Join us for a panel discussion of this new book of the letters of Richard Feynman with famous scientists, including: Douglas Osheroff, Ph.D., (evening lecture only), Professor of Physics at Stanford and Winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for Physics; Timothy Ferris (evening lecture only), Emeritus Professor at UC Berkeley and popular science writer; and Wolfgang Panofsky, Ph.D., Professor at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. 2 & 7:30 pm; $8; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 379-8000.

SUNDAY, APRIL 17
Spring Hike at Pinnacles
Field trip with David Wimpfheimer
Located southeast of Monterey, Pinnacles National Monument is a hidden gem within the inner coastal range. Look for prairie falcons and canyon wrens among numerous warblers and other landbirds during this moderately strenuous eight-mile hike through riparian, oak, and gray-pine habitats. Suitable for adults and teens ages fifteen and up. 9 am-5:30 pm; $40 members, $50 non-members. Pinnacles National Monument, Paicines.

MONDAY, APRIL 18
From Mars Rovers to Exo-Planets: The Lure of Liquid Water
Lecture by Nagin Cox, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The search for liquid water is the cornerstone of NASA's robotic exploration of space. The Mars Rovers landed in January 2004 and found strong evidence of past liquid water on Mars. In 2007, the Kepler mission will continue this tradition of water-seeking by searching for earth-like planets that may orbit other stars in a region where liquid water can exist. 7:30 pm; $4; Jewish Community Center of San Francisco; 3200 California Street; San Francisco. For tickets, call (415) 379-8000.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22
Running: A Lecture by Dan Lieberman, Ph.D.
Drawing on morphological comparisons that highlight a number of specializations in the Homo skeleton, Dan Lieberman, professor of Biological Anthropology at Harvard University, will explore the idea that endurance running may have been an integral part of early human hunting or scavenging behaviors. Part of the Leakey Speaker Series on Human Origins. 8 pm; $10 general, $6 students; Jewish Community Center of San Francisco; 3200 California Street; San Francisco. For tickets, call (415) 292-1233 or email arts@jccsf.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
Conversations at the Herbst
David Suzuki, Ph.D. in conversation with Jerry Kay
Canada's iconic science broadcaster David Suzuki, Ph.D., is highly regarded for his thirty years on air. With his distinctive voice and broad smile, Suzuki explains science in a way that both engages and informs. A longtime advocate of individual actions in protecting natural resources, Suzuki challenges his audience to make small, consistent changes in their lives to reduce pressure on the environmental balance. He is a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. 8 pm; $18.50 general, $16 50 Academy members; Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. To purchase tickets, call (415) 392-4400 or visit www.cityboxoffice.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30
Tidepool Treasures
Field trip with Chris Giorni Come to Duxbury Reef, North America's largest shale reef, to experience one of California's most diverse ecosystems. Explore four distinct tidal zones. Afterwards, investigate Kent Island, a sand and mudflat habitat full of ghost shrimp and clams. Suitable for families with children ages four and up. 10:30 am-1:30 pm; $30 adults & $20 children for members, $40 adults & $30 children for non-members; Duxbury Reef, Bolinas.

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

For a high resolution version of this image or others, email Stephanie at sstone@calacademy.org.

PENGUIN FEEDINGS
Every Day
During daily penguin feeding shows, visitors may watch and ask questions as one of the Academy's aquatic biologists dons a wet suit, measures the temperature of the air and water, and then steps into the pool to toss vitamin-stuffed herring and capelin to the penguins. Each feeding takes 20 minutes. Every day at 11 am & 3:30 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

ARMY ANT FEEDINGS
Every Day
Known as the "Huns and Tartars of the insect world," Army ants are such voracious eaters that one colony can decimate an area of more than 1,800 square yards in a single day. Now you can watch these fascinating ants eat during a scheduled feeding every afternoon. Every day at 2:15 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

CHILDREN'S STORY TIME
Fridays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 at 2 pm
Saturdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 10:30 am
Children ages 3-7 are welcome to join us for stories about reptiles and amphibians. California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

WILD ANIMAL MIMICS
Friday, April 1 at 1 & 2:30 pm
Meet a live snake that pretends to be venomous, and see other examples of insects, birds and reptiles that try to fool other animals in order to survive. California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

CORAL REEF CARETAKING
Friday, April 1 and Friday, April 8 at 1:30 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. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

WHAT'S THAT ANT IN MY KITCHEN?
Saturday, April 2 and Thursday, April 7 from 1 - 3 pm
Kids and their families can learn how to collect and identify local ant species with Academy researchers. Data sheets and ant collecting kits will be provided for all participating families. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

SKULL DETECTIVES
Tuesday, April 5 from 1-3 pm
Dissect owl pellets, learn how to use scientific keys to identify skulls, and prepare your own specimens to take home. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, SF. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

TARANTULA!
Thursday, April 7 at 1 & 2:30 pm
Get up-close and personal with a live tarantula, and discover the fascinating secret life of these misunderstood arachnids. California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, SF. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 9 from 10:30 am - 5 pm
Kids can learn how to take care of their planet while meeting the Academy's huggable mascot, Howard the Gi-ANT. Activities will include making recycled art projects, investigating microscopic organisms, and touching aquatic animals. A Peregrine falcon will fly though Academy halls at 1 pm and 2:45 pm. California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

FANTASTIC FISH FINDING
Saturday, April 16 from 1-3 pm
Come get your hands wet and slimy while you practice using dichotomous keys to identify common fish of the San Francisco Bay. 1-3 pm; California Academy of Sciences, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, 94103. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission. CALIFORNIA MAMMALS Sunday, April 24 from 1-3 pm Explore the diversity of California mammals. Touch pelts, examine skulls, and discover more about wild animals and their adaptations to life in diverse habitats. California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118. (415) 379-8000. Free with museum admission.

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 at 875 Howard Street is: $7 for adults, $4.50 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) 379-8000.

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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