The Univeristy of Denver's historic Chamberlin Observatory and Denver Astronomy Center, hosts public access nights with its 26 foot refractor telescope plus astronomy club instruments.  The next several Open House nights are Sat. Jan.31st and Sat. March 7, 2009 from 6-10pm if weather permits.  Details at webpage: http://www.du.edu/~rstencel/Chamberlin .

To thank local residents for their support and encourage new visitors, Taco Bell Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana offers free admission to all residents of Santa Ana the first Monday of every month. Guests must bring a valid drivers license or another ID with a Santa Ana address to the ticket booth to receive free admission for up to four people (children and adults).

The forum provides undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to hear firsthand about a wide range of career paths in ecology, including: Media, Education, Museum Science, Academic Ecology, Environmental Law, Advocacy, Governmental Research, Conservation & Stewardship, Industry, and Consulting. The forum is open to all students at no charge. A full schedule of speakers is available on line at http://www.ecostudies.org/events.html. Interested individuals should register for the afternoon program. No registration required for the morning session. Contact 677-7600 x 326 or zolnickp@caryinstitute.org. The program will be held at the auditorium. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY.

In honor of the Year of Science’s Astronomy month, the Kingman Museum welcomes Dr. Kirk Korista, professor of astronomy at Western Michigan University.  In the early part of the 20th century we came to realize, in a breath-taking leap away from our previous sense of place within cosmic space and time, that our Sun is one of 100s of billion stars within a galaxy that is one amongst 100s of billions. Korista will present an image-filled overview of the major constituents of our Milky Way, the essential properties of the various 'animals' within the galaxy zoo, and of some recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the nature of galaxies through cosmic space and time.

Where Bill Gates� Great-Granddaughter Might Go on Her Honeymoon: Free Public Lecture at Sunnyvale Library (tickets required)
 
Astronomer and popular lecturer Andrew Fraknoi will explore the most intriguing future tourist destinations among the planets and moons in our cosmic neighborhood in a program on Thursday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sunnyvale Library program room.  A limited number of tickets are available free on a first-come, first-served basis at the Adult Reference Desk.

The illustrated tour will include the 4,000 mile lava channel on Venus, the towering Mount Olympus volcano on Mars (three times the height of Mount Everest), the awesome Verona Cliffs on the moon Miranda (which are the tallest �lover�s leap� in the solar system), and the mysterious ice-cracks of the moon Europa, under which may be a global ocean. No background in science will be required for this non-technical talk. 

The Sunnyvale Public Library is located at 665 West Olive Ave., across from City Hall.  Free parking is always available, and VTA line 54 serves the Library.  For more information about Library services and activities, visit www.sunnyvalelibrary.org or call the Reference Desk at (408) 730-7300.

Andrew Fraknoi is the Chair of the Astronomy Department at Foothill College and the former Executive Director of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.  He was selected as the 2007 California Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Endowment.  He is a frequent guest on KGO radio and on the Forum program on KQED.  His children�s book, Disney�s Wonderful World of Space, is coming out in paperback in July 2009.  Asteroid 4859 has been named Asteroid Fraknoi to recognize his contributions to the public understanding of science.

The Charles Darwin Lecture Series continues on Thursday, July 9, as Anne Yoder, professor and director of the Duke Lemur Center, presents “Madagascar’s magnificent biodiversity: What would Darwin say?”

Yoder’s research focuses on phylogeny and evolution of mammals, conservation genetics, and the historical biogeography and biodiversity of Madagascar, one of the most critical geographic priorities for conservation action worldwide. In addition to her role at the Lemur Center, Yoder is a professor of biology, biological anthropology and anatomy at Duke University. She is also associate editor for Evolution magazine and on the editorial board for the International Journal of Primatology and Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution.

Please RSVP to museum.reservations@ncmail.net. This lecture is free of charge and seating is on a first come, first served basis. Doors to the Museum and auditorium will open at 6 pm.

The Museum, in collaboration with the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) and the W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology at North Carolina State University, is presenting this lecture series throughout 2009 to commemorate the bicentennial of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of “The Origin of Species.”

The fourth lecture in the series will feature Dale Russell, the Museum’s senior curator of paleontology, on September 29.  Russell will present a talk based on his new book “Islands in the Cosmos: The Evolution of Life on Land,” which traces a path from the dawn of the universe to speculations about our future on this planet. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. In November, Museum paleontologist Paul Brinkman presents the final lecture in the series: “Charles Darwin’s Beagle voyage and the origin of ‘The Origin’.”

Previous lectures were given by renowned science author Carl Zimmer, who spoke about the newest discoveries in evolution, and NC State University professor Rob Dunn, who spoke about biodiversity and ecology.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly like Superman can now be yours. Train with an expert coach, board our specially modified aircraft, G-FORCE ONE®, and experience the unforgettable..

Explore bird life in the Wappinger Creek watershed. Quinn Emmerling will provide visitors with insight into resident and migratory birds, their behavior, and the ecology of information. He is part of a team that is investigating how songbirds use environmental cues to manage their daily activities. Wear sturdy shoes and bring your binoculars. The program will meet at the auditorium. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY. Free. Contact 677-5343 or freemanp@caryinstitute.org

Join Cary Institute educators for an interpretive hike along the Wappinger Creek Trail. Sample creek macro invertebrates and learn about water quality issues while exploring wetland habitat. This family friendly event is part of the Creek Week and the Dutchess County Watershed Awareness Month. Wear sturdy shoes. The program will begin behind the Gifford House. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2917 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY. Free. Contact 677-5343 or freeman@caryinstitute.org

What are doodle bugs? Discover their interesting lifestyle and their folklore from cultures around the world.  Observe these amazing creatures and their relatives, the lacewings, and owlflies in the classroom. Watch a live doodle bug hunt for its prey.  Then go outside to search for more. Join us for this fun, hands-on family program. Pre-registration is required; space is limited.  Admission: Free.  Recommended families with children ages 6 - 10.

The National Energy Education Development Project, Washington and Lee University, the Lenfest Foundation, and the Council on Foreign Relations have collaborated to develop a new Nuclear Energy classroom module for middle school and high school classrooms. In conjunction with the new curriculum they are also offering a summer workshop opportunity July 26th-29th in Charlottesville, VA.

The National Energy Education Development Project, Washington and Lee University, the Lenfest Foundation, and the Council on Foreign Relations have collaborated to develop a new Nuclear Energy classroom module for middle school and high school classrooms. In conjunction with the new curriculum they are also offering a summer workshop opportunity July 26th-29th in Charlottesville, VA.

The National Energy Education Development Project, Washington and Lee University, the Lenfest Foundation, and the Council on Foreign Relations have collaborated to develop a new Nuclear Energy classroom module for middle school and high school classrooms. In conjunction with the new curriculum they are also offering a summer workshop opportunity July 26th-29th in Charlottesville, VA.

The National Energy Education Development Project, Washington and Lee University, the Lenfest Foundation, and the Council on Foreign Relations have collaborated to develop a new Nuclear Energy classroom module for middle school and high school classrooms. In conjunction with the new curriculum they are also offering a summer workshop opportunity July 26th-29th in Charlottesville, VA.