Voices in Science Lectures

Monthly public lectures for adults and older children presenting eminent scientists and currently newsworthy "hot topics" in science, or topics that relate to the Museum's exhibits, DynaTheater films, or Planetarium shows.

Museum Coordinator: Tish Morris, 841-2882

You may reserve tickets for any lecture by contacting Chris Sanchez at 841-2872, chris.sanchez@state.nm.us

Ridge 2000 Distinguished Lecturer Series

Life at the Edge: Evolutionary Adaptations to Extreme Environments

Chuck Fisher, Ph.D.
Thursday, April 10, 2008, 7:00pm

The deep mid-ocean ridge system is home to some of the most extreme animal habitats found on Earth: high pressure, lack of light, toxic chemicals, and low temperatures but extreme temperature fluctuations up to 350° C! Specially adapted animals not only tolerate these conditions, they often thrive under them. These include clams with special feet and blood used to “mine” sulfide from cracks in the mid-ocean ridge lavas, mussels and snails that have giant gills filled with special bacteria to provide them with food, and shrimp that have lost their normal eyes and use patches on their backs to “see” the faint light of active hydrothermal vents. Amazing images will introduce the audience to the mid-ocean ridge system, the deep-sea, and life in the changing environment of hydrothermal vents. Come explore this exotic environment!

Chuck Fisher is a Professor of Biology at The Pennsylvania State University. He was one of the first scientists to study and publish about life in the deep sea hydrothermal vents in the 1980s. He has participated in 57 research expeditions (including 27 as chief scientist), made 126 dives in manned research submarines, and spent over 4 months at sea working with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

Sponsored by: The Ridge 2000 Program funded by The National Science Foundation, and University of New Mexico Biology and Earth and Planetary Sciences Departments.

Cost: $2 public/$1 members, seniors, students

“Strange Days on Planet Earth”

Mark Shelley
Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 7:00pm

“Strange Days on Planet Earth” is a unique production that integrates cutting-edge research, state of the art graphics, and globe spanning investigations, all presented as a high-tech detective story. In partnership with National Geographic, the program raises public understanding about how individuals are interconnected to our planet's life systems. The inaugural PBS series, hosted by Academy-award nominated actor Edward Norton, earned 14 major film festival honors. This April a new season will focus on global ocean and freshwater issues. Join the producer of this series for a unique preview and behind-the-scenes stories about this special program.

Mark Shelley is Executive Director of Sea Studios Foundation. He has used film-making to spotlight some of the most pressing issues of our times—from climate change to invasive species, from the loss of biological diversity to the loss of large predators and landscape fragmentation, and the vital role of our oceans in Earth’s life support systems. He is internationally recognized for his underwater filmmaking skills. Mark is an expert diver, submersible pilot, and airplane pilot.

Co-sponsored with KNME-TV, New Mexicans for Science and Reason and Coalition for Excellence in Science and Math Education

“Strange Days on Planet Earth” will air on KNME-TV Wednesday, April 23rd at 9:00pm.

Cost: $2 public/$1 members, seniors, students

A KNME Science Café

Mass Extinction

Spencer Lucas, Ph.D.
Saturday, April 26, 2008, 10:00am

What caused the greatest mass extinction in the history of multi-cellular life? Way back before dinosaurs, 250 million years ago, nearly 90% of all life on Earth died. A Nova Science Now segment will show us a half-dozen plausible theories, then we’ll have a discussion with Dr. Spencer Lucas, the curator of the Museum’s newest exhibition. Attendees will be able to visit the Triassic exhibition following the talk. Refreshments will be served.

Spencer Lucas, Ph.D. is Chief of Geologic Science, Curator of Paleontology and Geology, and current Interim Director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. His research has taken him to countries across the globe: northern Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and China. He is the author of Dinosaurs: The Textbook as well as over 500 scientific articles and has co-edited 14 books.

Hosted by KNME-TV5 with support from Lockheed Martin/Sandia National Laboratory.

Free, but reservations are required. Call Chris Sanchez at 841-2872, chris.sanchez@state.nm.us

All talks are at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
1801 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
505-841-2800

Questions? Call Tish Morris at 505-841-2882 or by e-mail  tish.morris@state.nm.us

You may reserve tickets by contacting Chris Sanchez at 841-2872, chris.sanchez@state.nm.us

Short Talks

Short talks at the Museum continue to offer the quickest and best way to learn more about insects, lizards, pikas, dinosaurs, the difference between mammal and dinosaur skulls, MITS, the Sandia Mountains, myths that are based on fossils, curious items in the collections, animal hearts, and fossil footprints. You could also learn how to cast a dinosaur, hike responsibly, what to eat in the jungle, and how to enjoy your own backyard. Join us for short talks at the Museum every Tuesday and Thursday begin promptly at 2:00 p.m. and last 15 minutes. The talks are free with admission.

Questions regarding Short Talks should be addressed to:

Becky Pate
Coordinator of Volunteers
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
1801 Mountain Road NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104-1375
505-841-2877
505-841-2866 fax

becky.pate@state.nm.us