Science / Medicine : Predatory Animals Workshop Planned
Predatory animals--wolves, bears, eagles, mountain lions--have historically been viewed with fear and suspicion by scientists and the general public.
Only recently have attitudes toward these animals changed from suspicion to support. Scientists and the public have begun to realize the vital role they play in the environment.
The El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach is offering a workshop on predatory animals for educators in anticipation of the National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Week in March. Designed to enable participants to take environmental education into the classroom, the workshop will be held Feb. 25 at the Center. Call (213) 425-8569.
ASTRONOMY
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence will be the focus of a UCLA Extension class taught by Andrew Fraknoi, executive officer of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and member of the board of directors of the SETI Institute, at 9 a.m. Feb. 25. Call (213) 824-7093.
Jackie Giuliano of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will discuss the Galileo spacecraft mission at 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at Santa Monica College Planetarium. The lecture follows the Night Sky Show, which begins at 7 p.m. Call (213) 452-9223
ANTHROPOLOGY/ARCHEOLOGY
The civilization of ancient Maya will be the subject of a lecture by Norman Hammond, professor of archeology at Rutgers University, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Southwest Museum. Admission is free; reservations are required. Call (213) 221-2164.
Toolmaking of the early inhabitants of the Mojave will be studied in a series of classes offered by the California State University System Desert Studies Center near Baker on two consecutive weekends beginning Friday. A field trip to a prehistoric quarry site is planned. Call (714) 887-7527.
BOTANY
Bill Cibula, mycologist and NASA botanist who studies Earth ecosystems, will discuss a NASA satellite study of mushrooms’ effects on tree growth at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum. The presentation is part of a daylong event sponsored by the Los Angeles Mycological Society. Call (213) 292-1900.
MARINE SCIENCE
Communication behaviors of cephalopods--such marine animals as the octopus and squid--will be examined in a program at the Cabrillo Marine Museum at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25. Call (213) 548-7563.
NATURAL SCIENCE
Many people work as volunteers on scientific projects during their summer vacations. Volunteers provide physical and financial support for the projects and receive a chance to learn science first-hand. Expenses are usually tax-deductible. The Foundation for Field Research will meet at the UCLA Faculty Center at 9 a.m. Feb. 26 to inform people about projects scheduled for this summer. Call (619) 445-9264.
