Science / Medicine : Museum Stages Demonstration to Prepare for Earthquakes

The recent devastating earthquake in San Francisco has made many Southern California residents more aware of the necessity of earthquake preparedness.

“Living With Our Faults,” an earthquake preparedness demonstration and informational slide show at the California Museum of Science and Industry can help teach people what to do in the event of a major quake.

Visitors to the museum can also learn about the geology of earthquakes, where the major fault lines are, why and how quakes happen. A simulated quake as part of the museum’s ongoing earthquake exhibit enables the to see and feel what a quake is like.

The earthquake preparedness program will be shown Saturdays at noon in the Hearst Theater with special programs offered for school groups on Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon, call (213) 744-2008. For general museum information, call (213) 744-7400.

PALEONTOLOGY

Nine animated dinosaurs, half the size of their real-life counterparts, will be on display at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville through Nov. 26. Sponsored by the San Bernardino County Museum, the giant reptiles on exhibit include a triceratops, a stegosaurus and the toothy Tyrannosaurus rex. Call (619) 951-2893 or (714) 798-8570.

ANTHROPOLOGY

Roger Lewin, former editor of research news at Science magazine, will discuss controversies in the search for human origins and the interpretations of human fossil discoveries in a talk sponsored by the Southern California Skeptics on Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. in Beckman Auditorium on the Caltech campus. Call (213) 283-9773 or (818) 356-4652.

ASTRONOMY

The history of the telescope will be the topic of the Tessman Planetarium program at Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana, Nov. 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Call (714) 667-3097.

The rings of Neptune and the planet’s moon, Triton, will be discussed by Richard Terrile, member of the Imaging Science Team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a lecture at the Griffith Observatory tonight at 7:30 p.m. Call (213) 664-1191.

SCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY

Lawrence Badash, professor of history at UC Santa Barbara, will discuss the politics of nuclear winter at Caltech’s Science, Ethics and Public Policy Seminar, Wednesday at noon in the Judy Library, Baxter Hall on campus. Call (818) 356-4652.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

Children can learn about crystals and minerals and create their own crystal garden at the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena. Workshops will be held Nov. 18 and 19 at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Call (818) 449-9144.

MEDICINE

The effects of Vincent Van Gogh’s use of digitalis and absinthe upon his paintings and behavior will be discussed by USC professor emeritus David A. Berman, Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in USC’s Hastings Auditorium. Call (213) 224-7232.

ORNITHOLOGY

David White of the Audubon Society will introduce participants to the resident birds and waterfowl in a trip to the Whittier Narrows Regional Park on Nov. 12 at 8 a.m. Call (213) 876-0202.