Science / Medicine
The shore birds of Southern California are the focus of an exhibit featuring the work of wildlife research photographer B. (Moose) Peterson now at the Cabrillo Marine Museum in San Pedro.
A flock of avocets, a snowy egret and two endangered species, the light-footed clapper rail and Belding’s savanna sparrow, are some of the birds profiled by Peterson in the exhibit.
Over the years, Peterson has photographed almost 300 species of birds, primarily for research projects in California.
The exhibit of the large format photographs will continue through Dec. 17. Call (213) 548-7562.
ASTRONOMY
The geology of the icy satellites of the outer planets will be discussed by Torrance Johnson, Galileo project scientist at JPL, in a lecture at the Griffith Observatory on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Call (213) 664-1991.
Members and friends of The Local Group, the astronomy club of the Santa Clarita Valley, will have telescopes on hand to view the constellations of the night sky at a “star party” near Templin Highway north of Castaic on Saturday at dusk, weather permitting. An alternate date of Dec. 2 is also scheduled. Call (805) 259-3284 or (818) 362-1175.
The Los Angeles Astronomical Society will also have telescopes trained on the sky that evening at their facility near Frazier Park, also weather permitting. Warm dress is strongly recommended. Call (213) 926-4071.
Super-massive black holes, warped space and time and the death of stars are some of the topics astronomer Andrew Fraknoi, executive officer of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, will examine in a one-day program offered by UCLA Extension on Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The class is designed as an introductory program for the non-scientist. Call (213) 825-7093.
Theories concerning the origins of the Christmas Star will be explored in the last program of the Moorpark College Astronomy Lecture Series for 1989 on Dec. 3 at 7:30 at the Charles Temple Observatory on campus. Call (805) 378-1408.
MEDICINE / HEALTH
Specific issues of parenting the adolescent, including development phases and possible problem areas, such as addictive or compulsive behaviors, will be addressed in a seminar for parents at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica on Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (213) 829-8453.
Dr. Edward L. Schneider, dean of USC’s Gerontology Center and School of Gerontology, will review the leading biological theories of aging in a colloquium on Nov. 30 at noon in Room 224 of the Andrus Gerontology Center on campus. Call (213) 743-2916.
SCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY
The vision of the human genome project will be discussed by Walter Gilbert, chairman of the Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology at Harvard University, at the Caltech Science, Ethics, and Public Policy seminar on Nov. 29 at noon in Baxter Hall. Call (818) 356-4087.
BOTANY
Novices can learn about the plant life of La Jolla Canyon in Point Mugu State Park in an introductory program and field trip sponsored by the natural science section of the Sierra Club on Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m. Call (805) 967-0593.
ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY
Naturalists Mary Gosselin and Paul Collins will lead visitors on an exploration of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh, a coastal preserve located west of the city of Carpinteria, in a one-day trip sponsored by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Dec. 2 at 8 a.m. Registration deadline is Wednesday. Call (805) 682-4711.
