SCIENCE / MEDICINE : Museum Holds Expo on Quake Preparedness

The ground movement in Southern California serves as a constant reminder that the area is one of the most geologically active regions of the Earth. The California Museum of Science and Industry will be host for an “Earthquake Expo” on Saturday to inform people about quakes and to kick off its monthlong observance of Earthquake Preparedness Month in April.

The centerpiece of the Expo will be the museum’s popular Earthquake exhibit, in which children and adults can learn about quakes and what to do in the event one hits. Visitors can also experience a simulated quake in the exhibit.

Demonstrations by firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department begin at noon. There will also be special programs on coping with earthquake fears, quake preparedness and other events in both English and Spanish throughout the day.

Events will be held at the museum in Exposition Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (213) 744-7400.

MARINE SCIENCE

Naturalists from the Cabrillo Marine Museum will introduce visitors to the diverse life and environment of the Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge in a tide pool tour from 1:30 to 3 p.m. April 7. (213) 548-7562.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

Children ages 5 to 12 can learn about the animals that live in rain forest trees in two classes at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on April 7. The class for children 5 to 7 will be held at 10 a.m, and the class for children 8 to 12 will begin at 1 p.m. (213) 744-3534 to register.

The Los Angeles Children’s Museum’s Health Education Learning Project (HELP) will have a series of science games and experiments for children to learn about Newton’s laws from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. (213) 687-8800.

ENVIRONMENT

The diverse habitats from the desert scrub of the Coachella Valley to the coniferous forests near Idyllwild will be the focus of a daylong trip offered by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. (213) 744-3342.

Naturalists from the Sea Center of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will lead participants on a full-day excursion to Santa Barbara Island on April 28. One of the least explored of the Channel Islands, it is a haven for marine birds and mammals. Deadline for registration is April 9. (805) 963-1067.

MEDICINE / HEALTH

More than 200 companies will display products and services for people whose activities are physically limited in some way at the “Abilities Expo” April 6 to 8 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. (619) 944-1122.

Jonathan Miller, host and author of the PBS series “The Body in Question,” will discuss “Madness and Genius: Are They Related?” in a program sponsored by the Southern California Skeptics at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium at 8 p.m. Thursday Call (213) 283-9773 or (818) 356-4652.

ENTOMOLOGY

Students ages 15 to 21 can learn about Southern California insects in a four-week seminar taught by biologist Cassie Carter at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County beginning April 7. (213) 744-6912.

ASTRONOMY

Opportunities provided by the space station Freedom will be the subject of the Santa Monica College Planetarium’s lecture presentation at 8 p.m. Friday. The lecture follows the 7 p.m. Night Sky Show. (213) 452-9223.

The moon will be the topic at the Los Angeles Valley College Planetarium program at 8 p.m. April 6 and 2 p.m. April 7. (818) 781-1200, Ext. 335.

Eleanor F. Helin of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena will discuss her work in discovering and tracking asteroids in a program sponsored by the Local Group, the amateur astronomy club of the Santa Clarita Valley, at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center at 7 p.m. April 7. (805) 259-3284 or (818) 362-1175.

BOTANY

Visitors can learn about the native plant species on display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in the fourth annual Wildflowers Show, sponsored by the California Native Plant Society on April 7 and 8. (213) 744-3466.