Sierra Club Section to Lead Workshops

Classes and field trips in geology, botany, herpetology, astronomy and Native American culture will highlight a weekend of outdoor activities in the San Bernardino Mountains at the Nature Knowledge Workshop offered by the Sierra Club’s natural science section in May.

Designed to promote a deeper understanding of environmental relationships and an awareness of environmental problem-solving, the field-oriented sessions utilize hands-on learning and exploration of ecological relationships.

Activities will be held in a resident camp on the Santa Ana River in the San Bernardino National Forest. Groups will explore stream side, chaparral and pine forest habitats.

The workshop will be held May 18-20, space is limited and reservations are required. Deadline for reservations is April 22. Call (805) 967-0593, (213) 429-6953 or (818) 787-2294.

EARTH DAY

Many organizations have scheduled special events to mark the 20th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22. Some of these include:

The Cabrillo Marine Museum will focus on the coastal environment with activities that include a classroom “discovery center” where visitors can examine bones and live tide pool animals and a tour of the man-made salt marsh near the museum. There will also be presentations by local environmental groups. Activities are scheduled April 22 from noon to 5 p.m. Call (213) 548-7562.

Children and their adults can help celebrate Earth Day by creating a tropical rain forest at the Westside Arts Center in Santa Monica on April 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. The center is also offering a week of holiday workshops beginning today, including a “Celebration Honoring the Earth.” Pre-registration is required for most events. Call (213) 395-1443.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County will be having a “Rainforest Weekend” April 21 and 22 timed to coincide with the Earth Day anniversary. The weekend will include environmental displays, children’s programs, lectures and gallery tours to examine the complex problems that threaten tropical rain forests. A “Biodiversity Fair” will feature displays by about 60 environmental organizations. Admission to the museum will be free all weekend. Call (213) 744-3342 or (213) 744-3534.

SPACE SCIENCE

Visitors can view live NASA television transmissions of the scheduled deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope by the space shuttle Discovery on Wednesday at 11:10 a.m. at the California Museum of Science and Industry’s Aerospace Hall. Live feeds of the mission will also be on view Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (213) 744-7400.

ASTRONOMY

Comets will be the focus of the Santa Monica College Planetarium feature show April 20 and 27 at 8 p.m. Both programs, which will feature different aspects of the study of comets, will follow the 7 p.m. Night Sky Show. Call (213) 452-9223.

A different way to celebrate Earth Day is to study the stars at a star party hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society at their observation site in the mountains near Gorman on April 21. Call (213) 926-4071.

SCIENCE POLICY

“The Human Genome Project, Reproductive Choice and the Eroding Doctrine of Individual Rights” will be the focus of the Caltech seminar on issues in ethics and policy arising from the human genome initiative on April 18 at 4 p.m. in the Baxter Lecture Hall on campus. Call (818) 356-4087.

MEDICINE / HEALTH

Dorothy Gilden will lead a discussion of survivorship issues facing breast cancer patients at a meeting of Breast Cancer Recovery Plus on April 21 at 2 p.m. at the Mercury Savings office in West Los Angeles. Call (213) 452-0200 or (213) 478-9463.

Nonprescription drugs will be the topic of a lecture by internist Gerald Leve sponsored by Tamar Hadassah on Thursday at 1:15 p.m. Call 9213) 856-9317.