Learning Experience on Catalina Island

An expedition to Catalina Island for many people may include a few restaurants, a stroll through Avalon and a sightseeing trip or two. The Cabrillo Marine Museum, however, is offering a different kind of trip to Catalina, one where visitors can learn about the unique marine and land environments of the island on May 19.

Museum staff members will lead participants in a full schedule of events including marine bird identification, searching for porpoise, sea lions and other marine animals, collection and on-deck observation of marine life.

Discussions on the geology of Catalina Island and hands-on projects will also highlight the day-long trip. Reservations are required. Call (213) 548-7563.

ENVIRONMENT

Philip E. Leakey will discuss wildlife conservation issues confronting Kenya and other African nations in a lecture presented by the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on May 19 at 2 p.m. at the museum. Reservation deadline is May 15.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

Live centipedes, millipedes and giant roaches will be some of the creatures at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s “Insects on Parade Day,” May 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A variety of activities are planned throughout the day, including a bee puppet workshop from 1 to 2 p.m. (213) 744-3335 for workshop information, 744-3466 for general information.

SCIENCE POLICY

James D. Watson, director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and head of the Human Genome Office, will discuss the Human Genome Initiative on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. as part of Caltech’s seminar on policy issues arising from the initiative.

The series continues on May 17 at 4 p.m with Dorothy Nelkin, sociology professor at New York University, who will discuss the social power of genetic information. Both lectures in the Baxter Lecture Hall. (818) 356-4087.

“Should Universities Operate Weapons Laboratories?: The University of California, Livermore and Los Alamos,” will be the subject of Caltech’s seminar on Science, Ethics and Public Policy on Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. in the Judy Library in Baxter Hall. (818) 356-4087.

BOTANY

The plant communities of the Amazon Basin and efforts to save the rain forests will be addressed by Mildred Mathais, UCLA professor emeritus, at the George C. Page Museum at 7 p.m. Thursday. Reservations required. (213) 755-3534.

HEALTH / MEDICINE

Children with chronic ailments such as asthma or diabetes can obtain free lifetime Medic Alert memberships at the Los Angeles Children’s Museum in May. Medic Alert bracelets provide vital medical information for children who may be injured or too young to explain their condition. The Medic Alert Foundation will have information and memberships available in the museum’s Health Education Learning Project. Call (213) 687-8800.

The Mature Health Resources Foundation will be offering cholesterol screening and other health-related tests at the MedAccess Plus health fair for older people at their offices in Brea on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Call (714) 255-8247.

ASTRONOMY

“Polar Research of Atmospheric Auroral Storms and Solar Activity” will be the subject of the Santa Monica Amateur Astronomy Club program on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Call (213) 450-1944.

The Rancho Santiago College planetarium program will focus on comets in May, Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Tessman Planetarium. Call (714) 667-3097.