Reptiles Displayed at Museum Exhibit

Dinosaur fossils and other prehistoric reptiles are on display in the exhibit, “The Age of Reptiles,” at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

The recently opened exhibit illustrates thought about how the land, sea and air may have appeared when the world was ruled by the giant reptiles.

Specimens on display include the skulls of a tyrannosaurus rex and a triceratops and skeletons of pterosaurs and a mosasaur, a giant marine lizard.

Call (213) 744-3488.

ENVIRONMENT

Volunteers can assist naturalists in determining the status of the endangered desert tortoise in a California Desert Protection League project in Joshua Tree National Monument Nov. 24-25. Reservations are required, call (805) 986-3072 or (619) 367-4528.

BOTANY

Identification of plants, plant life patterns and the interdependence of plant and animal communities of the local mountains will be taught in field classes offered by Earth Skills on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (213) 833-4249.

SCIENCE FOR FAMILIES

Families visiting the Cabrillo Marine Museum will be able to view and handle live marine animals and examine other marine artifacts in two new Discovery Center workshops on Saturday and Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Call (213) 548-7562.

ASTRONOMY

During November, Mars will be closer to earth than it has been in two years and will not be as close again until the year 2001. Two college planetarium programs will feature the red planet this month.

The El Camino College planetarium program will be held Friday, Nov. 16 and Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets must be purchased through the Auditorium Box Office, (213) 329-5345. For program information, call (213) 715-3373.

The Moorpark College program will be Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Call (805) 378-1408.

Orion, the brightest winter constellation, will be the topic of the Santa Monica College Planetarium feature show on Friday and Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. after the weekly Night Sky Show at 7 p.m. Call (213) 452-9223.

ARCHEOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY

The peoples and ancient cultures of the Horn of Africa will be explored in an illustrated lecture program at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on Saturday at 4 p.m. Call (213) 744-3534.

Leading archeologist and UC Berkeley professor David Stronach and his colleagues on a recent excavation project in the Middle East will discuss their discoveries concerning the ancient Assyrian culture in a UCLA Extension class Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (213) 206-8456.

MEDICINE/HEALTH

Author Norman Cousins will discuss the importance of good patient-doctor communication at St. John’s Hospital and Health Center Community Health Education Program on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (213) 829-8453.

A panel of pain specialists will present information on the treatment and relief of pain at the Medical Center of North Hollywood on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (818) 753-2483.

Heartburn treatment and swallowing problems associated with strokes will be addressed in a panel discussion led by Dr. Paul Waters, director of Cedars-Sinai’s Swallowing/Esophageal Disorders Program, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (213) 855-6360.