Science / Medicine - Exhibits Spotlight Ecosystem of Beach

The sandy beach, the adjoining ocean and the creatures that inhabit this ecosystem will be featured in a new series of permanent exhibits opening Feb. 9 at the Cabrillo Marine Museum in San Pedro.

Utilizing live specimens, visual and interactive displays, “Life in Shifting Sands” will spotlight many of the animals that are overlooked by visitors to local beaches.

One highlight of the new exhibit is a beach wave tank showing how wind and waves interact to create the Southern California coastline and provide shelter for the animals that live there.

The comprehensive series of exhibits culminates nearly a year of effort by museum staff members. Call (213) 548-7562.

BOTANY

The plants used by the Mojave Desert Indians will be the subject of an ethnobotany class offered at the California State University system’s Desert Studies Center near Baker on Friday through Sunday. Call (714) 880-5975.

Using a hands-on approach, botanist R.T. Hawke will teach an “Earth Skills” plant identification workshop in Topanga State Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (213) 833-4249.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

Enrollment is open for the California Museum of Science and Industry Spring Science Workshops for Children, which begin Feb. 23.

Class sizes of 20 students insure that each child will receive personal attention from top science instructors in such courses as “Bugs, Slugs and Green Things” and “Save the Garbage.” Subjects including physics, chemistry and the popular rocket scientist class are available for children from preschool through eighth grade in the weekend classes. Call (213) 744-7440.

ENVIRONMENT

Duane L. Georgeson, assistant general manager of the Metropolitan Water District, will discuss “Water: Conflicts of Demand and Threats to Supply” in a Caltech Environmental Engineering Science Seminar on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in 142 Keck on campus. Call (818) 356-4652.

A hike along the San Andreas Fault and a visit to the oasis of Willis Palms will be led by Palm Springs Desert Museum naturalists on Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. Call (619) 325-0189.

ORNITHOLOGY

The Sierra Club’s Natural Science Section will be having its annual Salton Sea Natural History trip to view flocks of snow geese and several other species of waterfowl and shore birds in the area on Saturday and Sunday. Call (714) 650-0654.

A bird identification workshop at Topanga State Park is being offered by Earth Skills on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call (213) 833-4249.

ASTRONOMY

The unusual astronomical events of ancient times and how they are used by modern astronomers will be the subject of a special guest lecture by Richard Stephenson, visiting senior research associate at JPL and a foremost authority on ancient astronomical observations, at the Griffith Observatory tonight at 7:30 p.m. Call (213) 664-1191.

There will be a partial eclipse of the moon Tuesday evening. Observers may see the moon’s left edge darken slightly from 9 to 11 p.m. Maximum will be at 9:59 p.m. with the best observation time during the half-hour around 10 p.m. according to the Griffith Observatory. Call the observatory Sky Report, (213) 663-8171.