Science / Medicine : Fair Offers Lessons in Living With Nature

More than 65 exhibits and activities designed for children and their families will be featured at the 11th annual Environmental Education Fair Saturday at the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum in Arcadia.

This year’s fair, whose theme is “Networking With Nature,” will feature hands-on projects, field trips led by Las Voluntarias docents, special activities for youngsters and experts speaking on a variety of environmental issues.

In previous years groups such as the TreePeople and the Wildlife Waystation have provided contributions to the fair, which has attracted more than 5,000 visitors.

The daylong fair begins at 9 a.m. Call (818) 821-3222.

ASTRONOMY

The astronomical discoveries of ancient societies of Latin America will be the subject of the El Camino College Planetarium program March 15 and 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Auditorium Box Office. Call (213) 715-3200.

In anticipation of the total solar eclipse in July, the Griffith Observatory has scheduled a special lecture series on eclipses. Observatory director Edwin Krupp will discuss ancient eclipse myths from around the world on March 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the planetarium theater. Call (213) 664-1191.

Astronomer Joel K. Harris will also discuss aspects of the upcoming eclipse in a program March 23 at noon in the Glendale Community College Kreider Lecture Hall. Call (818) 240-1000.

HEALTH/MEDICINE

“Chemotherapy: How It Works and Why We Use It,” will be discussed by Dr. Christy Russell at a luncheon for the Cancer Research Associates, a group supporting research at USC’s Kenneth J. Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, on March 20 at noon. For reservations call (213) 342-1088.

A seminar on the biochemical, sociological and psychological influences on depression will be offered at the Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina del Rey on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Preregistration is required. Call (800) 356-2824.

ENTOMOLOGY

The fifth annual Lorquin Insect Fair, featuring both live and preserved insect specimens and the Ralph M. Parsons Insect Zoo from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, will be held at the Los Angeles County State and County Arboretum March 23 and 24. Call (213) 744-3558 or (818) 821-3222.

ORNITHOLOGY

The birds and natural history of the Indonesian archipelago will be discussed at the monthly meeting of the Los Angeles Audubon Society, Tuesday at 8 p.m., following the bird identification workshop at 7:30. Call (213) 876-0202.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy, has planned a trip Saturday at 9 a.m. to the Conservancy’s Big Morongo Preserve to learn about some of the 270 bird species found there. Reservations are required. Call (213) 744-3342 or 744-3534.

SCIENCE FOR KIDS

“Footprints on the Moon,” a salute to America’s space program designed for children ages 6 and up and their families, will be shown at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium, Saturday at 2 p.m. Call (818) 356-4652.

Good dental care, eating habits and exercise will be the subjects of two workshops offered at the Children’s Museum at La Habra in March. “Brushing the Ivories” will teach children about healthy teeth on Saturday at noon. The following Saturday, March 23, children can learn about healthy eating and exercise in a noon workshop. Call (213) 905-9793.

ARCHEOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY

The archeology and geology of Death Valley will be explored in two weekend field classes offered by the California State University Desert Studies Center. The geologic diversity of the area will be examined March 15-17, and on March 22-24, 9,000 years of cultural and environmental heritage of the valley will be the class focus. Call (714) 880-5975.