Science / Medicine : ‘Urban Forest’ to Be Topic of Conference
Trees in an urban environment provide psychological, aesthetic, economic and environmental benefits. Understanding the benefits and promoting interest in the “urban forest” will be the focus of the Fifth National Urban Forest Conference, beginning Tuesday.
Successful management of the urban forest requires specialized expertise and knowledge, scientists have found. Understanding the ecology contains elements of scientific discovery as well as community involvement.
The trees we so often take for granted in the city are carefully selected to fit the environment. There is evidence that trees not only enhance the quality of life in the city visually, but can also affect the air quality by absorbing some polluting gases.
The conference, which is jointly sponsored by the American Forestry Assn., TreePeople, the California Urban Forests Council and others, will continue through Sunday at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Call (213) 624-7630.
MEDICINE
Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop will discuss “Health Care: The Crisis and the Opportunities,” at a community education forum presented by St. John’s Hospital and Health Center on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Miramar Sheraton in Santa Monica. Advance registration is required. Call (310) 829-8450.
“Life After Breast Cancer” will be the topic of a presentation by Dorothy Gilden, founder of Breast Cancer Recovery Plus, at the group’s meeting on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Center for Women’s Health across from Brotman Medical Center in Culver City. Call (310) 478-9463 or (310) 452-0200.
ENTOMOLOGY
For the sixth straight year, the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History will hold field trips to the Santa Barbara area to observe the annual migration of monarch butterflies. Insect Zoo Director Art Evans will discuss the monarch’s life cycle and migratory behavior in an orientation class on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. Participants will then go into the field to track and tag butterflies on Dec. 8 or Dec. 14. Reservations are required. Call (213) 744-3534.
ASTRONOMY
The most recent data from Magellan’s encounter with Venus will be the topic of the El Camino College Planetarium program on Friday and Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets must be purchased from the auditorium box office. Call (310) 715-3200.
Italian astrophysicist Fiorella Terenzi will discuss how radio waves are captured from distant galaxies and how she has transformed cosmic waves into music, and present a short concert of her original composition, “Music From the Galaxies,” at the Griffith Observatory on Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Call (213) 664-1191.
The July 11 total solar eclipse will be discussed by Santa Monica College Planetarium director Jonathon Hodge, who viewed it from Hawaii, and astronomy professor Gary Fouts, who viewed it from Mexico, at the Santa Monica College Planetarium program on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m., after the weekly Night Sky Show at 7. Call (310) 452-9223.
Observing and photographing comets and meteors will be the topic of the Los Angeles Valley College Astronomy Club planetarium program on Friday at 8 p.m. Call (818) 781-1200, Ext. 335.
