Calender : Science File / An exploration of issues and trends affecting science, medicine and the environment

The Los Angeles chapter of the American Cetacean Society is seeking volunteers to assist in the annual gray whale census from the Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Volunteers can attend an orientation session for new whale spotters at the Point Vicente Center on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call (310) 519-8963.

Archeology, Anthropology

* The recent discovery of the ancient city of Urkesh, the hub of a major Near Eastern civilization that dates to the Third Millennium, will be the subject of a UCLA Extension seminar Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Fowler Museum. (310) 825-2272.

* The final two lectures in the series “The Birth and Development of Civilization in the Ancient Near East” will be held Tuesday and Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. in the Gindi Auditorium at the University of Judaism. (818) 762-5500.

Astronomy

* “The Galileo Mission and Other Space Explorations” will be discussed by Edward Stone, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and William O’Neil, Galileo project manager, on the radio program “Airtalk: The Caltech Edition” on KPCC-FM, 89.3, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. Call-ins: (818) 793-3667 or (818) 798-2489.

* “Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico,” the pre-Columbian astronomers of Latin America, will be the featured astronomy program at Santa Monica College on Friday, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. in Room 1 of the Science Village. The program follows the weekly Night Sky Show at 7 p.m. (310) 452-9396.

* Local astronomers will set up telescopes at the West Los Angeles and Eagle Rock branches of the Los Angeles Public Library for free public astronomy shows on Dec. 4. Families can view the moon, Jupiter and Saturn from 6 to 8 p.m. Call Eagle Rock at (213) 258-8078 or West Los Angeles at (310) 575-8323.

* The Los Angeles Zoo is getting into the holiday season with “Presents for Primates and Pachyderms” on weekends in December. From Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, visitors can see great apes and elephants enjoying a special holiday banquet. (213) 666-4090.

For Families

* Children can experience the sounds of the forest, make a sundial and learn about recycling, liquid nitrogen or the weather in workshops held throughout December at the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena. (818) 449-9144.

* Wildlife on Wheels is offering a unique way to share the holiday season by “adopting” an animal housed at the organization’s compound in the San Fernando Valley. Proceeds help support the care and feeding of one of the animals such as an African pygmy hedgehog or a red-billed Toucan. Deadline is Dec. 9. (818) 951-3656.

* The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden “Winterfest” series continues with a program on “Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe--Winter Plants and Plant Lore” on Saturday, and “The Nature of Winter,” on Dec. 16. The programs will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. both days. (805) 682-4726.