Bell Museum Happenings - June 2008

Special Events; Summer Camps; Exhibits' Field Trips; Nature Play; Nature Tots

Read all about it:

BioBlitz
Friday, June 13, 5 p.m. through Saturday, June 14, 5 p.m.
BioBlitz is part scientific survey, part community event, and part festival. This year, BioBlitz participants will help survey part of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Newly acquired by the refuge, this beautiful land is a scientifically interesting site that is surrounded by the rapidly developing Carver County. The data collected will be used to help manage the site. Activities will take place all day. For additional information, visit www.bellmuseum.org .

Evolution 2008 Conference
Thursday, June 19 through Tuesday, June 24 The University of Minnesota's Bell Museum of Natural History and the College of Biological Sciences will host "Evolution 2008," the joint annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, the Society of Systematic Biologists, and the American Society of Naturalists, June 19-24 at the University. The meeting is the premier annual opportunity for sharing international scientific research related to evolution. Minnesota Citizens for Science Education is also a sponsor of the event. For a complete list of conference activities, visit www.bellmuseum.org .

Public Lecture by Olivia Judson
The Art of Seduction: Evolution, Sex, and Society Sunday, June 22, 4 p.m., doors open at 3 p.m.
Ted Mann Concert Hall
Free
Headlining the "Evolution 2008" series of events is Olivia Judson, New York Times columnist and author of the 2005 best-selling book, Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation. Judson's light-hearted guide to the evolutionary biology of sex in the animal kingdom explains when necrophilia is acceptable, who should commit bestiality and with whom, how to have a virgin birth, and when and how to eat your mate.

SUMMER CAMPS
Summer Discover Day Camps
Weekly, June 9 through August 29
$225, $200 for members
Summer means ice-cream cones, boat rides, waterslides, and the return of the Bell Museum Summer Discovery Day Camps. These popular weeklong camps are packed with hand-on projects that encourage kids to explore the fields of science, art, and technology. Plus, Bell Museum camps are filled with great summer fun on the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus. To register, call 612-624-9050 or visit www.bellmuseum.org .

EXHIBITS
The Lion's Mane: Science in the Serengeti Through September 7 West Gallery Why does a lion have a mane? Does the King of Beasts need his mane for protection, or is it a signal of his power and fitness? University of Minnesota researchers Craig Packer and Peyton West were the first to test these two theories--and their research reveals surprising facts about the mane's true purpose and its role in attracting a mate.

Mysteries in the Mud: Climate Change in the Big Woods Through September 7 West Gallery Minnesota's Big Woods has thrived for hundreds of years in a region dominated by prairies. University of Minnesota geologist Bryan Shuman is discovering that changes in the climate a long time ago may have given trees an advantage over prairies. Tag along into the field and then enter a research lab to discover climate change clues in the layers of mud from the bottom of a lake.

Behind the Diorama Glass
Through September 7
Lobby Gallery
The Bell Museum is recognized as one of the great treasure houses of diorama art, with examples that trace the historical development of the diorama from its beginnings in the early 20th century to its peak in the 1940s and 1950s. Using historic images, artifacts, and film, this exhibition takes visitors behind the glass to see the people, processes, and cultural environment that led to the popularity of diorama exhibits.

FIELD TRIPS
Wolsfeld Woods
Sunday, June 8, 2-4 p.m.
$12, $8 for members
Wolsfeld Woods is a premier example of the original "Big Woods" forest that once covered the south-central part of Minnesota. Due to urban expansion and industrial development, few remnants of the area remain. Join popular Bell Museum trip leader and University of Minnesota Professor Ed Cushing for a close-up at this fading region filled with red oak and butternut trees, trilliums, bloodroot, and other species growing within the forest. To register, call 612-624-9050.

Exploring Cedar Creek
Sunday, June 29, 2-4 p.m.
$12, $8 for members
The Cedar Creek area is home to some of the greatest diversity of habitats in Minnesota. Join University of Minnesota Ecology Professor Ed Cushing for an exciting exploration of the area's wooded uplands, abandoned fields, lowland swamps, and open marshes. To register, call 612-624-9050.

NATURE PLAY
A drop-in family program from 1-3 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Free with museum admission. For families with kids ages 4 and older.

Wolves, Coyotes, Foxes, and Dogs
June 14
Touch real pelts and skulls and make a howling great wolf mask. A scavenger hunt will help you explore the wolf, coyote, and fox dioramas.

NATURE TOTS
A program for toddlers and preschoolers with their parents, held the first Thursday of every month from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Free with museum admission, but registration is required. Call 612-624-9050.

Creepy Crawlies
June 5
What creeps and crawls on six or eight legs? Yes, insects and spiders! We will learn about these creepy crawlers through songs and get to see insects and tarantulas up close. Nature Tots and their parents will also look for insects and spiders outside.

BELL MUSEUM ADMISSION AND HOURS

Admission
Museum members - free
Adults - $5
Youth age 3-16, students, & seniors - $3 Kids under 3, U of M students/faculty/staff - free Free admission for all visitors on Sundays

Hours
Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday Noon-5 p.m.
Closed Mondays

For more information, call the Bell Museum at 612-624-7083 or visit www.bellmuseum.org . The Bell Museum is part of the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences and is located at the corner of University Ave. and 17th Ave. S.E. in Minneapolis on the University's East Bank campus.

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