At the Bell Museum of Natural History
Cafe Scientifique: Looking at LichensTuesday, January 8, 2008; 6 p.m.Kitty Cat Klub, DinkytownWe’ve all seen lichens growing on rocks, trees, or buildings. Yet their unusual and complex structure often goes unnoticed. Though they appear to be a single entity, lichens are actually complex and versatile organisms. Bell Museum Curator of Lichens, Imke Schmitte, will discuss the evolution of lichens, which species provide food, medicines and clothing dyes, and which help out nature by cleaning the air and adding color to the landscape.Cafe Scientifique: Is Minnesota at a Climate Crossroads?Tuesday, January 15, 2008; 7 p.m.Bryant-Lake Bowl, UptownOver the past ten years, winters in Minnesota have been unusually mild. Many climate models predict that this trend will continue – a local example of the dramatic rise in world temperatures known as global warming. What will warmer winters and earlier spring thaws mean Minnesota’s natural landscape? Join the Bell Museum for a discussion about how these changes could affect our state’s ecology, culture and economy.Science on ScreenThe Gorillas of My Grandfather (2004)Thursday, January 17, 2008; 7:00 p.m.Bell Museum AuditoriumIn 1902, German army captain Robert von Beringe photographed a mysterious black creature while climbing an unexplored volcano in central Africa. From this chance encounter, a dramatic story began to unfold. The creature was a new species: a mountain gorilla. A hundred years after the discovery Robert’s grandson, Andreas von Beringe, sets out on a journey to retrace his grandfather’s adventure and to reveal the whole story of the mountain gorilla. (Austria, 53 minutes)Science TriviaWednesday, January 16, 8 p.m.Nomad World Pub501 Cedar Ave. S.$10 registration fee per teamDo you love science news? Can you name the first person to eat in outer space? Do you own copies of Blade Runner or watch Star Trek reruns?Then join Nomad World Pub and the Bell Museum of Natural History for Science Trivia, hosted by Doomtree MC and self-professed science geek Dessa. Test your knowledge of science and nature with questions ranging from current events to science fiction. Gather a group of up to five friends and compete for gift certificates, Bell Museum memberships, and other prizes. Registration is recommended but not required; call 612-624-9050.
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