“STORIES BEHIND THE SPECIES: ANIMALS AT RISK”

An illustrated presentation by Dr. Scott McRobert, Saint Joseph’s University

Weeknights at the Wagner, Thursday, March 4th, Lecture at 5:30 PM

We are living in the midst of a mass extinction. While the world is seeking solutions to global climate change and searching for new sources of energy, few people realize that animal species are disappearing at an alarming rate. The US Fish and Wildlife Services’ current list of Threatened and Endangered Species has grown to over 1,200 animals. And the World Wildlife Fund’s “Ten to Watch in 2010” which details the most ten most threatened species around the globe includes the Tiger, Polar Bear and Monarch Butterfly.

Dr. Scott McRobert, Professor of Biology at Saint Joseph’s University, has been fascinated by animals all of his life. Through his work as head of the Biodiversity Laboratory at the University he oversees the care of hundreds of rare, exotic and highly endangered animal species. Dr. McRobert points out that while mass extinctions have occurred before, we are living during the first instance in which the activities of humans are responsible for the elevated rates of extinction of species across the entire planet. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the current rate of species extinction is at least 100 to 1,000 times higher than the anticipated natural rate.

On the evening of March 4^th at the Wagner Free Institute of Science, which features some threatened and endangered specimens in its historic collection, Dr. McRobert will provide a general overview of the current causes of extinction. Known for being a dynamic storyteller, Dr. McRobert will also tell tales about amazing animals, some still alive, and some lost forever. One such animal is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a critically endangered bird that has not been sighted in the United Stated since the 1940s. Widely thought to be extinct, two of these birds are on view at the Wagner Institute’s Museum, as its collection was completed at the turn of the 20^th century.

Dr. McRobert’s talk is part of the Institute’s evening lecture series, “Weeknights at the Wagner.” He will speak in the historic lecture hall on Thursday, March 4^th, at 5:30 PM. Images of his research will highlight his discussion, and if weather permits, he will bring along some endangered species from his lab. There will be a question and answer session immediately following the talk.

Come early to explore the Wagner’s historic building and its unparalleled collections!

The museum will stay open late (4 – 7 PM) for this event.  The Lecture begins at 5:30 PM.

Dr. Scott McRobert received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Juniata College, his master’s degree and Ph.D. in behavioral genetics from Temple University, and studied pheromone biochemistry as a postdoctoral fellow at Montana State University and the University of Hawaii. As Professor Biology at Saint Joseph’s University, he studies animal behavior, ecology and evolution.

Museum admission is free. A donation of $10 is suggested for ages 12 and up, $5 for students and seniors.

Founded in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a museum and educational institution that is nearly unchanged from the nineteenth century.  The museum building, a National Historic Landmark completed in 1865,

houses a natural history collection begun by William Wagner in the early nineteenth century and expanded by the pre-eminent scientist Joseph Leidy in the 1880s.  The collection includes skeletons, fossils, shells, minerals and mounted animals.  The Museum is open to the public Tuesday-Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM.

The Institute’s free public education courses in science are in their 154th year, making them the oldest program devoted to free adult education in the United States. The Institute also has a strong commitment to children’s education.  It offers a range of programs for visiting school groups, and cultivates special partnerships with neighboring schools.

For more information… www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org

Monday, January 11, 6 p.m.

Science on Tap: “The Origin and Evolution of Beer”

Speaker: Dr. Ernie Schuyler: Curator Emeritus of Botany, The Academy of
Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
Location: National Mechanics, 22 South 3rd St., Philadelphia

Summary of talk:
About 10,000 years ago, humans became farmers who cultivated a new kind
of barley and brewed beer from it. Some think that the desire for beer
was the driving force for cultivating grains and therefore the
foundation of civilization. Natural selection favored consumers of beer
for health reasons. It was safer to drink than contaminated water and it
had nutritional value. Over eight millennia after the invention of beer,
a major evolutionary change occurred when hops began to be used in
brewing for its bitterness, flavor, aroma, and preservative properties.
Eventually the role of yeast in fermentation became known and techniques
were devised to control the quality of the final product. Today beer
continues to evolve thanks to the efforts of creative brewers, including
many in and around Philadelphia.

Science on Tap is sponsored by a consortium of five Philadelphia
institutions: The Academy of Natural Sciences, The American
Philosophical Society, Chemical Heritage Foundation, Mütter Museum of
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, and Wagner Free Institute of
Science.

Science on Tap is a monthly science café for anyone who is interested
in getting together with other people to discuss a range of engaging
science topics. It features a brief, informal presentation by a
scientist or other expert followed by lively conversation.

Science on Tap is held on the second Monday of every month at 6 p.m. It
is for people age 21 or older, but folks under 21 can come with a
chaperone who is older than 25.

TARGET SPONSORS FIRST WEDNESDAYS AT PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM AND COMMUNITY NIGHT AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE

January 8, 2010, Philadelphia, PA: Target, known for its efforts to make museums accessible to the community, will continue its sponsorship of special free or low-priced admission at two of Philadelphia’s most popular museums through March 2011.  Target Community Night at The Franklin Institute, which takes place on the third Wednesday of the month from 5-8 p.m., welcomes visitors from underserved communities to enjoy free admission. Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall will also continue its Target First Wednesdays, staying open late on the first Wednesday of each month with $2 admission between 5-7 p.m.

“Target is proud to continue our support with the Please Touch Museum and The Franklin Institute,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “Through these unique partnerships, we hope to help make valuable, hands-on learning experiences more accessible and affordable to Philadelphia families, while providing an opportunity to spend quality time together.”

Group Motion in City Dances / Parkway at the Rodin Museum

Group Motion will next be performing on Saturday, December 12th (with a reception following the performance) and Sunday, December 13th; performances start at 8pm at the CEC Meetinghouse Theater at 3500 Lancaster Ave in West Philadelphia / University City.

For more information please visit www.groupmotion.org or ask me! (Rachel@philaculturati.com, subject line: “Group Motion”)

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World!

September 12 through November 29, 2009
Della Penna-Fernberger | Paton | Smith GalleriesWithout “fences” to limit where his imagination could roam, Jim Henson (1936-1990)—artist, puppeteer, film director and producer—created elaborate imaginary worlds filled with unique characters, objects, environments, and even languages and cultures.

Members do not need timed tickets to view this exhibition, but due to the anticipated popularity of this exhibition, a timed entry system will be used for non-members. To purchase tickets, visithttp://michenermuseum.tix.com/Schedule.asp?OrganizationNumber=2632

Image: Henson and his characters. Photo by John E. Barrett, courtesy of The Jim Henson Company. Kermit the Frog © The Muppets Studio, LLC.

Reception for About to Surface

Thursday October 8, 5-7pm
Join us for a reception with Julien Robson, PAFA Curator of Contemporary Art

Featuring artists Andria Bibiloni, Julie Boyer, Laureen Griffin, Brooke Holloway, Jessica Jane Julius, and Brenna K. Murphy

Portraits of Eve by Laureen Griffin

Exhibition On View Until October 16
Open during the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours: October 10-11 from noon-6pm.

The artwork for this 10^th Anniversary exhibition was selected by Julien Robson, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Best experienced first-hand because of its site-specific nature and innovative combinations of work, this show takes place in The Gallery at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists at 1521 Locust Street. Gallery hours are 11am-5pm Monday-Friday.