To register for programs, please print and return our Winter 2010 Registration
Form. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive a printed copy of our program, please contact us here or call 860-486-4460.
January
Lecture: Mummy Dearest-Interpreting the Past Via Paleoimaging, Saturday, January 30
February
Teale Lecture: A Sense of Wonder-A Film About Rachel Carson, Thursday, February 4
Field Learning: Edible & Medical Plants at UConn's Greenhouses, Saturday, February 6
Saturday Afternoons at the Museum: Why Do I...? Saturday, February 6
Community Event: Big Y “Kids Fair,” Saturday & Sunday, February 13 & 14
Community Event: 29th CT Flower & Garden Show, Thursday-Sunday, February 18-21
Field Learning: Stem Cell Research at UConn, Saturday, February 27
March
Teale Lecture: Unquenchable—America’s Water Crisis, Thursday, March 4
Workshop: Ancient Technology—Making Bone Tools, Saturday, March 6
Lecture: Altered Experience—The Anthropology of Drug Use, Sunday, March 7
Lecture: Hitler MysteryQuest—Behind the Scenes, Sunday, March 14
Field Learning: Eighteenth Century Medicine and Dentistry, Saturday, March 20
Lecture: Gardasil Vaccine- One Less Statistic; One Less...Hoax? Sunday, March 21
Workshop: Ancient Technology—Soapstone Carving, Saturday, March 27
Lecture: Stories in Stone, Sunday, March 28
April
Workshop: Ancient Technology—Make & Bead a “Possibles Bag,” Saturday, April 10
Saturday Afternoon at the Museum: You Are Not Alone! Saturday, April 10
Workshop: Scientific Illustration of Medicinal Plants & Animals, Saturday, April 17
Lecture: The Sailors of the Mary Rose—A Forensic Analysis, Sunday, April 18
Teale Lecture: Making Conservation More Than a Luxury Concern, Thursday, April 22
Kids Only Workshop: Forensic DNA Analysis! Saturday, April 24
Field Learning: The Mysterious World of Lichens & Mosses, Saturday, April 25
Special Lecture & Meeting of the Friends of the Office of State Archaeology (FOSA)
Mummy Dearest—Interpreting the Past Through Paleoimaging
Ronald Beckett, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University
Gerald Conlogue, Professor of Diagnostic Imaging, Quinnipiac University
Saturday, January 30, 2 pm
Smith Middle School Auditorium, 216 Addison Road, Glastonbury, Connecticut
$12 donation requested; $5 for student with ID, current FOSA, ASC, and Museum of Natural History members.
What can be discovered by unraveling the mysteries of the dead? Ronald Beckett and Gerald Conlogue use advances in medical imaging technology to reveal previously obscure details from mummified human remains. After a conversation about mummy research, Beckett and Conlogue began to realize the potential of using advanced medical imaging technology, such as CT, MRI, and video endoscopy to study mummified human remains. Today, the use of advanced imaging equipment on mummified remains is known as paleoimaging. The paleoimaging research of Beckett and Conlogue caught the interest of the National Geographic Channel, leading them to co-host the series “The Mummy Road Show.” After the series, Beckett and Conlogue published Mummy Dearest, which detailed their adventures producing the popular series. Today, their ongoing research makes them unequivocal leaders in the paleoimaging field.
Ronald Beckett began his career as a respiratory therapist and established the first college-based Respiratory Care program in Rhode Island at the Community College of Rhode Island. He moved to Quinnipiac University and became Chairman of the Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences and Diagnostic Imaging. Gerald Conlogue’s research over the past forty years has focused on the application of medical imaging techniques to non-medical areas, including art conservation, wildlife management, archaeology, anthropology, and forensics.
The FOSA membership meeting begins at 1 pm and the paleoimaging presentation will follow at 2 pm. In case of inclement weather, FOSA will post notices on WTIC (AM 1080) and CBS Channel 3 by 10 AM, for an alternate meeting date of Sunday, January 31, 2010.
The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Office of State Archaeology (FOSA), the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archaeology Center at UConn, and Archeology Society of Connecticut (ASC). For further call (860) 486-4460.
Teale Lecture: A Sense of Wonder—A Film About Rachel Carson
Thursday, February 4, 4 pm
Free, no registration is needed. Lectures will be held at the Konover Auditorium, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut.
When pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962, the backlash from her critics thrust her into the center of a political maelstrom. This film depicts Carson’s final year of her life. Struggling with cancer, she recounts with both humor and anger the attacks by the chemical industry, the government, and the press as she worked to get her message to Congress and the American people.
A Sense of Wonder was filmed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler. It is based on the play A Sense of Wonder written by Kaiulani Lee.
Edible & Medicinal Plants: An Ethnobotanical Tour of UConn’s Greenhouses
Dr. Gregory Anderson, EEB, UConn
Saturday, February 6, 10 am to 12 noon
UConn Storrs location (map will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Dr. Gregory J. Anderson, UConn Distinguished Professor Emeritus, has devoted his research career to the study of the origin and evolution of domesticated plants, and the conservation biology and biodiversity of wild plants world wide. He is an expert in the field of ethnobotanical uses of plants (use of plants by local people) for food and medicine. Three species of small, herbaceous shrubs from Latin America have been named for him, honoring his work on the biology of plants in the potato/tomato/pepper family.
Escape the cold and dreary weather outdoors and join Dr. Anderson for this very special tour of the EEB Research Greenhouses, recently re-organized and grouped by biome. We will visit the different ecological communities of the world and learn about the biology and uses of many of these plants by local inhabitants and medical researchers.
Saturday Afternoons at the Museum
Explore the Natural History of Health by taking a closer look at the human body and how it works! Drop in any time between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm on these Saturday afternoons to join in a fun hands-on activity and explore your world through experimentation and observation. Recommended for students in grades 1 through 5, accompanied by an adult. FREE!
Why Do I . . . ?
Saturday, February 6, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Investigate why we have two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and other paired organs in this look at the senses of the human body. How are our senses similar to some animals, and how do they differ from some others? You will use each of your senses to orient yourself and to identify things around you. Then, using special techniques, try using the senses of some other species for comparison. Learn how our senses help us survive, while having a lot of fun!
You Are Not Alone!
Saturday, April 10, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Did you know that you are host to millions of other organisms? Indeed, you are actually a community of your own cells and many colonies of these other organisms! The scientific term for this new area of discovery is called the Human Microbiome. Take a close look at some of the many different organisms that live in and on your body, many beneficial and some not so beneficial. You will be very surprised by what you find!
Big Y “Kids Fair”
Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14
Connecticut Expo Center, Hartford
Fun, entertainment, exhibits, prizes and more are what you’ll get at the Big Y “Kids Fair” in Hartford. There will be many hands-on activities for families with babies and toddlers as well as older children. There will be celebrity appearances, roving magicians, animals, coloring stations, educational exhibits, and vendors. Stop by and visit the Museum and Archaeology Center booth to learn more about natural and cultural history! For more information and directions, visit http://jenksproductions.com/kidsfair.html
29th Annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show “The Spice of Life”
Thursday, February 18 through Sunday, February 21
The Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford
The Museum will be joining the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut for the 29th Annual Connecticut Garden and Flower Show at the Connecticut Convention Center. Explore over 250 booths overflowing with fresh flowers, plants, herbs, bulbs, seeds and garden accessories, design and horticulture competitions, landscaped gardens, seminars, and special educational exhibits. We are pleased to participate this year with an educational exhibit and information booth in the Federated Garden Club’s section of the show. Please join us for this annual event, which is an exciting preview of the spring and summer to come! Call us at (860) 486-4460 for more information or visit http://www.ctflowershow.com/venue.html (Connecticut Convention Center Directions) or http://www.ctgardenclubs.org/flowershow.html (Federated Garden Clubs)
Stem Cell Research at UConn: A Visit to Molecular & Cell Biology’s Stem Cell Lab
Caroline Jakuba, Molecular and Cell Biology, UConn
Saturday, February 27, 10 am to 12 noon
UConn Storrs location (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and teens ages 14 and above
This field learning program will explore the topic of research using human embryonic stem cells and introduce participants to the realities of stem cell research, which often differ from media accounts. We will begin with a presentation by research scientist Caroline Jakuba, a third-year doctoral student in the field of genetics, on the history of stem cell research, what stem cells really are, review some common terminology in the field, and then learn about some of the ongoing research at UConn. Participants will have the opportunity to tour a stem cell lab and see these cells in use first hand. We plan to finish with a discussion on the ethical issues of stem cell research and hope participants will bring their ideas, questions and preconceptions to the discussion.
Teale Lecture: Unquenchable —America’s Water Crisis & What To Do About It
Dr. Robert J. Glennon, Morris K. Udall Professor of Law & Public Policy, University of Arizona
Thursday, March 4, 4 pm
Free, no registration is needed. Lectures will be held at the Konover Auditorium,
Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut.
Dr. Robert Glennon reveals the extravagances and everyday inefficiencies that are sucking the nation’s water supply dry. He argues that when the looming catastrophic shortage catches up with us it will threaten not only the environment, but every aspect of American life. America must make hard choices—and Glennon’s answers are fittingly provocative. He proposes market-based solutions that value water as both a commodity and a fundamental human right.
Robert Glennon is the author of Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping and the Fate of America’s Fresh Waters.
Ancient Technology—Making Bone Tools
Jeff Kalin, Primitive Technologies, Inc.
Saturday, March 6, 12 noon to 4 pm
Museum of Natural History (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $40 ($30 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Discover the ancient art of making bone tools like sewing needles, harpoons, and awls. For over two million years, our ancestors made and used bone tools to help fulfill many of their subsistence needs. Working with Jeff Kalin, participants will use stone tools and the traditional techniques for splitting, cutting, drilling, and polishing bones (by-products of food processing) to make their own bone implements.
Mr. Kalin has 25 years experience as a consultant to museum curators and archaeologists in the analysis of artifacts and as a producer of museum-quality artifact reproductions. He is a recognized expert in Clovis point replication and other types of stone tools, and has constructed prehistoric sets and props for filmmakers. His wood-fired replica pottery, hand-built from river clay, is in private and public collections. Join us for the opportunity to learn bone tool manufacture from this renowned artist and educator!
Altered Experience—The Anthropology of Drug Use: An 85 Year History
Dr. Merrill Singer, Department of Anthropology and Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention (CHIP), UConn
Sunday, March 7, 3 pm
Biology/Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free
Adults and children ages 12 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
The anthropological study of drug use dates to the 1930s, a period that witnessed the first public awareness of an illicit drug subculture in urban areas of the U.S. as well as the earliest clashes of Native American ritual users of psychotropic drugs with the criminal justice system. Propelled significantly by the re-appearance of street drug users after World War II and the recognition of syringe-mediated transmission of HIV/AIDS during the 1980s, anthropologists have fashioned an ethnographic, immersion-based approach to the study of drug use in diverse settings across the globe. In addition to documenting the significant and often little-known role drugs have played in human societies through time, anthropologists have also been able to make practical contributions to public health responses to the various health consequences of drug consumption, and to the negative social consequences of harsh laws and policing practices. There will be a book signing after the talk.
MysteryQuest—Behind the Scenes of The History Channel’s “The Death of Hitler”
Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, State Archaeologist, UConn
Dr. Linda Strausbaugh, Molecular and Cell Biology and Center for Applied Genetics and Technology, UConn
Sunday, March 14, 3 pm
Biology/Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free
Adults and children ages 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
In 2009, the History Channel approached one of the foremost forensic osteologists in the United States, UConn’s own Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, to be the lead researcher in a documentary investigating the death of Adolph Hitler. Dr. Bellantoni agreed, and was sent to Germany and Russia to examine and gather evidence. While in Europe, he studied the human bone fragments, read once-secret documents, and gathered soil and other samples to bring back to UConn for forensic analysis. Dr. Strausbaugh analyzed the biological samples for DNA evidence. What they discovered made for a surprising ending, and deepened the mystery of Hitler’s final moments. During the screening of this program, Bellantoni and Strausbaugh will offer behind-the-scenes commentary that you will find both intriguing and enlightening.
Eighteenth Century Medicine & Dentistry: A Visit to the Hezekiah Chaffee House
Saturday, March 20, 10 am to 12 noon
Windsor location (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Step back into the 18th century and visit the life of country doctor Hezekiah Chaffee. Our tour leader, Museum Educator Julia Baldini, will tell us how Chaffee trained and practiced his profession 250 years ago. We will examine the tools of his trade and see what his ledgers tell us about the health and medical treatment of Connecticut citizens in that period of history. You will also learn about the life of medical pioneer, Dr. Horace Henry Hayden of Windsor, known as “The Father of the Dental Profession” who established the American Society of Dental Surgeons in 1840.
Gardasil Vaccine—One Less Statistic; One Less...Hoax?
Scott L. Wetstone, M.D., Director of Health Affairs Policy Planning, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, UConn School of Medicine
Sunday, March 21, 3 pm
Biology/Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free
Adults and children ages 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
The introduction of Gardasil, a vaccination to prevent HPV infection and cervical cancer, has required parents, young women, doctors, health officials and legislators to make decisions about whether to receive or recommend it. There was even a proposal that Gardasil become a required vaccine for pre-teen girls. There has been an extensive television advertising campaign by the drug company that manufactures the vaccine, selling the urgency of having young women vaccinated, implying they are at risk of developing a devastating cancer if they are not vaccinated. In his talk, Dr. Wetstone will demonstrate how using the basic tools of epidemiology can help each of us assess the true level of risk for any health issue and to help make prudent health care decisions.
Ancient Technology—Soapstone Carving
Cheri Collins, Museum Staff
Saturday, March 27, two sessions: 10 am to 12 noon or 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Museum of Natural History (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $25 ($20 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Adults and children ages 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Because of its unique geological characteristics such as heat retention and ease in carving and polishing, soapstone has been used by people throughout the world to produce many different items of utility and beauty. Learn more about the geology and striking versatility of this mineral and see examples of ancient and modern soapstone implements and art objects. Then, using both traditional and modern tools, you will make a carving of your own design to take home.
Stories in Stone
Dr. Jelle Z. DeBoer, Harold T. Stearns Professor of Earth Science Emeritus, Wesleyan University
Sunday, March 28, 3 pm
Biology/Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free
Adults and children 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
In a series of entertaining essays, geoscientist Jelle Z. De Boer describes how early settlers discovered and exploited Connecticut’s natural resources. Their successes as well as failures form the very basis of this state’s history. For example, Chatham’s gold played a role in the acquisition of its charter, and Middletown’s lead helped the Connecticut colony gain its freedom during the American Revolution. Fertile soils in the Central Valley fueled the state’s development into an agricultural power house and iron ores in the western highlands helped trigger its manufacturing eminence. The Statue of Liberty, a quintessential symbol of America, rests on Connecticut’s Stony Creek granite. Geology not only shaped the state’s physical landscape, but also provided an economic base and played a cultural role by inspiring folklore, paintings, and poems. In his talk, DeBoer will describe the marvel of Connecticut’s geologic diversity and also recount the impact of past climates, earthquakes, and meteorites on the lives of the people who made Connecticut their home. There will be a book signing after the talk.
Ancient Technology—Make & Bead a “Possibles Bag”
Cheri Collins, Museum Staff
Saturday, April 10, 10 am to 12 noon
Museum of Natural History (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $25 ($20 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Ancient peoples in New England and around the world used animal hides for clothing and accessories. Many of the North American examples that have survived to the present are intricately decorated with beads. Modern artists continue this tradition and their work can be seen in art galleries and museums. In this workshop, you will learn how hides were prepared and used to make clothing and other items. Then, make and bead your own synthetic or leather suede pouch, known as a “possibles bag” to take home.
Scientific Illustration of Medicinal Plants & Animals
Virge Kask, Scientific Illustrator, EEB, UConn
Saturday, April 17, 10 am to 12 noon
Museum of Natural History (Map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $25 ($20 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Virge Kask, Scientific Illustrator for the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and published illustrator of scientific books, will bring together a collection of plants and animals that have been used medicinally throughout history, such as the leech (Hirudo medicinalis) and the Aloe plant (Aloe vera), for this illustration workshop. Illustrations often capture the texture and depth of a subject better than photographs. You will learn to prepare accurate drawings of these biological specimens, using dissecting microscopes and the naked eye, to communicate specific information about their particular characteristics. Ms. Kask will also bring some of her illustrations for an upcoming field guide to medicinal plants in Central America as a special preview for this class. You will receive a folder with information about scientific illustration and supplies for making your illustrations in the classroom.
The Sailors of the Mary Rose—Soldiers, Seamen, or Gentry? A Forensic Analysis
Rose Drew, Osteoarchaeologist, University of York, England, & University of Oslo, Norway
Sunday, April 18, 3 pm
Biology Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free. Adults and children 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Osteoarchaeologists study human skeletal remains in order to better understand the health, activity, and lifestyles of people and cultures from the past. For the past two years, Rose Drew has been analyzing the skeletal remains of the crew of the Mary Rose, a famous warship belonging to Henry VIII that was sunk during a skirmish with the French on the 19th of July in 1545. The ship sank rapidly, taking the crew with it; The Mary Rose lay on the starboard side and had sunk through the soft upper sediments, coming to rest on the clay below. The hull acted as a silt trap and filled rapidly, leaving the port side to be eroded. Archaeological excavations were begun in the 1970s. Because of the way the ship sank, nearly the whole starboard side survived intact.
In addition, between one half to one third of the decks remained, complete with cabins, companionways and ancillary structures. Thousands of the artifacts the warship had carried the day it sank, as well as the remains of around 200 members of the crew, have been recovered. To use a hackneyed expression, the wreck of the Mary Rose was a Tudor time capsule.
Ms. Drew has noted health problems among the remains of the crew, such as evidence of rickets, scurvy, moderate bone injuries, and possible skeletal markers of past strenuous activity. She will present an overview of the Mary Rose recovery project, and give “bone biographies” for some of the crew members from this fascinating and important story.
Teale Lecture: Making Conservation More Than a Luxury Concern -
Ecosystem Services & Connecting to People
Dr. Peter Kareiva, Chief Scientist, and Director of Science, The Nature Conservancy
Thursday, April 22, 4 pm
Free, no registration is needed. Lectures will be held at the Konover Auditorium, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut.
Conservation will fail unless it is better connected to people. The obvious connection comes from the benefits nature provides people. The scientific and practical challenge lies in developing credible tools that allow routine consideration of nature’s assets (or ecosystem services) in a way that informs the choices we make everyday at the scale of local communities and regions, all the way up to nations and global agreements.
Dr. Peter Kareiva moved to The Nature Conservancy after 20 years as a university professor and 3 years working for NOAA Fisheries.
Forensic DNA Analysis!
Caroline Jakuba, Molecular and Cell Biology, UConn
Saturday, April 24, 10 am to 12 noon
UConn Storrs location (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $25 ($20 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Students ages 8 and above
Spend the morning in UConn’s Molecular and Cell Biology Lab learning how to extract and analyze DNA using the same equipment and techniques as research scientists. You will be on the DNA forensic technologists’ team, led by UConn researcher Caroline Jakuba. Using analytical techniques, you will solve a “crime” from “evidence” found in fruits at the scene and collected by the “CSI.” Who done it? Only you will be able to solve the mystery!
The Mysterious World of Lichens & Mosses
Dr. Bernard Goffinet, EEB, UConn
Sunday, April 25, 1 pm to 3 pm
Eastern Connecticut location (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Furry, leafy, flat, crustose, and all colors of the rainbow, lichens are many and varied. They can be found from the arctic to the deserts to urban cemeteries. What is a lichen, exactly? Is it a plant, a fungus, or algae? Do they harm the plants they grow on? We will also look at mosses, a varied group of plants found nearly everywhere, especially in Connecticut. How are these charming tiny plants different from other groups? How are both lichens and mosses used by wildlife?
Lichens and mosses can also be indicators of fluctuating levels of chemical air pollutants. Bring along a magnifying glass for a closer look at the biology and life histories of these small but important species, led by lichen and moss expert, EEB’s Dr. Bernard Goffinet. You will be delighted and amazed!
Form. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive a printed copy of our program, please contact us here or call 860-486-4460.
January
Lecture: Mummy Dearest-Interpreting the Past Via Paleoimaging, Saturday, January 30
February
Teale Lecture: A Sense of Wonder-A Film About Rachel Carson, Thursday, February 4
Field Learning: Edible & Medical Plants at UConn's Greenhouses, Saturday, February 6
Saturday Afternoons at the Museum: Why Do I...? Saturday, February 6
Community Event: Big Y “Kids Fair,” Saturday & Sunday, February 13 & 14
Community Event: 29th CT Flower & Garden Show, Thursday-Sunday, February 18-21
Field Learning: Stem Cell Research at UConn, Saturday, February 27
March
Teale Lecture: Unquenchable—America’s Water Crisis, Thursday, March 4
Workshop: Ancient Technology—Making Bone Tools, Saturday, March 6
Lecture: Altered Experience—The Anthropology of Drug Use, Sunday, March 7
Lecture: Hitler MysteryQuest—Behind the Scenes, Sunday, March 14
Field Learning: Eighteenth Century Medicine and Dentistry, Saturday, March 20
Lecture: Gardasil Vaccine- One Less Statistic; One Less...Hoax? Sunday, March 21
Workshop: Ancient Technology—Soapstone Carving, Saturday, March 27
Lecture: Stories in Stone, Sunday, March 28
April
Workshop: Ancient Technology—Make & Bead a “Possibles Bag,” Saturday, April 10
Saturday Afternoon at the Museum: You Are Not Alone! Saturday, April 10
Workshop: Scientific Illustration of Medicinal Plants & Animals, Saturday, April 17
Lecture: The Sailors of the Mary Rose—A Forensic Analysis, Sunday, April 18
Teale Lecture: Making Conservation More Than a Luxury Concern, Thursday, April 22
Kids Only Workshop: Forensic DNA Analysis! Saturday, April 24
Field Learning: The Mysterious World of Lichens & Mosses, Saturday, April 25
Special Lecture & Meeting of the Friends of the Office of State Archaeology (FOSA)
Mummy Dearest—Interpreting the Past Through Paleoimaging
Ronald Beckett, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University
Gerald Conlogue, Professor of Diagnostic Imaging, Quinnipiac University
Saturday, January 30, 2 pm
Smith Middle School Auditorium, 216 Addison Road, Glastonbury, Connecticut
$12 donation requested; $5 for student with ID, current FOSA, ASC, and Museum of Natural History members.
What can be discovered by unraveling the mysteries of the dead? Ronald Beckett and Gerald Conlogue use advances in medical imaging technology to reveal previously obscure details from mummified human remains. After a conversation about mummy research, Beckett and Conlogue began to realize the potential of using advanced medical imaging technology, such as CT, MRI, and video endoscopy to study mummified human remains. Today, the use of advanced imaging equipment on mummified remains is known as paleoimaging. The paleoimaging research of Beckett and Conlogue caught the interest of the National Geographic Channel, leading them to co-host the series “The Mummy Road Show.” After the series, Beckett and Conlogue published Mummy Dearest, which detailed their adventures producing the popular series. Today, their ongoing research makes them unequivocal leaders in the paleoimaging field.
Ronald Beckett began his career as a respiratory therapist and established the first college-based Respiratory Care program in Rhode Island at the Community College of Rhode Island. He moved to Quinnipiac University and became Chairman of the Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences and Diagnostic Imaging. Gerald Conlogue’s research over the past forty years has focused on the application of medical imaging techniques to non-medical areas, including art conservation, wildlife management, archaeology, anthropology, and forensics.
The FOSA membership meeting begins at 1 pm and the paleoimaging presentation will follow at 2 pm. In case of inclement weather, FOSA will post notices on WTIC (AM 1080) and CBS Channel 3 by 10 AM, for an alternate meeting date of Sunday, January 31, 2010.
The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Office of State Archaeology (FOSA), the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archaeology Center at UConn, and Archeology Society of Connecticut (ASC). For further call (860) 486-4460.
Teale Lecture: A Sense of Wonder—A Film About Rachel Carson
Thursday, February 4, 4 pm
Free, no registration is needed. Lectures will be held at the Konover Auditorium, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut.
When pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962, the backlash from her critics thrust her into the center of a political maelstrom. This film depicts Carson’s final year of her life. Struggling with cancer, she recounts with both humor and anger the attacks by the chemical industry, the government, and the press as she worked to get her message to Congress and the American people.
A Sense of Wonder was filmed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler. It is based on the play A Sense of Wonder written by Kaiulani Lee.
Edible & Medicinal Plants: An Ethnobotanical Tour of UConn’s Greenhouses
Dr. Gregory Anderson, EEB, UConn
Saturday, February 6, 10 am to 12 noon
UConn Storrs location (map will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Dr. Gregory J. Anderson, UConn Distinguished Professor Emeritus, has devoted his research career to the study of the origin and evolution of domesticated plants, and the conservation biology and biodiversity of wild plants world wide. He is an expert in the field of ethnobotanical uses of plants (use of plants by local people) for food and medicine. Three species of small, herbaceous shrubs from Latin America have been named for him, honoring his work on the biology of plants in the potato/tomato/pepper family.
Escape the cold and dreary weather outdoors and join Dr. Anderson for this very special tour of the EEB Research Greenhouses, recently re-organized and grouped by biome. We will visit the different ecological communities of the world and learn about the biology and uses of many of these plants by local inhabitants and medical researchers.
Saturday Afternoons at the Museum
Explore the Natural History of Health by taking a closer look at the human body and how it works! Drop in any time between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm on these Saturday afternoons to join in a fun hands-on activity and explore your world through experimentation and observation. Recommended for students in grades 1 through 5, accompanied by an adult. FREE!
Why Do I . . . ?
Saturday, February 6, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Investigate why we have two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and other paired organs in this look at the senses of the human body. How are our senses similar to some animals, and how do they differ from some others? You will use each of your senses to orient yourself and to identify things around you. Then, using special techniques, try using the senses of some other species for comparison. Learn how our senses help us survive, while having a lot of fun!
You Are Not Alone!
Saturday, April 10, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Did you know that you are host to millions of other organisms? Indeed, you are actually a community of your own cells and many colonies of these other organisms! The scientific term for this new area of discovery is called the Human Microbiome. Take a close look at some of the many different organisms that live in and on your body, many beneficial and some not so beneficial. You will be very surprised by what you find!
Big Y “Kids Fair”
Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14
Connecticut Expo Center, Hartford
Fun, entertainment, exhibits, prizes and more are what you’ll get at the Big Y “Kids Fair” in Hartford. There will be many hands-on activities for families with babies and toddlers as well as older children. There will be celebrity appearances, roving magicians, animals, coloring stations, educational exhibits, and vendors. Stop by and visit the Museum and Archaeology Center booth to learn more about natural and cultural history! For more information and directions, visit http://jenksproductions.com/kidsfair.html
29th Annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show “The Spice of Life”
Thursday, February 18 through Sunday, February 21
The Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford
The Museum will be joining the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut for the 29th Annual Connecticut Garden and Flower Show at the Connecticut Convention Center. Explore over 250 booths overflowing with fresh flowers, plants, herbs, bulbs, seeds and garden accessories, design and horticulture competitions, landscaped gardens, seminars, and special educational exhibits. We are pleased to participate this year with an educational exhibit and information booth in the Federated Garden Club’s section of the show. Please join us for this annual event, which is an exciting preview of the spring and summer to come! Call us at (860) 486-4460 for more information or visit http://www.ctflowershow.com/venue.html (Connecticut Convention Center Directions) or http://www.ctgardenclubs.org/flowershow.html (Federated Garden Clubs)
Stem Cell Research at UConn: A Visit to Molecular & Cell Biology’s Stem Cell Lab
Caroline Jakuba, Molecular and Cell Biology, UConn
Saturday, February 27, 10 am to 12 noon
UConn Storrs location (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and teens ages 14 and above
This field learning program will explore the topic of research using human embryonic stem cells and introduce participants to the realities of stem cell research, which often differ from media accounts. We will begin with a presentation by research scientist Caroline Jakuba, a third-year doctoral student in the field of genetics, on the history of stem cell research, what stem cells really are, review some common terminology in the field, and then learn about some of the ongoing research at UConn. Participants will have the opportunity to tour a stem cell lab and see these cells in use first hand. We plan to finish with a discussion on the ethical issues of stem cell research and hope participants will bring their ideas, questions and preconceptions to the discussion.
Teale Lecture: Unquenchable —America’s Water Crisis & What To Do About It
Dr. Robert J. Glennon, Morris K. Udall Professor of Law & Public Policy, University of Arizona
Thursday, March 4, 4 pm
Free, no registration is needed. Lectures will be held at the Konover Auditorium,
Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut.
Dr. Robert Glennon reveals the extravagances and everyday inefficiencies that are sucking the nation’s water supply dry. He argues that when the looming catastrophic shortage catches up with us it will threaten not only the environment, but every aspect of American life. America must make hard choices—and Glennon’s answers are fittingly provocative. He proposes market-based solutions that value water as both a commodity and a fundamental human right.
Robert Glennon is the author of Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping and the Fate of America’s Fresh Waters.
Ancient Technology—Making Bone Tools
Jeff Kalin, Primitive Technologies, Inc.
Saturday, March 6, 12 noon to 4 pm
Museum of Natural History (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $40 ($30 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Discover the ancient art of making bone tools like sewing needles, harpoons, and awls. For over two million years, our ancestors made and used bone tools to help fulfill many of their subsistence needs. Working with Jeff Kalin, participants will use stone tools and the traditional techniques for splitting, cutting, drilling, and polishing bones (by-products of food processing) to make their own bone implements.
Mr. Kalin has 25 years experience as a consultant to museum curators and archaeologists in the analysis of artifacts and as a producer of museum-quality artifact reproductions. He is a recognized expert in Clovis point replication and other types of stone tools, and has constructed prehistoric sets and props for filmmakers. His wood-fired replica pottery, hand-built from river clay, is in private and public collections. Join us for the opportunity to learn bone tool manufacture from this renowned artist and educator!
Altered Experience—The Anthropology of Drug Use: An 85 Year History
Dr. Merrill Singer, Department of Anthropology and Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention (CHIP), UConn
Sunday, March 7, 3 pm
Biology/Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free
Adults and children ages 12 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
The anthropological study of drug use dates to the 1930s, a period that witnessed the first public awareness of an illicit drug subculture in urban areas of the U.S. as well as the earliest clashes of Native American ritual users of psychotropic drugs with the criminal justice system. Propelled significantly by the re-appearance of street drug users after World War II and the recognition of syringe-mediated transmission of HIV/AIDS during the 1980s, anthropologists have fashioned an ethnographic, immersion-based approach to the study of drug use in diverse settings across the globe. In addition to documenting the significant and often little-known role drugs have played in human societies through time, anthropologists have also been able to make practical contributions to public health responses to the various health consequences of drug consumption, and to the negative social consequences of harsh laws and policing practices. There will be a book signing after the talk.
MysteryQuest—Behind the Scenes of The History Channel’s “The Death of Hitler”
Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, State Archaeologist, UConn
Dr. Linda Strausbaugh, Molecular and Cell Biology and Center for Applied Genetics and Technology, UConn
Sunday, March 14, 3 pm
Biology/Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free
Adults and children ages 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
In 2009, the History Channel approached one of the foremost forensic osteologists in the United States, UConn’s own Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, to be the lead researcher in a documentary investigating the death of Adolph Hitler. Dr. Bellantoni agreed, and was sent to Germany and Russia to examine and gather evidence. While in Europe, he studied the human bone fragments, read once-secret documents, and gathered soil and other samples to bring back to UConn for forensic analysis. Dr. Strausbaugh analyzed the biological samples for DNA evidence. What they discovered made for a surprising ending, and deepened the mystery of Hitler’s final moments. During the screening of this program, Bellantoni and Strausbaugh will offer behind-the-scenes commentary that you will find both intriguing and enlightening.
Eighteenth Century Medicine & Dentistry: A Visit to the Hezekiah Chaffee House
Saturday, March 20, 10 am to 12 noon
Windsor location (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Step back into the 18th century and visit the life of country doctor Hezekiah Chaffee. Our tour leader, Museum Educator Julia Baldini, will tell us how Chaffee trained and practiced his profession 250 years ago. We will examine the tools of his trade and see what his ledgers tell us about the health and medical treatment of Connecticut citizens in that period of history. You will also learn about the life of medical pioneer, Dr. Horace Henry Hayden of Windsor, known as “The Father of the Dental Profession” who established the American Society of Dental Surgeons in 1840.
Gardasil Vaccine—One Less Statistic; One Less...Hoax?
Scott L. Wetstone, M.D., Director of Health Affairs Policy Planning, Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, UConn School of Medicine
Sunday, March 21, 3 pm
Biology/Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free
Adults and children ages 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
The introduction of Gardasil, a vaccination to prevent HPV infection and cervical cancer, has required parents, young women, doctors, health officials and legislators to make decisions about whether to receive or recommend it. There was even a proposal that Gardasil become a required vaccine for pre-teen girls. There has been an extensive television advertising campaign by the drug company that manufactures the vaccine, selling the urgency of having young women vaccinated, implying they are at risk of developing a devastating cancer if they are not vaccinated. In his talk, Dr. Wetstone will demonstrate how using the basic tools of epidemiology can help each of us assess the true level of risk for any health issue and to help make prudent health care decisions.
Ancient Technology—Soapstone Carving
Cheri Collins, Museum Staff
Saturday, March 27, two sessions: 10 am to 12 noon or 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Museum of Natural History (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $25 ($20 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Adults and children ages 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Because of its unique geological characteristics such as heat retention and ease in carving and polishing, soapstone has been used by people throughout the world to produce many different items of utility and beauty. Learn more about the geology and striking versatility of this mineral and see examples of ancient and modern soapstone implements and art objects. Then, using both traditional and modern tools, you will make a carving of your own design to take home.
Stories in Stone
Dr. Jelle Z. DeBoer, Harold T. Stearns Professor of Earth Science Emeritus, Wesleyan University
Sunday, March 28, 3 pm
Biology/Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free
Adults and children 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
In a series of entertaining essays, geoscientist Jelle Z. De Boer describes how early settlers discovered and exploited Connecticut’s natural resources. Their successes as well as failures form the very basis of this state’s history. For example, Chatham’s gold played a role in the acquisition of its charter, and Middletown’s lead helped the Connecticut colony gain its freedom during the American Revolution. Fertile soils in the Central Valley fueled the state’s development into an agricultural power house and iron ores in the western highlands helped trigger its manufacturing eminence. The Statue of Liberty, a quintessential symbol of America, rests on Connecticut’s Stony Creek granite. Geology not only shaped the state’s physical landscape, but also provided an economic base and played a cultural role by inspiring folklore, paintings, and poems. In his talk, DeBoer will describe the marvel of Connecticut’s geologic diversity and also recount the impact of past climates, earthquakes, and meteorites on the lives of the people who made Connecticut their home. There will be a book signing after the talk.
Ancient Technology—Make & Bead a “Possibles Bag”
Cheri Collins, Museum Staff
Saturday, April 10, 10 am to 12 noon
Museum of Natural History (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $25 ($20 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Ancient peoples in New England and around the world used animal hides for clothing and accessories. Many of the North American examples that have survived to the present are intricately decorated with beads. Modern artists continue this tradition and their work can be seen in art galleries and museums. In this workshop, you will learn how hides were prepared and used to make clothing and other items. Then, make and bead your own synthetic or leather suede pouch, known as a “possibles bag” to take home.
Scientific Illustration of Medicinal Plants & Animals
Virge Kask, Scientific Illustrator, EEB, UConn
Saturday, April 17, 10 am to 12 noon
Museum of Natural History (Map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $25 ($20 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Virge Kask, Scientific Illustrator for the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and published illustrator of scientific books, will bring together a collection of plants and animals that have been used medicinally throughout history, such as the leech (Hirudo medicinalis) and the Aloe plant (Aloe vera), for this illustration workshop. Illustrations often capture the texture and depth of a subject better than photographs. You will learn to prepare accurate drawings of these biological specimens, using dissecting microscopes and the naked eye, to communicate specific information about their particular characteristics. Ms. Kask will also bring some of her illustrations for an upcoming field guide to medicinal plants in Central America as a special preview for this class. You will receive a folder with information about scientific illustration and supplies for making your illustrations in the classroom.
The Sailors of the Mary Rose—Soldiers, Seamen, or Gentry? A Forensic Analysis
Rose Drew, Osteoarchaeologist, University of York, England, & University of Oslo, Norway
Sunday, April 18, 3 pm
Biology Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed: Free. Adults and children 10 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Osteoarchaeologists study human skeletal remains in order to better understand the health, activity, and lifestyles of people and cultures from the past. For the past two years, Rose Drew has been analyzing the skeletal remains of the crew of the Mary Rose, a famous warship belonging to Henry VIII that was sunk during a skirmish with the French on the 19th of July in 1545. The ship sank rapidly, taking the crew with it; The Mary Rose lay on the starboard side and had sunk through the soft upper sediments, coming to rest on the clay below. The hull acted as a silt trap and filled rapidly, leaving the port side to be eroded. Archaeological excavations were begun in the 1970s. Because of the way the ship sank, nearly the whole starboard side survived intact.
In addition, between one half to one third of the decks remained, complete with cabins, companionways and ancillary structures. Thousands of the artifacts the warship had carried the day it sank, as well as the remains of around 200 members of the crew, have been recovered. To use a hackneyed expression, the wreck of the Mary Rose was a Tudor time capsule.
Ms. Drew has noted health problems among the remains of the crew, such as evidence of rickets, scurvy, moderate bone injuries, and possible skeletal markers of past strenuous activity. She will present an overview of the Mary Rose recovery project, and give “bone biographies” for some of the crew members from this fascinating and important story.
Teale Lecture: Making Conservation More Than a Luxury Concern -
Ecosystem Services & Connecting to People
Dr. Peter Kareiva, Chief Scientist, and Director of Science, The Nature Conservancy
Thursday, April 22, 4 pm
Free, no registration is needed. Lectures will be held at the Konover Auditorium, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut.
Conservation will fail unless it is better connected to people. The obvious connection comes from the benefits nature provides people. The scientific and practical challenge lies in developing credible tools that allow routine consideration of nature’s assets (or ecosystem services) in a way that informs the choices we make everyday at the scale of local communities and regions, all the way up to nations and global agreements.
Dr. Peter Kareiva moved to The Nature Conservancy after 20 years as a university professor and 3 years working for NOAA Fisheries.
Forensic DNA Analysis!
Caroline Jakuba, Molecular and Cell Biology, UConn
Saturday, April 24, 10 am to 12 noon
UConn Storrs location (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $25 ($20 for Museum members) Includes materials fee
Students ages 8 and above
Spend the morning in UConn’s Molecular and Cell Biology Lab learning how to extract and analyze DNA using the same equipment and techniques as research scientists. You will be on the DNA forensic technologists’ team, led by UConn researcher Caroline Jakuba. Using analytical techniques, you will solve a “crime” from “evidence” found in fruits at the scene and collected by the “CSI.” Who done it? Only you will be able to solve the mystery!
The Mysterious World of Lichens & Mosses
Dr. Bernard Goffinet, EEB, UConn
Sunday, April 25, 1 pm to 3 pm
Eastern Connecticut location (map will be mailed to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above; children must be accompanied by an adult
Furry, leafy, flat, crustose, and all colors of the rainbow, lichens are many and varied. They can be found from the arctic to the deserts to urban cemeteries. What is a lichen, exactly? Is it a plant, a fungus, or algae? Do they harm the plants they grow on? We will also look at mosses, a varied group of plants found nearly everywhere, especially in Connecticut. How are these charming tiny plants different from other groups? How are both lichens and mosses used by wildlife?
Lichens and mosses can also be indicators of fluctuating levels of chemical air pollutants. Bring along a magnifying glass for a closer look at the biology and life histories of these small but important species, led by lichen and moss expert, EEB’s Dr. Bernard Goffinet. You will be delighted and amazed!
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