Galapagos Islands finches topic of Sept. 27 UW speech by top evolutionary researchers/authors

From a UW press release:

Two of the world’s leading evolutionary researchers, Peter and Rosemary Grant, will speak at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, in the University of Wyoming Berry Center auditorium.

They will discuss “Evolution of Darwin’s Finches.” UW Zoology Professor Craig Benkman will host their presentation as part of the L. Floyd Clarke Memorial Lecture Series.

The Grants’ research on evolution in the Galapagos Islands, where they have spent six months of every year since 1973, is well-known. Capturing, tagging and taking blood samples of the finches on the island of Daphne Major, the two Princeton University emeritus professors continue the evolutionary work of Charles Darwin in the place that inspired his theory of evolution.

"The Grants' three-year study of the evolution of Galapagos Island finches and their adaptive responses to environmental change is one of the classic studies in biology,” says Scott Seville, zoologist and UW Outreach School associate dean. “Their work has been featured in many documentaries and was the focus of the Pulitzer prize-winning book ‘Beak of the Finch’ by Jonathan Wiener."

In 2008, the Grants were among 13 recipients of the prestigious Darwin-Wallace Medal, which is bestowed every 50 years by the Linnean Society of London. They received the Kyoto Prize in basic sciences, an international award honoring significant contributions to scientific, cultural and spiritual betterment of mankind. They have written numerous articles and books on their discoveries.

For more information, call (307) 766-5627.

Photo: Peter and Rosemary Grant will discuss their research of the evolution of Galapagos Island finches. (Princeton University)

Call for entries: CWC Health and Science Center public art project

Architectural rendering of new CWC Health and Science Center and outdoor plaza.

The Art in Public Buildings program is issuing a call for artists for the Central Wyoming College Health and Science Center in Riverton. This is a national call for proposals with a deadline of Nov. 30, 2012.

Central Wyoming College has a standing history of nonrepresentational public art projects on campus. Therefore both traditional and nonrepresentational themes are appropriate. Themes for art proposals for the Health and Science Center may include references to the region’s cultural and natural history, the geological timeline, education, the natural sciences, health care, health sciences and the environment. Artists are encouraged to consider incorporating sustainable and recycled materials in their compositions. Proposed concepts should not be structural in nature or impact the architectural integrity of the facility.

The College’s service area encompasses one of the largest American Indian populations in the United States. Both the Northern Arapaho and the Eastern Shoshone reside on the Wind River Indian Reservation, one of the most geographically isolated regions of the West. There is also a significant Hispanic population in the area. Central Wyoming College provides a great many residents of these communities an opportunity for post-secondary educational services.

The Art in Public Buildings Project Committee has identified several potential installation sites. The exterior plaza on the north side of the building is the primary outdoor location. On the interior, the two expansive upper gallery wall surfaces of the West Lobby/Gallery (east and west wall surfaces) are the primary locations. Additional locations include the recessed radius rear wall of the auditorium, the two large niches of the West Lobby within the open balcony light wells, the secondary East Lobby/Gallery and the associated balcony light well and stairwell shaft, and the wall spaces between the classroom doors of the main east-west building corridor. Any work proposed for the exterior plaza must take into consideration the environmental extremes of the region, especially temperature fluctuations and wind force.

All styles, conceptual approaches and mediums are encouraged. Proposed artwork should enhance the architectural elements and visually extend the presence and purpose of the Health and Science Center, melding art, science and education. All proposed artwork must be durable, structurally sound, secure, site appropriate and easy to maintain.

Find the brochure with full guidelines at http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/pdf/AIPBCallforEntriesBrochureWyomingCentralCollege.pdf

Filmmaker and violinist Kenji Williams will premiere multimedia "Bella Gaia" Sept. 7 to close Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival symposium in Denver

From a Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival press release and info from its web site:

Now in its third decade, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival’s biennial 6-day conference is an unmatched international industry event drawing 650+ leaders in science, conservation, broadcasting and media to celebrate the world's finest nature films. The 2013 Festival is slated for the last week in September.

In alternating years, JHWFF hosts a Symposium targeting 300-plus technology and non-broadcast media professionals. The next conference is slated for Sept. 5-7 at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in Denver’s City Park. This year, the JHWFF will launch the Science Media Awards, a prestigious competition to showcase the extraordinary films that illustrate the wonders of science and its far-reaching impact on our daily lives.

Join visionary thinkers in science and public media, for three full days of provocative panels, immersive workshops and casual networking. This year, we launch the inaugural Jackson Hole Science Media Awards competition, with special sessions featuring finalist programs and winners announced at a Gala Celebration Thursday, September 6.

The closing reception on Saturday night includes a 6 p.m. premiere in the IMAX Theater and Gates Fulldome for “Tornado Alley 3D” by Sean Casey. It’s followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and scientists and a chance to see the unique research vehicles up close. After that, comes a premiere of “Bella Gaia” with a live performance by award winning filmmaker, composer and violinist, Kenji Williams. Inspired by astronauts who spoke of the life changing power of seeing the Earth from space, he created “Bella Gaia” to simulate this transformative effect. Working closely with NASA’s scientific visualization studio, “Bella Gaia” successfully simulates space flight, taking the audience on a spectacular journey around planet Earth. With live music, performance art, large-scale projected NASA scientific visualizations and cutting-edge technology, “Bella Gaia” showcases a thought-provoking stream of crucial scientific data regarding our planet's imperiled ecosystems while celebrating the amazing cultural heritage of humanity and explores humanity’s ultimate challenge as we enter a new epoch called the Anthropocene; where humans become the driving force of environmental change on planet Earth. 

Click here to register for the 2012 Symposium.. For more information, please call the JHWFF at 307.733.7016.

Author and visionary Ray Bradbury dies at 91

Ray Bradbury in his L.A. office in 2008

Gone is the author of the classics "Fahrenheit 451" and "The Martian Chronicles." See this article by Rick Schindler in Today Books: Ray Bradbury foresaw the future — and didn’t trust it. Excerpt:

Ray Bradbury was the last of the giants of mid-20th century American science fiction, a select fraternity that also comprised Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and Isaac Asimov. The most literary of that pantheon, his work spanned many media, including science fiction pulp magazines, episodic television, and motion pictures -- but passion for the written word and fear for its survival may be his most enduring legacy.

Call for entries: Jackson Hole Science Media Awards

From a press release:

Science plays a profound role in our daily lives in ways that we can scarcely imagine, from the infinitesimal to the infinite. This year, to recognize media that best depicts the wonders of science to a broad audience, we are delighted to announce the inaugural Jackson Hole Science Media Awards! 

Encouraging the development of compelling media that best translate the complexities of science to the public, the Awards will provide a forum to connect influential media professionals with leading scientists from around the world, and showcase finalists and award winners at the 2012 Symposium as well as other public and industry events. 

With 17 award categories for competition as well as Best of Festival and Special Jury awards, eligible programs may be of any length, may originate in any format (including animation) and be produced for theatrical, television broadcast, internet, institutional or public media distribution. Submissions must be completed between June 1, 2010 & May 31, 2012, but need not have been broadcast or publicly exhibited. 

The deadline for submission is June 1, 2012. All submissions will be uploaded electronically to a secure and protected website to keep the competition as environmentally friendly as possible, and ensure the broadest participation of international jurors during the preliminary judging phase. To nominate a preliminary judge, contact lisa@jhfestival.org. 

CONTENT CATEGORIES 

Earth & Environmental Sciences (Including Geology, Paleontology, Energy, Oceanography, Weather, and Climate) 

Life Sciences (Including Biology, Bio-diversity, Ecology, Genetics, and Genetic Engineering)

Medical Sciences (Including Clinical Science, Epidemiology, Pharmacology, and Stem Cell Research)

Physical Sciences (Including Astronomy, Cosmology, Physics, Chemistry, and Nanotechnology)

Human & Social Sciences (Including Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Forensic Science, Social Culture and History)

Technological Sciences (Including Robotics, Computer & IT, Artificial Intelligence, Mechanical and Systems Engineering)

PROGRAM CATEGORIES   

Incorporation of Science in a Dramatic or Theatrical Program 
Best Series or Limited Series Best Short Program 

Best Short Program
Best Immersive Cinema (3D, Fulldome, Large Format) Best Institutional Media Installation 
Interactive and New Media

Best Nonprofessionally Produced Program

CRAFT CATEGORIES
Best Writing

Best Editing

Best Visualization (Cinematography & CGI)
Best Host or Presenter

Utah's Katharine Coles talks about poetry & fiction writing Feb. 24 in Rock Springs

"Dance your Ph.D." -- or just dance for the sake of dance

From TEDx Brussels

Greg Estes presents "Darwin and Galapagos" Nov. 14 at Casper College

Renowned Galapagos expert, Greg Estes, will be at Casper College on Monday, Nov. 14 to speak on “Darwin and Galapagos.” The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. following the unveiling of the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health Darwin exhibit: “Rewriting the Book of Nature: Charles Darwin and the Rise of Evolutionary Theory at 5:30 p.m.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Greg’s caliber come to Casper College to speak on Darwin and the Galapagos,” said Will Robinson, Casper College biology instructor.

Estes first arrived in Galapagos in 1982 leading the Cambridge Darwin Centenary Galapagos Expedition to conduct research on the feeding ecology of marine iguanas. For the past few years he and his wife Thalia have been retracing Darwin’s footsteps through Galapagos using information from Darwin’s original notebooks and manuscripts of the famous voyage. Their research was published in “Notes and Records of the Royal Society,“ September 2000 and was the basis of their book “Darwin in Galapagos: Footsteps to a New World,” published by Princeton University Press in 2009. He is a licensed naturalist guide of the Galapagos National Park Service works as naturalist and expeditions leader in the islands.

The unveiling and reception will take place in the Goodstein Foundation Library from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Estes will sign copies of “Darwin in Galapagos: Footsteps to a New World,” and hors d’ oeuvres and refreshments will be served. His presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the Roberts Commons Ballroom and will be followed by light refreshments. Both events are free and open to the public.

Estes talk is sponsored by the Goodstein Foundation Library, the Casper College Biology Department, the University of Wyoming/Casper College Center, Wyoming INBRE, and Casper College.

Jeffrey Lockwood writes about the collision of "Art & Energy" in Wyoming

"Carbon Sink: What Goes Around Comes Around," a sculpture by Chris Drury on the UW campus.

Wyoming author and science writer Jeffrey Lockwood writes on WyoFile about Art & Energy: Coal’s reaction to ‘Carbon Sink’ sculpture reveals the power of art — and the essence of education.

Teton County Library explores "The Yellowstone Caldera" Sept. 6 (off-site location)

The Teton County Public Library in Jackson will be closed Sept. 3-7 as its interior is reconfigured for upcoming construction projects.

But that hasn't stopped library programming. On Tuesday, Sept. 6, 6-7:30 p.m., the library conducts its "Geologists of Jackson Hole present: The Yellowstone Caldera," with Jake Lowenstern from the Volcano Science Center in Menlo Park, Calif.  He will discuss recent activity in the Yellowstone caldera, as well as scientific efforts to use gas and fluid geochemistry to help understand ongoing magmatism and related hydrothermal activity.

Location: County Commissioners Chambers, 200 S. Willow St.

This event is free and open to the public.

FMI: Oona Doherty, 307-733-2164 ext. 135; odoherty@tclib.org

BBHC offers field trip for Fern-filled Fauna of the Bighorn Basin

Fossilized vegetation of the Bighorn Basin

From the Buffalo Bill Historical Center:

Dr. Scott Wing describes his job like this, “As a research scientist and curator at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History the three major parts of my job are research, collections, and outreach.”

All three come together on July 9, 2011, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with a plant fossil field trip to the Big Cedar Ridge in the southeastern Bighorn Basin. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center co-sponsors the outing—dubbed Fern-filled Fauna of the Bighorn Basin—with the Wyoming Native Plant Society, Washakie Museum, and the University of Wyoming Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center. There is no charge for the trip; however, pre-registration is required by contacting Emily Buckles at emilyb@bbhc.org or 307.578.4110.

Poets meet paleontologists this weekend in Casper

Dee the Mammoth fossil

"Dee and the Mammoth" book

Paleontologists and geologists are in Casper through Sunday for the 17th Annual Tate Conference. It will feature topics ranging from “Asian Elephant Behavior” to “Ice Age Discovery in Snowmass Village.”


Friday presentations include discussions on “Climate Change at the Paleocene-Eocene Boundary,” The Largest Mounted Mammoth in North America, Dee the Mammoth,” “Cats of the Camelot Local Fauna,” and others. Saturday presentations will include talks on ambush predators, the Dire wolf of Rancho La Brea, Pleistocene bear communities, the giant short-faced bear, and Porcupine Cave. The day will end with Keynote speaker Steven R. Holen, curator of archeology for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Holen will speak on the exciting discovery and current excavation project the museum is engaged in at Snowmass Village, Colo., “Ice Age Discovery in Snowmass Village: A Mid-to Early Wisconsin Fossil Locality High in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.” The excavation is the largest-ever excavation the museum has ever been involved in. As of May 24, 2011, museum crews had found more than 100 bones which included two mastodon skulls; two mastodon pelvises; three mammoth tusks; mastodon vertebrae, ribs, wrist and ankle bones, and large bones including the upper arm and forearm; a sloth forearm; bison wrist bone; and deer pelvis. Registration is $40 each for the first and third field trips June 2 and 5, and $150 for the Friday through Saturday portion of the conference, June 3 and 4. To register stop by the Tate Geological Museum on the Casper College campus, or call the museum at 268-2447, 800-442-2963, ext. 2447, email dschaff@caspercollege.edu, or visit www.caspercollege.edu/tate.

Meanwhile, poets and writers are gathering June 3-5 in Casper for sessions like these:

• "The Ghost That Got Into My House" (after the James Thurber story) by Lucia St. Clair Robson
• "Appropriate Appropriating" by poet Chris Fishbach
• Pete McCarthy's sessions on online marketing and social media
• The ever-popular open mic sessions on Friday and Saturday nights
• A closing talk by Tom Empey, actor, director and recently-retired chair of the Casper College theatre department

FMI: http://www.wyowriters.org/Resources/WWINC_ConferenceBrochure2011.pdf

If you are a writer and geologist, you would have a tough time choosing events.

The big question is: Is Casper big enough to accommodate both poets and paleontolgists this weekend?

Tune into this blog Monday to find out.

Breaking news: Robots take over Casper College

Poster for a W.P.A. stage performance of R.U.R., circa 1939

Robots take center stage in Casper College’s latest production: “R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots).” Under the direction of Bill Conte, theatre instructor, the play is described as “a fantastic melodrama in three acts and an epilogue” by playwright Karel Capek.

“Written by Capek 90 years ago, ‘R.U.R.’ is a fascinating vision of a future that is not too far removed from our present. A landmark in the genre of science fiction, ‘R.U.R.’ is the great-grandfather of every novel, film, or TV show in which robots are important aspects of the plot. In fact, it is because of this play, originally written in Czech, that the word ‘robot’ (meaning ‘worker’) became part of the English language. This far-seeing play is more socially relevant now than it was when it was written,” said Conte.

Despite its social relevance today, Conte noted that two words from Capek’s description of “R.U.R.” – “fantastic” and “melodrama” – “are guiding our interpretation of the work. In the 1920s, the melodrama found a home in the exciting new technology of film. Our production embraces this history and the acting style is a replica of the highly emotive and presentational techniques of the melodrama, a style that carried over into the films of the day.”

In addition to the acting style, Douglas Garland’s costume and make-up designs “were developed from the perspective of how a designer in the 1920s film industry might imagine the future, while Sean McIntosh’s set and lighting design are executed in the stark, unsettling style of the German Expressionist silent filmmakers. Of course, as in all movies of the time, music underscores the action in good melodramatic fashion, and we have some terrific music composed especially for this show by Gary DePaolo,” Conte added.

“R.U.R.” will run April 28 through 30 and May 3 through 7 each evening at 7:30 in the Black Box Theatre located in the Gertrude Krampert Theatre Complex. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students ages 5 to 18.

Tickets can be purchased at the Krampert Theatre Complex box office between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, by phone at 268-2500, or one hour before each performance, for that performance only.

"Starry Night" -- as seen from a Landsat satellite

The USGS Earth Resources Observation & Science Center offers an image gallery of artsy shots from satellites. Here's an example entitled "Van Gogh from Space."

In the style of Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night," massive congregations of greenish phytoplankton swirl in the dark water around Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. Phytoplankton are microscopic marine plants that form the first link in nearly all ocean food chains. Population explosions, or blooms, of phytoplankton, like the one shown here, occur when deep currents bring nutrients up to sunlit surface waters, fueling the growth and reproduction of these tiny plants. Taken July 13, 2005.

"Religion Versus Science" author at Second Story Books on Feb. 25

Dr. Ron Frost, author of "Religion Versus Science," will be at the Second Story Book Store, 105 Ivinson Avenue in downtown Laramie on Friday, February 25, 6:30-8 p.m. for a book signing. FMI: (307) 745-4423

2nd part of EO Wilson's interview with Jeff Lockwood

If the box/screen doesn't appear, just click on the play icon at bottom left and the video will start.

Interview by Jeff Lockwood with EO Wilson

This just in from Jeff Lockwood, Professor of Natural Sciences & Humanities at UW:

The reason I’m sharing this with you is that the interview focused on Wilson’s novel, Anthill. He provides an exceptionally eloquent account for why fiction and literature are vital to modern science—indeed, he suggests a moral obligation of scientists to cultivate their capacity as storytellers in order to communicate vital knowledge to the public. In short, the preeminent biologist in the world provides a compelling argument for why an ongoing collaboration between writers and natural scientists is critical to our society. So, if the university administrators that adore science (quite honestly, I do) ever needed a reason to foster the MFA program in creative writing, here it is.

This is the first part of a two-part interview:

Write and explore your way through Yellowstone this summer

Not too early to start planning your summer...

Casper College offers the Yellowstone Experience at Yellowstone National Park May 27-June 5, 2011. This seven-credit curriculum includes three courses: ENGL 2055 90, Creative Writing in the Wild; BIOL 2110 90, Yellowstone Field Science; and PEAC 2084 90, Outdoor Living Skills.

Instructors are Terry Rasmussen and Dr. Will Robinson.

A $500 nonrefundable course fee is due by March 25.

FMI: trasmuss@caspercollege.edu or wrobins@caspercollege.edu.

Tate Geological Museum hosts mammoth holiday celebration and "Dee and the Mammoth" book launch

Tate's Mammoth ready to party!

From a Casper College press release:

A festive time is in store for all who attend the Tate Geological Museum's Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to Deanna Schaff, director of museums, the event will include the sale and signing of the new children's book Dee and the Mammoth by Gene Gagliano, author, and Zachary Pullen, illustrator. Both Gene and Zac will be on hand to autograph all copies sold during the open house, said Schaff.

"The book will include a documentary of the entire story of Dee the mammoth from discovery to display in DVD form, along with an audio version of the book, Schaff noted.

In addition to Gagliano and Pullen, Laramie ceramics artist Jodie Atherton will also be at the open house with a display of her unique dinosaur mosaics currently for sale. "These one-of-a-kind sculptures are about recycling, history, and the melding of art and science. I create these mosaics on plaster jackets that were used by the Tate to transport fossils safely from the field back to the prep lab," Atherton said. For every work sold, Atherton will donate 20 percent of the proceeds back to the Tate.

Perennial favorite Santasauraus will be on hand and those attending are encouraged to bring their camera for a photo opportunity with not only Santasauraus, but also the museum's newest member, Dee the mammoth.

The gift shop within the museum will feature 10 percent off purchases and free gift-wrapping.

The Tate Geological Museum Holiday Open House is free and open to the public.

FMI: Lisa S. Icenogle, Information Coordinator, Casper College, 307-268-2372

"ReVisioning the (W)hole" at UW



Ghost Fish by Margaret Haydon

Ceramic Fish Ball by Margaret Haydon















The University of Wyoming will host the fourth annual "ReVisioning the (W)hole" conference at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in Room 506 of Coe Library.

The 90-minute presentation and panel discussion, free and open to the public, will focus on the intersections between science and art from numerous perspectives, including studies of the ancient sturgeon, psychological and pop cultural presentations of male identities and perceptions of beauty and ugliness in the insect world. A reception follows.

"This conference has two primary objectives," says organizer Meg VB-Wood, from the UW Department of English. "We want both to recognize and celebrate the on-going interdisciplinary/integrated projects on campus and beyond and to stimulate future work that looks at blurring, enlarging, and/or redefining disciplinary boundaries."

The presenters at this year's conference are Margaret Haydon, UW associate professor of art; Daniel Fielder, assistant professor of art at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington; and Jeffrey Lockwood, UW professor of philosophy and creative writing. UW professors Barbara John and Mark Ritchie will serve as moderators.

The conference is supported by the UW Foundation.