Fireside Chat Series
Come spend the evening by the fire listening to a timely tale about science in real life. All programs begin at 7:00 pm and are free and open to the public. Complimentary hot drinks and cookies provided courtesy of the Friends of the Campbell Creek Science Center.
October 15: Saving Energy
Winter is on the way. Is your home ready for the coming cold? Learn more about weatherization and other steps you can take to conserve energy from Cary Bolling and Rosie Ricketts of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. They'll also discuss the AHFC energy rebate program.
November 19: Predators and Prey in Denali National Park
Predation is an important factor in the dynamics of most moose and caribou populations in Alaska. Denali National Park has been the site of over two decades of research to gain insight into predator-prey relationships in a natural setting. Please join Layne Adams, a wildlife researcher with the USGS-Alaska Science Center, as he describes of his ongoing research on the interactions of predators and prey in Denali National Park.
December 17: The Big Blue Sea
It bounds our western coast, produces over half the nation's fish catch, is home to a diverse array of marine life, and sits on the front lines of climate change. Despite its proximity and importance, there is much that we do not know or understand about the Bering Sea. The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) and the National Science Foundation have launched a new five-year integrated ecosystem study of the Bering Sea. Thomas Van Pelt, the biologist with the NPRB who is managing the project, will describe the scope and goals of this ambitious new research program.
January 14: Go, Dog. Go! Understanding What Makes Sled Dogs Tick
Running 1000 miles or more in 10 days may seem superhuman, but it is routine for a racing sled dog. Ironically, dogs and humans may have enough in common that by studying sled dogs we may be able to improve human exercise capacity. Dr. Michael Davis, animal exercise researcher and professor of veterinary physiology at Oklahoma State University, will explain the similarities and differences between dog and human metabolism and the internal switch dogs are able to throw to adapt their metabolism to prolonged exercise. He'll also describe what it might mean if we could learn to throw a similar internal switch.
February 18: CSI Meets Indiana JonesTM
CSI. Cold Case. We're all familiar with television programs that figure out whodunit through careful crime scene analysis. But how do police officers know what to look for? How do they interpret the results? For some types of information, anthropology plays a big role. Join us as Alaska's State Archaeologist Dave McMahan explains the role anthropology plays in training law enforcement officials and helping solve crimes.
March 18: TBA
April 15: Wolverines
May 20: Homesteading Alaska Style
Alaska wasn’t even part of the United States when Congress passed the Homestead Act of 1864. But between 1898 when homesteading began here and 1986 when it ended, people filed thousands of homestead claims in Alaska. Many of these claims fell under special Alaska-only amendments to the original Homestead Act. Come learn more about the often times surprising story of homesteading in Alaska from Bob King, archaeologist with the Bureau of Land Management.
Astronomy Lecture Series
We hope you can join us for one or more of the lectures in our astronomy series. Programs begin at 7:00 pm and are free and open to the public. Hot beverages provided courtesy of the Friends of the Campbell Creek Science Center.
November 13: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Are we alone in the universe? Where are we looking for life? And how will we know when we've found it? Dr. Travis Rector, a professor in the physics and astronomy department at the University of Alaska Anchorage, will give an overview of the ongoing search for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.
December 11: The Night Sky—A Family-Friendly Look at What’s Overhead
Come learn more about the stars, planets, galaxies, and other objects that fill our night skies. Dr. Katherine Rawlins, a professor in the physics and astronomy department at the University of Alaska Anchorage will give us an overview what’s in the heavens. Afterward you can try some hands-on activities to learn more.
January 8: Apollo to the Moon—Technologies, Triumphs, and Tragedies
The Apollo mission to land humans on the moon and bring them safely back to Earth was one of the greatest technical achievements of the 20th century. The solutions engineers devised to overcome the enormous challenges of this project are still paying dividends today. Scott Girard, a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, will share his passion for the Apollo mission and his view of this exciting time in history.
February 12: The Big Bang & Cosmology
What is the Big Bang and how does it explain the Universe? Where did the Universe come from, and what existed before it? And if there's an edge to the Universe, what's on the other side? Dr. Travis Rector, a professor in the physics and astronomy department at the University of Alaska Anchorage, will answer these questions and more. From the origins of the universe to the structure we understand today, he’ll explain what we know, how we know it, and what mysteries remain about it.
March 12: Asteroids
Discoveries of near-Earth asteroids are on the rise and so are reports of potential collisions with Earth. How do we know what we know about the orbits of these asteroids? How do scientists determine the probabilities of impact? And why do these "killer asteroid" scares always evaporate after further study? Dr. Andy Puckett, a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy at the University of Alaska Anchorage, will give you the low-down.
Please check back again soon as more information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
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