One of the many awesome science fortune cookies given out at the Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability open house at the Cal Academy yesterday. More about the Cassidine beetle and its unique fecal defense: The larvae of tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae), so called because of the turtle-like appearance of the adults, have an odd habit. …
Park rangers are unsung naturalists and science educators. But they serve a critical, front-line role in facilitating public engagement and understanding of natural systems and phenomena. Plus, they get a killer uniform. This beautifully designed poster by Tyler Nordgren emphasizes how bad ass park rangers are. I’m putting a print of this up in my …
Check out this adorable Luristan newt or Kaiser’s spotted newt, native to Zagros mountains in Iran. He’s for the first time on exhibit in the Steinhart aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences. Such a cutie!
I really liked this piece in Slate magazine on citizen science: “Want to Help Shape the Future?” by Darlene Cavalier and Jason Lloyd. They really hit home the idea that not only is it important for science that people everywhere contribute and participate in it, it’s also important for society and the individuals involved. The key …
On Friday at the museum we are all rushing to finish various tasks before the big holiday weekend. My colleague Lindzy comes by and says, “Hey, Rik, do you have a sec for a nature moment on the balcony?” I walk out to the balcony of our floor facing the ball field behind the …
I had the honor and privilege of visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture last weekend, and I’m still reeling from the experience. Plan on spending at least 3-4 hours there, to get a decent exposure to the exhibits. I learned and felt so much while I was there. One of the …
Teen Science Night is the world's largest teens-only museum event. Our fifth Teen Science Night on August 11 blew out all of our previous attendance records with over 2,100 teens from across Northern California descending on the California Academy Sciences. During Teen Science Night, young people have free rein to explore the museum, engage in …
I seriously regret that I didn't have the opportunity to be a Girl Scout as a young person. They seem to get to much cooler stuff than their boy counterparts. According to their website, Girl Scouts has a strong emphasis on building STEM skills in young women: We introduce Girl Scouts of every age to …
iNaturalist is already a "must have" app for nature lovers. Using iNaturalist, anyone can take a picture of any living creature they find in the wild, provide whatever information they know about it, and get help identifying it from professional and amateur scientists. It's a dead simple way for anyone, anywhere to contribute to science. …
Yesterday, this is what I saw as I biked past the California Academy of Sciences, around 8:30pm. I was in awe of the beauty and grandeur of nature, the magnificence of my city, and the elegance of my museum. I'm such a fortunate human. The blog isn't doing this picture justice. Check out a higher …