think + drink / science
On the second Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9 pm, we transform The Planetarium into a forum for discussions at think + drink / science, a place where you can grab a beer, a glass of wine, or a soft drink and learn about cutting-edge science in a relaxed, informal setting. Typically our “expert du jour” gives a short presentation on the topic of the month, and then opens the floor for questions and discussion.
think + drink / science details:
- Cost: Members of the Discovery Society – $5, Non-members – $8
- Refreshments: Beer, wine, soft drinks and snack available for purchase.
- Tickets: Paid reservations required; please purchase tickets online using the links below or call 941-746-4131, ext. 113.
- Seating: Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis; please arrive promptly. Pre-purchased program seats will be held until 5 minutes prior to program start time ONLY, at which time they may be released for re-sale (no refunds or exchanges will be given after the start of the program).
Programs and Online Tickets:
Sept. 11: Our Native Longleaf Pine
As a Forester, Arborist and Wildland Firefighter, Clint Wardlow of Florida Forest Service works with private landowners, communities and cities to provide practical forest management assistance and techniques, as well as urban forest health and planning. He’s been deployed to fight fires in Colorado and Wyoming, undertake prescribed burning operations in South Florida and Oklahoma, and performed timber-marking and inventory in the pine flatwoods of South Florida, the oak-hickory forests and cross-timbers of eastern Oklahoma and the Cascade Range in southern Oregon. He holds a BS in Natural Resource Ecology and Management from Oklahoma State University.
Oct. 9: Saving Madagascar’s Lemurs
Dr. Erik Patel, Conservation and Research Director at the Lemur Conservation Foundation in Myakka City, studies one of the most critically endangered primates in the world, the silky sifaka lemur, in Marojejy National Park, one of the places that is a focus of LCF’s on-the-ground work in Madagascar. His fieldwork has garnered considerable media attention, including several televised feature films, and newspaper and magazine coverage, including Smithsonian Magazine.
Nov. 13: Telescopes 101
Do telescope shapes, designs and jargon confuse you? Ed McDonough of telescope maker Celestron and members of the local astronomy club will be on hand to clear all of this up! Should you ever decide to own a telescope, you will be prepared with everything you need to make an intelligent decision. And if you already own a telescope, get tips on how to enjoy it to the fullest.
Dec. 11: People of the Great Circle
Charlotte County artist and historian Ted Ehmann researched 112 years of anthropological research and theories of the Woodland Period mound building cultures in south Florida. New research and the inclusion of other models revealed bias in previous studies, as well as revelation that the Calusa and Mayaimi were unique cultural phenomena and were exceedingly significant in world prehistory.