MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTERMEMBERS’ NEWSLETTERVOL. 35 NO. 2 MARCH/APRIL 2010

General InformationHOURSMuseum: Daily, 10 am–5:45 pm The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving andChristmas.Space Show: Every half hour, 10:30 am–4:30 pmexcept on Wednesdays, when first show is at 11 am.Research Library: Tuesday–Thursday, 2–5:30 pmHours are subject to change.

ENTRANCESDuring Museum hours, Members may enterthrough the subway (lower level), Central ParkWest at 79th Street (second floor), the RoseCenter/81st Street, and the Columbus Avenueentrances. The 77th Street entrance is open forevents and programs.

TRANSPORTATION AND PARKINGSubway: B (weekdays) or C to 81st Street;1 to 79th StreetBus: M7, M10, M11, or M104 to 79th Street;M79 to Central Park WestParking Garage: Open daily, 8 am– 11 pm; enter from West 81st Street. Members receive a discounted rate of $10 if entering after 4 pm. Toreceive this rate, you must show your MembershipCard or event ticket when exiting the garage.For more information, call 212-313-7275.

FOOD SERVICEMuseum Food Court: Daily, 11 am–4:45 pm (lower level)Café on One: Daily, 11 am–4:45 pm (first floor)Starlight Café: Saturday and Sunday,11 am–4:45 pm (first floor)Café on 4: Daily, 11 am–4:45 pm (fourth floor)Hours are subject to change.

MUSEUM SHOPSThe following Museum Shops are open during regular Museum hours:The Museum Shop (first and second floors)DinoStore (fourth floor)The Shop for Earth & Space (Rose Center,lower level)Cosmic Shop (Rose Center, second floor)Silk Road Shop (third floor)Online Shop (amnhshop.com)

PHONE NUMBERSMuseum Information 212-769-5100Membership Office 212-769-5606Central Reservations 212-769-5200AMNH Expeditions 800-462-8687Communications 212-769-5800Development 212-769-5151Education 212-769-5304Event & Conference Services 212-769-5350Library Services 212-769-5400Museum Shop 800-671-7035Patrons Circle 212-769-5153Planetarium Information 212-769-5900Planned Giving Office 212-769-5119Volunteer Office 212-769-5566Website amnh.org

Membership DepartmentCentral Park West at 79th StreetNew York, New York 10024-5192amnh.org

© S

cott

Pola

r Res

earc

h In

stitu

te,U

nive

rsity

of C

ambr

idge

Please join us for a Members-only

reception for the major new exhibition

RACE TO THE END OF THE EARTH

FRIDAY, MAY 28

Exhibition opens exclusively to members

at 4 pm. Reception will be held in the

Theodore RooseveltRotunda from 6 to 8 pm.

Kindly RSVP to 212-769-5606.

LIZARDS & SNAKES: ALIVE!RETURNS MARCH 6

roads, the subject of this compellingphoto exhibition featuring more than35 images of cliff-side passages,suspension bridges, and other roadsegments set against stunningAndean landscapes.Courtesy of the Consulate General of Peru in New York.

The presentation of Highway of An Empire at theAmerican Museum of Natural History is made possibleby the generosity of the Arthur Ross Foundation.

Alfred Russel Wallace CabinetGrand Gallery, first floorFree with Museum admission

A Victorian rosewood cabinet thathouses green-jeweled beetles, extinctmoths, and more collected by the19th-century naturalist andcontemporary of Charles Darwin isnow on display.

Spider Silk TextileGrand Gallery, first floorFree with Museum admission

This spectacular and extremely raretextile—the only one of its kind ondisplay anywhere in the world— waswoven from golden-colored silk threadproduced by one million spiders inMadagascar. The contemporary textiletook four years to make using apainstaking technique developedmore than 100 years ago.

The Butterfly Conservatory:Tropical Butterflies Alive in WinterWhitney Hall of Oceanic BirdsMembers’ tickets are $12 adults,$7.50 children

A perennial favorite, the ButterflyConservatory lets visitors mingle withup to 500 live, free-flying butterfliesin an enclosed habitat that replicatesa lush, tropical environment.

Highway of An Empire:The Great Inca RoadIMAX CorridorFree with Museum admission

The Inca Empire owed its reach andpower to an extensive network of

in collaboration with the California Academy ofSciences, San Francisco; GOTO INC, Tokyo, Japan;Papalote • Museo del Niño, Mexico City, Mexico; andSmithsonian National Air and Space Museum,Washington, D.C.

Journey to the Stars was created by the AmericanMuseum of Natural History, with the major supportand partnership of NASA, Science Mission Directorate,Heliophysics Division.

Made possible through the generous sponsorship ofLockheed Martin Corporation.

And proudly sponsored by Accenture.

Super-computing resources provided by The TexasAdvanced Computing Center (TACC) at the University ofTexas at Austin through the TeraGrid, a project of theNational Science Foundation.

IMAX MOVIESamuel J. and Ethel LeFrak TheaterMembers' tickets are $12 adults,$7.50 children

Mysteries of the Great LakesDeep blue and beautiful, these fivefreshwater lakes hold the key tountold stories—and strangephenomena—explored in thisexquisite giant-screen film. To watchthe trailer, visit amnh.org.

For showtimes, visit amnh.org or call 212-769-5100.

MORE FOR KIDSSleepover ProgramA Night at the MuseumPlease visit amnh.org/sleepovers formore details.

This after-hours extravaganza thrillsMuseum fans ages 7 to 13. Theevening includes a flashlight tour and wraps up with a campout amongMuseum icons.

OPENINGLizards & Snakes: Alive!Opens Saturday, March 6Gallery 77, first floorMembers’ tickets are $12 adults,$7.50 children

Featuring more than 60 live lizards andsnakes from five continents, Lizards &Snakes: Alive! introduces visitors to adiversity of legged and legless creaturesand showcases their remarkable adap-tations, from projectile tongues, deadlyvenom, and amazing camouflage tosurprising modes of locomotion.Lizards & Snakes: Alive! is organized by the AmericanMuseum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org),in collaboration with the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, and the San Diego NaturalHistory Museum.

Presented with appreciation to Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland.

CURRENTLY ON VIEWTraveling the Silk Road: AncientPathway to the Modern WorldGallery 3, third floorFree for Members

This intriguing exhibition transportsvisitors to one of the greatest tradingroutes of all time, showcasing thegoods, technologies, and culturesfrom four representative cities: Xi’an,China’s Tang Dynasty capital; Turfan,a verdant oasis; Samarkand, home ofprosperous merchants; and ancientBaghdad, a hub of commerce andscholarship. Live performancesorganized by the Silk Road Project takeplace in the exhibition every Sundayafternoon. Visit amnh.org/silkroad formore information.Traveling the Silk Road is organized by the AmericanMuseum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org),in collaboration with Azienda Speciale Palaexpo, Roma,Italy and Codice. Idée per la cultura srl, Torino, Italy; theNational Museum of Australia, Canberra, Australia andArt Exhibitions Australia; the Museum of Science,Taichung, Taiwan and United Daily News, Taipei, Taiwan.

The Presenting Sponsor of Traveling the Silk Road isMetLife Foundation.

Additional support has been provided byMary and David Solomon.

The Silk Road Project residency is generously supportedby Rosalind P. Walter.

amnh.org | rotunda | 32 | rotunda | amnh.org

A 2010 CelebrationIn 2010 the Museum will celebrate the10th anniversary of the opening of the Frederick Phineas and Sandra PriestRose Center for Earth and Space andthe 75th anniversary of the opening of the original Hayden Planetarium.Visit amnh.org throughout the yearfor details about upcoming events.

HAYDEN PLANETARIUM ISAAC ASIMOV MEMORIAL DEBATE Moon, Mars and Beyond:Where Next For the Manned Space Program?Monday, March 157:30 pmMembers' tickets are $13.50

Director of the Hayden PlanetariumNeil deGrasse Tyson will moderate.This year’s subject: should NASA returnto the Moon or proceed to Mars?Made possible through the generosity of the Asimov family and friends.

SPACE SHOWJourney to the StarsMembers’ tickets are $12 adults,$7.50 children

This spectacular Space Show sendsvisitors through time and space toexperience the life cycle of the stars.Produced by the American Museum of Natural History, the Rose Center for Earth and Space, and theHayden Planetarium.

Journey to the Stars was developed by the AmericanMuseum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org),

Museum Notes

SAVE A TREEThe current issue of Rotunda is now available

online! Download it at amnh.org. If you’d like to stop receiving paper copies, please

email members@amnh.org.

Lizards and Snakes: Alive! showcases amazing reptileadaptations. | © AMNH/R. Mickens

Stars are forming in stellar nurseries in the OrionNebula. | © AMNH

Visitors check out the live silk worm exhibit in Traveling the Silk Road. | © AMNH/D. Finnin

ISSN 0194-6110 USPS Permit #472-650Vol. 35, No. 2, March/April 2010

Lewis W. Bernard, ChairmanEllen V. Futter, PresidentLisa J. Gugenheim, Senior Vice President ofInstitutional Advancement, Strategic Planning,and EducationLouise Adler, Director of Membership

Rotunda is published bimonthly,except for a combinedissue in July/August/September and a single issue inDecember,by the Membership Office of the AmericanMuseum of Natural History,Central Park West at79th Street,New York,NY 10024-5192.Phone:212-769-5606.Web address:amnh.org.Museum Membership of $70 per year and higherincludes a subscription to Rotunda. © 2010 AmericanMuseum of Natural History. Periodical postage paid at New York,NY,and at additional mailing offices.Postmaster:please send address changes to Rotunda,Membership Office,AMNH, at the above address.

CELEBRATE A CHILD’S BIRTHDAY AT THE MUSEUMLinda Kaye’s Partymakers will throwan unforgettable bash for kids agesfour and up. Choose from DinosaurDiscoveries, Safari Adventure,Underwater Treasures, and CosmicBlast-Off, which includes an option tosee Journey to the Stars. Parties are anexclusive benefit for Contributor andhigher-level Members. For moreinformation, visit partymakers.com orcall 212-288-7112.

Discover the secrets of the Great Lakes in the new IMAX feature at the Museum. | © Gary and Joanie McGuffin

COVER: The Eastern green mamba is among morethan 60 live animals featured in Lizards and Snakes:Alive! | © AMNH/R. Mickens

4 | rotunda | amnh.org

his spring, stop and smell theroses. Even better, count thebees on them!

The Museum’s Center forBiodiversity and Conservation (CBC),in collaboration with the New YorkCity Department of Parks & Recreation,is looking for volunteer bee watchersin all five boroughs for its GreatPollinator Project this spring andsummer. Now in its fourth year, theprogram tracks the pollination patternsof New York City’s native bees with aview to conserving and improving beehabitat and plant pollination.

“By having all those different eyes outthere, we are able to collect a lot moredata than we ever could ourselves,”says Liz Johnson, CBC manager of theMetropolitan Biodiversity Program,who works on the Great PollinatorProject with Ed Toth, director of theDepartment of Parks & Recreation’sGreenbelt Native Plant Center (GNPC),and Kevin Matteson, an urbanecologist at Fordham University.

Moving from flower to flower, bothmale and female bees transportpollen, a process without which theplants might produce fewer seeds or no seeds at all, with serious

implications for the ecosystem.Researchers are interested in howfrequently bees visit the flowers todetermine what plants and habitatsbest support healthy bee populations.More bees usually lead to betterpollination for wild plants in city parks as well as for vegetables in neighborhood gardens.

“Ninety percent of flowering plantsrequire an animal pollinator, and beesare the primary pollinator in theNortheast,” says Johnson.“Differentbee species have unique adaptationsspecifically for carrying pollen.Butterflies, wasps, flies, and beetlesalso pollinate, but they are generallyconsidered less efficient at movingpollen around.”

Citizen scientists have played animportant role in other broad efforts,including assessments of waterquality that relied in part on publicobservations of aquatic insects. Somesurveys, like those tracking birds andamphibians, rely more on volunteerears than eyes. A recent example isthe Cricket Crawl, the first auditoryinsect survey in New York City,sponsored last fall by the Museumand the U.S. Geological Survey.

For the Great Pollinator Project,would-be New York City bee watchersare asked to complete a brieforientation, transplant an annualsunflower and six native plants to asunny location, and watch for bees forhalf an hour at least once every twoweeks, then submit their observationsonline. If a volunteer doesn’t have—or can’t coax a neighbor into lettingthem use—a yard, terrace, patio,rooftop, community garden, or othersuitable outdoor spot for the plants,they are encouraged to participate by visiting public gardens or parks and record observations there.(Information about suitable locales,as well as orientation dates,can be found online atgreatpollinatorproject.org.)

Identifying bee species can bedifficult, sometimes requiring closeinspection of body parts such as wingveins, so bee watchers are schooled inthe general characteristics of five

amnh.org | rotunda | 5

broad categories of bees: bumblebees, honey bees, green metallic bees,carpenter bees, and “others” for therest. (See “Know Your City Bees.”)

Aside from mapping bee patternsacross the city, another goal of theGreat Pollinator Project is to increasepublic awareness of bees.

“When you talk of bees, people thinkof the honey bee and maybe thebumble bee,” says Johnson.“But overthe years, Museum scientists havedocumented more than 225 species ofbees in the five boroughs.”

There are more than 19,000 species ofbees worldwide, according to JohnAscher, manager of the Museum’s BeeDatabase Project, who worked withcolleagues around the world tocompile all valid bee names for theWorld Bee Checklist (available atITIS.gov.) These include 4,000 speciesin North America, 800 of which arefound east of the Mississippi. Some 28 different bee species have beenidentified in one small communitygarden in East Harlem alone.

The Great Pollinator Project will usethe data collected to carry out a land-use analysis that will serve as an aidto land managers in maximizing beehabitats. As a preliminary step, inFebruary 2009 the CBC and GNPCorganized a workshop that wasattended by 120 people from the ParksDepartment and other organizations,to consider ways to improve existinghabitats. Among the topics discussedwere the introduction of native plantsand the importance of nestinghabitats. Similar brainstormingsessions are in the offing, but theirultimate success depends on theinvaluable information patientlygathered one volunteer bee watcherat a time.

The Great Pollinator Project has been partially fundedby the New York City Environmental Fund.

Where the Bees Are...

This male carpenter bee was photographed in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. | © John Ascher

BEE WATCHING 101 Become an NYC Bee Watcher.

Sign up on greatpollinatorproject.org,then follow these simple steps

in the field:

_ Get out the sun screen. The ideal time for bee watching is on a sunny day with no wind.

_ Print out a data collection sheetso you can record the necessary information.

_ Choose one of the recommended plants listed on the site.

_ Write down the name of the plantand the number of open flowers.

_ Watch for 30 minutes or until five bees have landed on the open flower heads, recording time and type of bee.

_ Take notes. If fewer than five bees come, or none at all, record thattoo—that’s important data.

_ Remember to submit the data once you've finished collecting it!

Bumble BeesLarge and fuzzy, Bombus species canbe distinguished by their bandingpattern. This male Bombus perplexuswas photographed last summer inBrooklyn’s Prospect Park.

Honey BeesCompared to bumble bees, honeybees are lanky and lean. They can be golden or dark brown. Onedistinguishing characteristic:hairy eyes.

Green Metallic BeesThink green: this category includes all green bees, including those withgreen heads and black abdomens orgreen heads and striped abdomens,like this female Agapostemon virescens.

Carpenter BeesThese huge bees have no stripes,like this Xylocopa virginica spotted in Queens’ Jamaica Bay WildlifeRefuge, which is also a great place for bird watchers.

KNOW YOUR CITY BEES

…And MoreOther bees buzzing around New York City include leaf-cutter bees,wool carder bees, and giant Asian resin bees like the one above,snapped at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

To learn more about the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, visit cbc.amnh.org.

© Jo

hn A

sche

r

Mapping Pollinators with the Museum

T

tree, beginning in the Gottesman Hallof Planet Earth with our most distantcousins—viruses, bacteria, andarchaea—and ending in the SpitzerHall of Human Origins with an over-view of species in the Homo genus.

Ireland: Fables and Some FactsSunday, March 14 MF0314103–4:30 pmRegistration required

Come with Museum docent WandaFinch and hear again, or for the firsttime, Irish legends and the science (if any) behind them.

Northwest Coast Indians TourSunday, May 2 MF0502103–4:30 pmRegistration required

Join Museum docent Berna Villiersfor a tour of the Museum's oldesthall, the Northwest Coast IndiansHall, which showcases researchconducted during the Museum's first research expedition.

Birding at BrigantineSaturday, May 15 MO0515108:30 am–6:30 pm$120

Grab your binoculars, put on yourhiking shoes, and join ornithologistPaul Sweet for a day of birding at theBrigantine National Wildlife Refuge in southern New Jersey. You’ll seemigrating shorebirds in breedingplumage as well as resident breedingspecies of the coastal salt marshessuch as herons, skimmers, and terns.

Whale Watch WeekendFriday, May 21–Sunday, May 23 MD052110$750 per person, double occupancy$850 single occupancy

Museum educator Jay Holmes leads anexcursion to Provincetown, Mass., todiscover the ecological riches of CapeCod Bay. Relax with a New Englandlobster bake on Friday evening,explore charming Provincetown onSaturday morning, and enjoy twoprivate whale watching cruises withDolphin Fleet. Also on the schedule:a visit to the Mystic Aquarium and a guided bird walk. Cost includestransportation by private coach, mealsat the hotel, two boat excursions,and lodging for two nights at theProvincetown Inn Seaside Resort.Please register before May 1.

amnh.org | rotunda | 76 | rotunda | amnh.org

on the hidden stories of specimensthat were reorganized and remountedin the 1990s.

FREE HALL TOURSThings That Creep, Crawl,Slither, and StingSaturday, March 27 MH0327103–4:30 pmRegistration required

Creatures that slither, slide, wiggle,and squish come in all sizes, shapes,and colors. Some are extinct, some are endangered, and some thrive.Join AMNH tour guide Larry Bassettfor a unique afternoon focusing oncreepy creatures on display in theMuseum’s halls.

Climbing the Tree of LifeSunday, April 18 MH0418103–4:30 pmRegistration required

Museum docent Sasa Tomic leads atour that follows our evolutionary

BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURSBehind the Scenes in AnthropologyThursday, March 186:30 pm MB031810A7 pm MB031810B7:30 pm MB031810C$35

Go behind the scenes with ScientificAssistant Mary Lou Murillo andMuseum Technician Michael Quigleyfor a glimpse of the AnthropologyDivision’s vast collection. This tour willfocus on artifacts that highlight thecultures and crafts along the SilkRoad. Since 1989, the AnthropologyDivision, with major support from theNational Endowment for theHumanities, has been preserving itscollections in a database that is nowaccessible online. Collections ManagerJohn Hansen will offer an inside lookat this innovative program.

HALL TOURSOnce Upon a FossilTuesday, March 23 MH0323106:30–8:30 pm$35

How do you move a 20-ton fossil? JoinPaleontology Collection Manager CarlMehling for a unique tour that focuses

Programs are available to Members only,unless a non-Member price is given.Members’ Programs

LOCAL WALKS & CRUISESForaging in Central ParkSaturday, March 13 MW031310Sunday, April 11 MW041110Sunday, May 9 MW0509109:30–11:30 am$45 each, $120 for the series

Hundreds of fascinating and deliciouswild shoots, greens, roots, herbs,and flowers thrive in our backyards,parks, and forests. As spring turns to summer, environmental educatorSteve “Wildman” Brill will lead three Central Park walks with a focuson foraging.

Queens for a DaySaturday, April 17 MO041710Sunday, April 25 MO04251010:30 am–2:30 pm$45

Pack your lunch and join geologistSidney Horenstein for a whirlwindtour that runs from the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign to the Queensboro bridgeand beyond. Stops include theNoguchi Museum and the SocratesSculpture Park, an illegal dumpsiteturned outdoor museum. Costincludes admission.

Cruise New York Harbor on Tugboat PegasusSaturday, May 8 MO0508101-4 pm$95

Built in 1907 to serve the watersiderefineries and terminals of StandardOil, tugboat Pegasus hadn’t been seenon New York’s waterways in severalyears. Now, thanks to the PegasusPreservation Project, this veteran isback in service. Join geologist SidneyHorenstein for a unique cruise thatexplores the nooks and crannies ofNew York Harbor.

EXPEDITIONSHowl with the Wolves Saturday, March 20 MO0320109 am–5 pm $95

Listen to packs of tundra, timber, andarctic wolves high up on the ridge of theKittatinny Mountains at New Jersey’sLakota Wolf Preserve. On a half-milenature walk, it will be easy to imaginethe days when the most denselypopulated state in the nation was awilderness. Cost includes transportationby private coach and lunch at TheForge restaurant in Blairstown.

Magnificent Mine and Minerals TourSaturday, May 1 MO0501108:30–5 pm$95

Journey back in time with Museumscientist Paul Nascimbene and visitthe Franklin Sterling Hill mining areain northwestern New Jersey. You willtour an underground zinc mine toexplore stunning minerals. At theFranklin Mineral Museum, peruse anextensive selection of minerals beforecollecting at the site. Cost includestransportation by private coach and admission.

For tickets, call 212-769-5200, Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm, or visit amnh.org.Please have your credit card, your Membership number, and the program name and number ready.

All Members’ programs require advance registration.

Please be aware that ticket sales are final. All Members’ programs go ahead, rain or shine; no refunds are issued unless the event is cancelled by AMNH.

See shorebirds and more at Brigantine National WildlifeRefuge. | Courtesy of Lloyd Spitalnik

Watch for timber wolves at the Lakota Wolf Preserve. |© Jim Stein

Take a day trip to discover Queens with geologist Sidney Horenstein. | © John Roleke

Find out what it takes to move a T. rex. | © �AMNH/D. Finnin and C. Chesek

Save the Date: The Museum Dance on April 15

or more than four decades,the Museum Dance hascaptured the imagination of 800stylish New Yorkers in their

20s and 30s who enjoy a spectacularevening of dinner, dancing, fun, andphilanthropy at the Museum.

The Museum Dance raises essentialfunds for the Museum’s outstandingscientific and educational programs,which enable thousands of under-served New York City school childrento visit the Museum annually.

Guests will have the opportunity to buy tickets to an exclusive andintimate dinner or to join hundreds of friends later in the evening fordessert, dancing, and a silent auction.For more information, please call Whitney Cary at 212-496-3495.

The Museum Dance is the highlight of the season. | © AMNH/D. Finnin

F

amnh.org | rotunda | 98 | rotunda | amnh.org

Behind the Scenes at UNESCO Heritage Sites

he UNESCO World HeritageList—a roster of 890 of theworld’s most treasurednatural and cultural

properties—reads like a traveler’swish list: spectacular national parks,ancient ruins, and sweepingmonuments across the globe. Butit’s one thing to visit the sites as atourist and quite another to travelwith UNESCO experts and sitemanagers, with the benefit of behind-the-scenes access and insight intoconservation efforts.

That’s why AMNH Expeditions hasbeen working with UNESCO’s WorldHeritage Centre to create uniquetravel programs, two of which will be offered this fall. Led by UNESCOspecialist Junaid Sorosh-Wali,“A Turkish Odyssey” (September 22–October 4) begins with a visit to

Ankara’s historic citadels and includestrips to the underground cities ofcentral Anatolia and snorkeling amidunderwater ruins. A visit to Istanbul’sillustrious mosques and churches,including the Hagia Sophia, caps offthe trip.

“Ethiopia’s Hidden Treasures”(October 12–22) is an extraordinaryjourney through Ethiopia’s ancientcities, holy sites, and dramaticmountain landscapes, accompaniedby Getu Assetu Wondimu, director of National and World Heritage SitesManagement. Travelers will have achance to visit the tombs of Ethiopia’sancient Axumite kingdom, see therock-hewn churches of Lalibela,and enjoy the spectacular views ofSimien Mountains National Park.Final days in Addis Ababa include adinner with a paleoanthropologist

and visits to the National andEthnographic Museums.

For more information, includingdetailed itineraries, please visit amnh.org/expeditions or call 1-800-462-8687.

For a list of World Heritage Sites,please visit whc.unesco.org.

Discover World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia with AMNHExpeditions. | © ATA

TLang Science Program Seeks Kids With Passion

en years ago, Eugene M. Lang—who gained national attentionfor his 1981 promise to 61 sixth graders in East Harlem

to personally pay their college tuitionif they stayed in school—establishedthe Lang Science Program at theAmerican Museum of Natural History.Through this initiative, he hoped to increase participation in science by minority children and those from lower-income families. Thebusinessman-turned-philanthropistunderwrote the new program with an initial $1 million grant from theEugene M. Lang Foundation and a subsequent grant of $250,000.

Through this innovative program,students commit to seven years ofcoursework, which takes place on twoSaturdays a month during the schoolyear and three full weeks in thesummer, with the option of additionalafter-school classes and career work-shops toward the end of the program.Subjects include major areas ofMuseum research, includinginvertebrate zoology, vertebratezoology, genetics, geology, paleontology,physical anthropology, and astrophysics,with some courses tracked totemporary exhibitions at theMuseum. The Lang Scholars meet andwork with scientists behind the

scenes, go on field trips, and designand carry out their own experiments.They are also encouraged toparticipate in the Museum’s nationalYoung Naturalist Awards competition.So far, Lang Scholars have won twoYoung Naturalist awards, for studiesof turtles in Central Park and earth-worms in Prospect Park. AnotherScholar, who studied parrots in PelhamBay, was recognized as a finalist.

Acceptance to the program is merit-based. Applicants are interviewed, asare their parents, and asked to submitschool transcripts and a “shoeboxdiorama” on a scientific theme. Thelatter, says Lang Science ProgramCoordinator Bobby Habig,“is one ofthe best indicators for whether astudent is going to be successful. Youcan see how much time and effortthey put into it. It’s also a comfortableway for them to talk about theirinterest in science.”

Adds Habig, who is also a full-timemiddle-school biology teacher in EastHarlem,“We want kids who reallyhave a passion for science—who can’tget enough of it.”

Lang Scholars have been accepted tohighly competitive New York City highschools, including Bronx Science andStuyvesant High Schools. Those whosuccessfully complete the programalso receive invaluable help inapplying for college, including SATpreparation classes. Lang alumni havegone on to colleges including BardCollege, Brown University, and Cornell.But perhaps the experience of theprogram is its own reward, judgingfrom comments made by currentstudents to focus group interviewersfrom Bank Street College and SRIInternational last summer.“Here we can be creative,” said one.“Peopleare here because they want to be,”said another.“This place is so muchdifferent from school,” said another.“I think ‘Oh darn it!’ when Lang is over.”

For more information about theprogram and applications, emaillang@amnh.org or visit amnh.organd search for “Lang.”The AMNH Lang Science Program and Lang ScholarAwards were conceived by and established withfounding support from the Eugene M. Lang Foundation.

T

A Lang Scholar bones up on comparative anatomy. |© AMNH/R. Mickens

Biology teacher Bobby Habig discusses primate behavior with Lang Scholars. | © AMNH/R. Mickens

Authors

Public programs are made possible, in part, by the Rita and Frits Markus Fund for Public Understanding of Science.

10 | rotunda | amnh.org

NOW MONTHLY!

Linder Theater6:30 pm$20

Silk Road and TeaWednesday, March 24

History professor Morris Rusabi andSebastian Beckwith of In Pursuit ofTea will discuss teas from the SilkRoad era and modern variations.Tasting included.

Wines to ComplementSpicy FoodWednesday, April 14

Join award-winning chef Julie Sahniand Ursula Masoud, of Paumanokwinery, for an evening of spicypairings. Tasting included.

A Persian CelebrationWednesday, May 19

Cookbook author and teacherNajmieh Batmanglij brings Silk Road-style fusion to the modern kitchenwith a recipe for baklava. Tasting, withPersian tea, included.

FAMILY PROGRAMSWILD, WILD WORLDLinder Theater11 am–noon; 1–2 pm$8 children, $10 adultsMembers' tickets are $7 children,$9 adults

PredatorsSaturday, March 27

In this special presentation with liveanimals, wildlife expert AndrewSimmons will introduce the world ofthe predator, with close looks at aGolden Eagle, python, and bear cub.

LadybugsSaturday, April 24

Join Cornell entomologist John Loseyand a number of live ladybugs,including the nine-spotted ladybug,to find out how these beetles fit intoa healthy ecosystem.

DR. NEBULA’S LABORATORYLife with LucySaturday, April 3Kaufmann Theater2 pm$8 children, $10 adultsMembers' tickets are $7 children,$9 adults

Dr. Nebula has traveled back in time,and it’s up to Scooter and the audience

to help him return to the present, allwhile exploring human origins andlearning about our distant relatives.Dr. Nebula's laboratory is supported, in part, by Ruth A. Unterberg.

TUESDAYS IN THE DOMEHayden Planetarium Space Theater6:30 pm$15 ($13.50 Members, students, seniors)Advance registration is encouraged.

VIRTUAL UNIVERSEOur Solar Neighborhood with Jackie FahertyTuesday, March 2

Planetary Real Estate with Jason KendallTuesday, April 6

The Earth Today with Carter EmmartTuesday, May 4

CELESTIAL HIGHLIGHTSInferior Planets with Joe RaoTuesday, March 30

Beasts of the Spring Sky with Ted WilliamsTuesday, April 27

Celestial Treasure Hunt with Sam StorchTuesday, May 25

These programs are supported, in part, by the Schaffner Family.

LECTUREDark Matter, Revealed Monday, April 12Hayden Planetarium Space Theater7:30 pm$15 ($13.50 Members, students, seniors)Dark matter plays a major role in thefunction of our galaxy and the universe.Join MIT physicist Peter Fisher as heexplores the history of dark matterand the search to find it. He will alsodiscuss new research at MIT that aimsto discover how dark matter is created.

These programs are available to the general public.Call 212-769-5200 for information and tickets.Public Programs

Learn more about ladybugs’ important role in anecosystem. | © Gail Starr

Enjoy tea and more at Global Kitchen tastings. | © Sebastian Beckwith