Science

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

New Series The Geology of Western National Parks

Join geologist Kirt Kempter as he explores the geology of Western National Parks over the course of 2023, with an in-depth look at one location every month. He begins with Big Bend in west Texas, where the volcanic underpinnings and landforms of this stunning national park reveal Big Bend’s explosive past.

Each program’s content is enhanced by geologic maps, photos, and Google Earth imagery. JAN 9 Big Bend, Texas FEB 6 Carlsbad Caverns and White Sands, New Mexico MAR 6 Grand Canyon, Arizona INSIDE SCIENCE 3 sessions: Mon., Jan. 9, Feb. 6, and March 6, 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-GEO; Members $60; Nonmembers $75 Individual sessions: Mon., Jan. 9 (CODE 1NV-017); Mon., Feb. 6 (CODE 1NV-018); Mon., March 6 (CODE 1NV-019); 7 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

A Garden Odyssey

In Search of the World’s Most Creative Gardens

Chisos Mountains, Big Bend, Texas

Grand Canyon, Arizona

When Baltimore landscape designer Scott C. Scarfone received a 2002 research fellowship from Philadelphia’s famous Chanticleer Garden, he knew exactly how to spend the year-long fellowship: traveling the world searching for the most exquisite and creatively designed gardens—and then studying their every aspect. Join Scarfone as he shares illustrated stories about some of the most prolific gardens ever created, including England’s Great Dixter gardens; Italy’s Renaissance-era gardens; Japan’s ancient gardens of Kyoto and Nara; and Morocco’s remarkable sculpture gardens. Wed., Jan. 18, 7 p.m.; CODE Great Dixter gardens Jardin Majorelle in Morocco 1NV-020; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

We are proud to work with C-SPAN. This digital library offers a selection of our past programs on a wide variety of intriguing topics. Learn more at SmithsonianAssociates.org/replay

How To Nourish Your Mental Health

Food has power to nourish your mind, supporting emotional wellness through both nutrients and pleasure. In her new book, Eat & Flourish: How Food Supports Emotional Well-Being, journalist Mary Beth Albright draws on cutting-edge research to explain the connection between food and mood, revealing how eating triggers biological responses that affect humans’ emotional states both immediately and long-term.

In conversation with chef Carla Hall, Albright interprets complex studies from the new field of nutritional psychology and offers straightforward suggestions on how to develop a healthful eating pattern for life.

Eat & Flourish (Countryman Press) is available for purchase. Wed., Jan. 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1L0-500; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

A Journey into the Brain

The brain has fascinated and puzzled scientists and philosophers for thousands of years. Although we know a great deal about the brain, there is still so much more to learn. For example, we still do not have effective treatments and cures for many neurological and psychiatric disorders, and our understanding of how the brain generates consciousness is unclear.

Neuroscientist Eric Chudler leads a fascinating interactive journey into the brain. He offers insights into our current understanding of its basic function and structure, and suggests the directions future brain research may take. INSIDE SCIENCE Thurs., Jan. 26, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-230; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

David Rubenstein visits Bei Bei at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo In-person and Online Program A Panda Story

Celebrating Giant Pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo With David M. Rubenstein

April 16, 2022, marked the 50th anniversary of the arrival of giant pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute—the start of a decades-long giant panda program. Philanthropist and former Smithsonian Board of Regents member David M. Rubenstein has played an instrumental role in supporting that program since 2011.

In conversation with Brandie Smith, the zoo’s director, Rubenstein discusses panda care and what might be next for the National Zoo’s pandas. In Person and Online: Mon., Jan. 30, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1L0-496; Members $20; Nonmembers $25 For in-person ticket holders: This program takes place in the Ripley Center

Support what we do at Smithsonian Associates

Please help us continue to carry out our educational mission by making a charitable contribution today. Your help is essential because, unlike the museums, Smithsonian Associates is not federally funded and relies entirely on donations and membership support to bridge the gap between program expenses and ticket revenue. SmithsonianAssociates.org/levels

Botanical Gardens: A World Tour

Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as horticultural experts lead a series of virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens in settings as far-flung as Singapore, the United Kingdom, the eastern United States, and Japan. In vibrant visuals they explore how each garden has taken a unique approach to design and interpretation as they celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom. FEB 5 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Eden Project FEB 12 Singapore Botanic Gardens and Norfolk Botanical Garden FEB 19 Temple Gardens of Kyoto, Japan 3 sessions: Sun., Feb. 5, 12, and 19, 4 p.m.; CODE 1NV-BOT; Members $60; Nonmembers $75 Individual Programs: Sun., Feb. 5 (CODE 1NV-A13); Sun., Feb. 12 (CODE 1NV-B13); Sun., Feb. 19 (CODE 1NV-C13); 4 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Singapore Botanic Gardens Palm House in Kew Gardens, London

A Temple Garden in Kyoto

Sunset on Española Island, one of the oldest Galápagos Islands. Photo, Kevin Loughlin

Galápagos Islands: Darwin’s Smoking Gun

Once the Galápagos Islands were a way station for whalers and pirates. Then this archipelago 600 miles west of the coast of Ecuador found a new identity when a young British man, Charles Darwin, visited in 1835. Ever since, its ecologically unique assemblage of animals and plants has provided examples of the ongoing nature of evolution by natural selection.

Biologist John Kricher and photographer Kevin Loughlin discuss the fauna and flora of the Galápagos Islands, as well as the remarkable human history on the islands.

Their book Galápagos: A Natural History (Princeton University Press) is available for purchase. INSIDE SCIENCE Tues., Jan. 31, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-231; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Back from the Brink

Lessons from Wildlife Species Defying Extinction

The news about wildlife is dire—more than 900 species have been wiped off the planet since industrialization. But there are also glimmers of hope and lessons to be learned from animals that have defied the global trends.

Environmental scholar Christopher J. Preston draws on stories from researchers, Indigenous people, and activists as he examines how populations of some species— from bears in Italy to Atlantic whales—are coming back.

His book Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries That Change How We Think About Animals (MIT Press) is available for purchase. INSIDE SCIENCE Mon., Feb. 27, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-007; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Assateague: A Natural History Primer

Garden educator and naturalist Keith Tomlinson leads a virtual tour of Assateague Island National Seashore and neighboring Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The barrier islands have their own ecology, with ephemeral landscapes bound by the coastal plain and the restless Atlantic Ocean. Marine and continental biomes converge to create natural spaces that attract visitors seeking recreational opportunities including remote beach hiking, birding, biking, and camping. Appealing as well are glimpses of the managed free-ranging herds of horses.

Tomlinson also explores unique maritime forests, dune communities, and intertidal wetlands, as well as the island’s fascinating human history. INSIDE SCIENCE Thurs., March 30; 7 p.m.; CODE 1NV-025; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Wild horses at Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland

Artist's concept of the most distant supermassive black hole ever discovered

Black Holes 101

Black holes are bizarre cosmic objects whose gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape them. And although you might guess that Einstein came up with the concept of black holes, the idea can be traced back to the late 1700s. But Einstein did develop the notion that three-dimensional space and time are part of a single framework to describe the known universe and how black holes shape it.

Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, discusses how cosmologists still grapple with how best to describe and study them. INSIDE SCIENCE Wed., March 29, 6:45 p.m; CODE 1L0-505; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Read more about programs in this guide on our website. Search by code or date. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more at SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Give a Gift of

Smithsonian Associates Membership

For so many of us scattered across the country, it’s challenging to find ways to connect with friends and family. But no matter where you live, here’s how to share a wonderful experience with people you care about. Give a Smithsonian Associates membership, and who knows…you may end up attending an online Zoom program or two with your best friend next door— or your far-off cousin!

For more information visit smithsonianassociates.org/gift-membership

Certificate Program in World Art History

Art is all around us. It excites us, enriches our lives, and enlivens our imaginations. But to truly appreciate any work of art, we need to understand the context and culture in which it was produced. That’s why Smithsonian Associates offers an exciting certificate program in World Art History.

The wide-ranging offerings are designed to provide a global perspective on art and architecture and draw on the Smithsonian’s world-class collections and the rich resources of other Washington institutions.

You love art. Now become the expert you’ve always wanted to be.

The core courses and electives in our program are selected from among Smithsonian Associates’ ongoing courses, seminars, study tours, and Studio Arts classes. Look for “World Art History Certificate” throughout the program guide to see current listings.

Complete the program requirements at your own pace. Credits are counted from the day of program registration and are not given retroactively.

Register now and receive invitations for special tours and informal gatherings with course leaders and other program participants.

To learn more about the Smithsonian Associates certificate program in World Art History, visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/ArtCertificate

Left column, from the top: Fresco of the Libyan Sibyl, ca. 1511, Sistine Chapel, by Michelangelo; Taj Mahal, completed 1643, Agra, India; The Young Ladies of Avignon, 1907, by Pablo Picasso; Equestrian ceramic figure, ca. 13th–15th centuries, Mali*; Second column: Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, 2010, by Frank Gehry, Las Vegas; The Calf-Bearer, ca. 570 B.C.; Athens, Greece; Frida Kahlo by Magda Pach, 1933*; Before the Ballet, ca. 1892, Edgar Degas *from Smithsonian museum collections