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Minnesota Natural History Lecture Series

Interested in learning more about Minnesota's natural world? Join us each month for a lecture and discussion on a variety of natural history topics. All ages are welcome to all of our lectures, however we have designated some lectures as kid-friendly when the topics and presentation styles are more suitable for kids. Lectures that are designated as teacher-friendly indicate that there will be classroom resources available for teachers at the lecture.

Lecture Series Lecture Series

Lecture Schedule:

All lectures 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the New Science Center
unless otherwise noted below.

Feb. 18

14th Annual Owl Hoot
Marco Restani, SCSU biology
Indoor Lecture: 6:30 - 8 p.m. | Outdoor Hike: 8 - 9:30 p.m.
Owls may dazzle us with their calls, but theya re also full of other amazing adaptations for survival. Attend the lecture followed by an optional outdoor hike to call for owls living at Saint John's!

Mar. 18

The Art & Psychology of Survival
Tom Kroll, Saint John's Arboretum Director
Our brains and bodies are wired to survive--whether you are lost in the mountains, lost in a foreign city, or just feeling lost in a crowd. It's not about how many matches, maps, or knives you have, but how adaptable you are and how persistent you are about wanting to live. We will be following the ideas of Laurence Gonzales from his book Deep Survival. Read a copy in advance if you want. Learn a few of the author's rules for survival.

Apr. 15

The Future of Food
Diane Veale-Jones, CSB/SJU environmental studies
What will we eat in the future? Who will produce our food? Come to this discussion to explore the social, cultural, personal, and environmental issues associated with food and eating in 2035 and beyond.

Previous Lecture Topics:

Stargazing at Saint John's
Mike Lynch, WCCO meteorologist

Climbing the Grand Staircase: A Journey Through 1.2 Billion Years of Earth's History
Larry Davis, CSB/SJU geology

Another Look at Genetically Modified Foods
Dr. Jean Lavigne, CSB/SJU environmental studies

Owl Hoot
Marco Restani, SCSU professor of biology

Our Place in the Universe
John O'Reilly, Saint John's Arboretum

Tree Rings and the Tales They Tell
Troy Knight, CSB/SJU Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies

Seeing Through the Lens: Photography in the Great Outdoors
Ken Bachofer, Nature Photographer, MN Master Naturalist Volunteer

Worm Watch: Invasive Earthworms
Ryan Hueffmeier, Great Lakes Worm Watch, University of Minnesota Duluth

The Botany of Harry Potter
Steve Saupe, CSB/SJU professor of biology

Loons at Saint John's
Carol Jansky, CSB/SJU Biology Lab Coordinator
Read more about Saint John's Loons.

 
About the Series
When:
  • 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
  • The 3rd Monday each month, Sept-Nov & Feb-Apr
Where:
Cost:
  • Free - Arboretum Members
  • Free - Students of all ages
  • Free - Teachers who currently bring students on field trips
  • $5 - Nonmembers/ Nonstudents