25th Anniversary Celebration and Millbrook Book Festival Opening Night
May 16, 4:00 – 8:30 p.m
Join us for a family-friendly evening of science demonstrations, lab tours, and folk music!
Tours, Poster Session, and Science Demonstrations
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Have you ever wondered what happens in the Cary Institute’s Plant
Science Building? Now is your chance to find out! In addition to viewing research
posters and participating in hands-on demonstrations, visitors can tour select labs
to see science in action.
PSB Lobby Activities
What Lives in the Water: This display will encourage visitors to explore
aquatic ecology, including microscopic organisms that many of us overlook. Cary
Institute educators will help guests identify invertebrates and learn about insect
life cycles.
Invasive Species in the Hudson River Valley: Are you curious about the
types of invasive species that are impacting the Hudson Valley Region? Learn
more about Cary Institute research on zebra mussels, water chestnut, and
earthworms.
Weather Station and Fern Glen Tour
The Cary Institute’s weather station is constantly gathering data about climatic
conditions, such as temperature and rainfall. This information is essential to
tracking environmental change and supporting onsite research projects. On the way
to the weather station, participants will stop at the Fern Glen, a two-acre display
of local plant and animal habitats. Situated on teh Wappinger Creek, the Fern
Glen has trails, boardwarks, a pond, and an obervation deck. Meet in
the Main Building lobby at 4:15 to walk to the weather station. For those that are
unable to walk a van will be available to drive up (limited 13 people if driving).
Lab Tours
The Strayer Lab: Researchers in the Strayer Lab focus on aquatic ecology.
Observe local fish in our aquaria and learn about aquatic sampling techniques,
including how to use a dissecting microscope. Did you ever wonder how to age
a clam? During a hands-on experiment, participants will learn how to cut,
stain, and count clam rings.
The Analytical Lab: Chemical analysis is a crucial part of many ecological
research projects. Lab staff will give tours of the Rachel L. Carson Analytical
Facility, including demonstrations of high-tech instruments used to process
ecological samples. Learn how, why, and what kinds of samples we analyze.
There will also be a hands-on pH demonstration for children.
The Weathers Lab: In certain ecosystems, fog is an important source of
water, sulfur, and nitrogen. The Weathers Lab is interested in how fog
distribution impacts ecosystems. Learn about several current projects and
techniques used to collect fog.
The Ostfeld Lab: Lyme disease occurrence is connected to ecosystem
variables, such as small mammal populations, tick presence, and acorn
abundance. Investigate ticks up close and personal with a dissecting scope and
learn how to identify different tree seeds.
The Groffman Lab: Soil is full of living organisms that consume and release
important greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide. Learn about how soil microbial activity influences the Earth's atmosphere
while observing gas chromatograph readings.
Reception
6:00 pm Auditorium Lobby
Enjoy Bindlestick Bill’s original folk songs with an educational twist. Complimentary refreshments!
Nature and Science Panel
7:00 - 8:30 pm Auditorium
The Uncertain Journey Toward 6 Billion: Communicating
Ecology on a Crowding Planet
Featured guest Andy Revkin and a panel of Cary Institute staff will address the
importance of engaging individuals in ecological thinking. Mr. Revkin will draw
from his popular New York Times blog, Dot Earth, which can be viewed online
at http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/