Lecture Series

The U.S. Department of the Interior Museum is pleased to announce the 2008 Lecture Series. The museum is sponsoring twelve stimulating lectures on the first Wednesday of every month unless otherwise specified at 10:00 am in the Museum's Classroom. The topics include:

• January
  Mary Byrne from Seeds of Success – an effort to collect native seeds to assist localities with re-seeding after fires and other disasters.
• February 6
  Marissa Vigneault from Bryn Mawr College will discuss of the murals of the Main Interior Building, in particular the monumental mural: Construction of a Dam by William Gropper.
• March 5
  Dr. Brett Wolfe from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will discuss DOI’s efforts to save coral reefs and what individuals can do, even locally, to help protect them.
• April 2
  Sculptor, Jay Hall Carpenter will talk about his work with Frederick Hart to create the Three Soldier Group, part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
• May 7
  Annual DOI Cultural Resources and Events Rachel Carson lecture on the importance of getting children outdoors.  Professor Marcia Eames-Sheavly from Cornell University will speak about ideas and concepts to help educators, parents, childcare providers, and park and garden professionals get kids outside and keep them engaged in the natural world.
• June 4
  Dr. Ann G. Wylie from the University of Maryland will discuss the who, what, where, and why of the mineral asbestos.
• July 2
  Steven Minkkinen, Project Leader for the Maryland Fishery Resources Office of the Fish and Wildlife Service, will talk about his work to protect and restore the Potomac River especially his work with the invading Snakehead fish.

Lectures for the last six months of the year will be announced shortly, but topics will include wildlife art, water issues and the Historic American Building Survey.