Museum events: American Museum of Natural History

EXHIBITIONS

Exploratorium/AMNH

Through August 15

This exhibition invites visitors to explore fundamental concepts and phenomena in the natural sciences. Hands-on displays clustered around themes such as motion, light, and rotation encourage audiences of all ages and all levels to investigate and play.

Exploratorium/AMNH is funded in part by a grant from the Small Business Association. For information regarding accessibility, call 212-769-5300.

Seasons of Life and Land: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Through September 6

Over 40 large-format color photographs by conservationist Subhankar Banerjee focus on the interdependence of land, water, wildlife, and humanity in Alaska's Arctic Refuge.

Petra: Lost City of Stone

Through July 6

This exhibition tells the story of a thriving metropolis at the crossroads of the ancient world's major trade routes.

In New York, Petra: Lost City of Stone is made possible by Banc of America Securities and Con Edison. The American Museum of Natural History also gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Lionel I. Pincus and HRH Princess Firyal and of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This exhibition is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, and the Cincinnati Art Museum, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Air transportation generously provided by Royal Jordanian.

The Bedouin of Petra

Through July 6

Photojournalist Vivian Ronay's evocative color photographs document the Bedoul group of Bedouin tribes living near the archaeological site of Petra in Jordan.

This exhibition is made possible by the generosity of the Arthur Ross Foundation.

The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter

Through May 31 The butterflies are back! This popular exhibition includes more than 500 live, free-flying tropical butterflies in an enclosed tropical habitat where visitors can mingle with them.

The Butterfly Conservatory is made possible through the generous support of Bernard and Anne Spitzer.

SYMPOSIUM

Expanding the Ark: The Emerging Science and Practice of Invertebrate Conservation

Thursday and Friday, 3/25 and 26 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

A dialogue on the fate of invertebrate biodiversity and concrete approaches to conservation action.

LECTURES

The Gods Must Be Crazy Revisited

Thursday, 3/11, 7:00 p.m.

With Daniel Riesenfeld, filmmaker, Rupert Isaacson, writer and journalist, and Megan Biesle, Kalahari People's Fund.

Voyages of Discovery: Deep Sea Robots

Thursday, 3/18, 7:00 p.m. With Craig McLean, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Ocean Exploration.

FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

ID Day: Trinkets or Treasures?

Saturday, 3/13, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Museum scientists will attempt to identify the trinkets and treasures you bring from home at this annual event.

It's a Wild, Wild World: Predators

Saturday, 3/20, 12:00 noon--1:00 p.m.

Get a close-up look at a black bear cub, a golden eagle, and an African lion cub.

IN AND OUT OF JORDAN GLOBAL WEEKENDS

The Petra Great Temple

Sunday, 3/14, 2:00 p.m.

Slide-illustrated lecture with Martha Sharp Joukowsky, Brown University.

Petra and Contemporary Artists

Sunday, 3/14, 3:30 p.m.

Learn how Petra remains an inspiration to artists working today.

Middle Eastern Fashion and Textiles

Sunday, 3/21, 2:00 p.m.

Hanan Munayyer discusses and illustrates antique and contemporary clothing, headdresses, and jewelry.

Middle Eastern Embroidery

Sunday, 3/21, 3:30 p.m.

Narmin Kurzum will demonstrate traditional and contemporary techniques of Middle Eastern embroidery.

Growing Up Arab American

Sunday, 3/21, 4:00 p.m.

Filmmaker Ghazi Albuliwi presents clips from his feature film, West Bank Brooklyn. Discussion follows.

Bedouin Hospitality, Old and New

Sunday, 3/28, 1:00 p.m.

Andrew Shryock and Sally Howell, both of the University of Michigan, discuss hospitality among Jordanian Bedouin.

Near Eastern Music Ensemble

Sunday, 3/28, 2:30 p.m.

A musical performance and demonstration of the oud (Arabic lute), nye (reed flute), qanun (zither), and riqq (frame drum).

Global Weekends are made possible, in part, by The Coca-Cola Company. The American Museum of Natural History wishes to thank the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc., the Tolan Family, and the family of Frederick H. Leonhardt for their support of these programs.

FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

Petra: Architecture

Sunday, 3/14, 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. (Ages 4 to 6, each child with one adult)

Hands-on activities teach children about the properties of the rock-cut structures of Petra.

Petra: Water Engineering

Sunday, 3/21, 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. (Ages 4 to 6, each child with one adult)

Children will design their own waterways to learn how to solve an ancient problem: access to flowing water.

Arabic Calligraphy

Sunday, 3/28, 11:30 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. (All ages; children 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult)

Experiment with creative calligraphic techniques.