AMNH Announces April Public Programs

The American Museum of Natural History has announced the following events for April.

Masters of the Planet with Ian Tattersall
Monday, April 2 at 6:30 pm
Kaufmann Theater
$15; free for Members
Curator Emeritus Ian Tattersall will discuss his book Masters of the Planet: The Search for Our Human Origins, a history of paleoanthropology and an account of how Homo sapiens beat out other human species to become masters of the planet.

Early-Morning Spring Bird Walks in Central Park
Tuesdays, April 3 to May 22, from 7 to 9 am
Wednesdays, April 4 to May 23, from 7 to 9 am
Thursdays, April 5 to May 24, from 7 to 9 am
Thursdays, April 5 to May 24, from 9:30 to 11:30 am
Fridays, April 6 to May 25, from 7 to 9 am
$85
Limited to 25 people per series.
Observe the vibrant spring migration of birds in Central Park with naturalists Stephen C. Quinn and Joseph DiCostanzo. Learn how to use field marks, habitat, behavior, and song as aids in identification. Bird field cards included. Walks start across from the Museum on the northeast corner of Central Park West and 77th Street.

Lunchtime Spring Bird Walks in Central Park
Tuesdays, April 3 to 24, from Noon to 1:30 pm
Tuesdays, May 1 to 22, from Noon to 1:30 pm
$50
Limited to 25 people per series.
Join ornithologist Paul Sweet (April walks) and bird artist Dale Dyer (May walks) to see spring bird migrations during lunch using field marks, habitat, behavior, and songs as aids in identification. Bird field cards included. Walks start across from the Museum on the northeast corner of Central Park West and 77th Street.

SciCafe: Chris Filardi: Island Birds and Biodiversity
Wednesday, April 4 at 7 pm
Free for 21+ with ID
Enjoy cocktails, cutting-edge science, and conversation at this popular after-hours series, which takes place on the first Wednesday of every month.

From Darwin’s finches to dodos, island birds have inspired significant scientific theories. Thanks to the genomic revolution and increased access to islands, there’s a new age of island exploration, and the results are changing enduring ideas about island biology and its implications for life on Earth. Join Chris Filardi of the Museum’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation as he highlights the Museum’s ongoing island research, new paradigms in island biology, and their implications for science and society.
Dr. Chris Filardi is the director of Pacific Programs for the Museum’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. His research includes studying the foraging behavior of Palm cockatoos in Papua New Guinea and working with the Wildlife Conservation Society to set up one of the first community-based wildlife reserves in the country.

Proudly sponsored by Judy and Josh Weston.

Wild, Wild World: Baby Animals with Jarod Miller
Saturday, April 7 at 11 am, 1 pm, and 2:30 pm
Linder Theater
$12
Spring is the season for discovery, and the beginning of new life for animals around the world. Meet some of nature’s wildest and cutest youngsters and learn how they grow and adapt to their habitats with zoologist Jarod Miller. Please note: The 11 am program is recommended for children under 5 accompanied by parent or guardian.

Meet the Scientist
Saturday, April 7
The Discovery Room
Free with Museum admission
Passes for 40-minute sessions available
For visitors aged 7 and older can chat with scientists and learn how they became interested in their fields.

The Discovery Room was made possible by a grant from the Edward John Noble Foundation.
Additional support has been provided by the Rose M. Badgeley Charitable Trust, Capital One Bank, the Hugoton Foundation, and the Ducommun and Gross Family Foundation

Asteroids: Friends or Foes? with Richard Binzel
Monday, April 16 at 7:30 pm
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater
$15; $13.50 Members, students, seniors
An important legacy of the space age is the realization that impacts by asteroids and comets pose a hazard to civilization on Earth. In this talk, professor Richard Binzel will examine whether there is cause for serious concern, the possibility of exploring asteroids for resources, and the potential role of asteroids in future interplanetary space travel.

The Parent-Child Bond: Behind the Science of Attachment
Tuesdays, April 17 to May 8, from 7 to 9 pm
$240; $216 for Members
This four-session adult course shares the latest research on the neuroscience, psychology, and evolution of parent-child attachment. With the help of expert guest speakers, online resources, documentary footage, and in-class projects, students will learn how to be critical consumers of scientific research and news reporting—all in a small, discussion-based setting.