The Inquisitive Naturalist

Wednesday, September 3, 2008
"The 350 Climate Crisis Challenge/response" A panel presentation and discussion"
with Tim Mock and Nature Discovery Center Director, Jenni Malone

What do atmospheric gases, carbon footprints, and farmers' markets have in common? They all relate to climate change and ways we can be part of the solution. U.S. climatologist, James Hansen, calculated a safe upper limit for atmospheric CO2 concentration -- 300 to 350ppm. We are now at 386 and accelerating.Tim Mock will talk about the science behind this and its implications. Scholar and author, Bill McKibben, sounded the alarm in the Los Angeles Times, "Civilization's Last Chance," and established a website, <350.org>, to help organize a response to the challenge. Jenni Malone will present a summary of McKibben's ideas.

After brief presentations, the audience is invited to join in a discussion of the ideas presented and how they apply to us in the Bellaire/Houston area.

Tim graduated from Rice university in 1964 with a physics degree and retired at age 36 from a career mostly in computer software. Now at age 64, he tends to worry about what kind of world he is leaving behind. this worry has led to an interesting hobby of public speaking on a broad range of topics about people and our relationship to our planet.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008
"Houston's Air Pollution - Types, Effects on Health, and Areas of Concern"
with Matthew Tejada of GHASP

What' the air like in and around Bellaire, or your neighborhood? What does it really mean when "particulates" are high, or the ozone level is elevated? Are there things we can do to help improve the air quality in our neighborhoods? Come and find out.

Matthew received a BA in English from UT Austin, then spent two years teaching high school English as a foreign language at an advanced language gymnasium in Svoge, Bulgaria with the peace Corps. Later he went to the UK where he received his Master's in Russian and East European Area Studies from St. Anthony's College, University of Oxford, and his PhD in the department of Modern History.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008
“12 Tips to Good Nature Photography”
with Kathy Adams Clark

A good nature photograph isn't hard to take if you keep a few pointers in mind. professional nature photographer Kathy Adams Clark will pass along twelve things you can do to immediately improve your photography. The program will be geared toward photographs made with film or digital technology. All camer types will be discussed and reviewed.

Kathy has been a professional nature photographer since 1995 and owns KAC productions. Kathy's work has been published in many magazines including: Nature's Best, Duck's Unlimited, Birder's World, Texas Highways and Family Fun. Her photos have also appeared in numerous books, Audubon calendars, and the New York Times, and appear weekly in the "Wonders of Nature" column in the Houston Chronicle. Kathy is the Past President of the North American Nature Photography Association.