Talk to Me, Baby
 Field biologist George Schaller will be at the National Zoo Wednesday for a free lecture on his experience in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Tibetan Plateau. Photo courtesy of WCS. |
DCist's guide to lectures and panel discussions in the D.C. area
Wednesday
>> At 7:30 p.m., the National Zoo will have a free lecture by field biologist and Wildlife Conservation Society head conservationist, George Scheller. At A Life in the Wild, Schaller will discuss his research in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Tibetan Plateau. Reservations required, call 202-633-4085 or go online.
>> The Goethe Institute will hold another installment in their German Journalists in DC series Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. In a lecture titled Barack Obama – The Black Kennedy, Christoph von Marschall, an award-winning journalist with the DC office of Der Tagesspiegel newspaper, will report on the life of our Democratic presidential nominee, and discuss the American election campaign process. Call 202-289-1200 ext. 161 or email rsvp [at] washington.goethe.org to rsvp.
Thursday
>> Artists and arts managers, take note. The Foundation Center is holding a free hands-on workshop from 9:30 to 10:30 Thursday morning to guide you through the process of researching available foundation grants for individuals. Also, from 11:00 a.m. to noon, Amy Stolls from the NEA will be on hand to discuss their grants for individuals and nonprofits. She'll be giving tips for making your proposal standout, and avoiding some common mistakes. Both are free, but registration is required.
>> From 6:45 to 9 p.m., Johns Hopkins' George Scheper will be at the S. Dillon Ripley Center giving a lecture with film clips titled People of the North: The Inuit Culture Through Art and Film which will "explain the intricacies of the Inuit and the hunting cultures of the polar ice fields and subarctic Northern forests." Tickets cost $40; call 202-633-3030 for more info.
>> Or, at 7 p.m., head to the Museum of Natural History for another event associated with the newly opened Sant Ocean Hall. Jacques Cousteau's grandson, Philippe Cousteau, will be discussing The Right Choices for Our Planet by showing film clips from his father's films and talking about his family's adventures. The $45 ticket price also includes a private viewing of the exhibition and a light reception. Call 202-633-3030 for more info.
Friday
>> The New America Foundation is partnering with Wired Magazine to bring us a bit of extra political talk, just in case you haven't had your fill: Dear President X: Think Big!, How the Next Commander in Chief, Whoever He Is, Can Fix the Things that Need Fixing. Join them for lunch (included!) from 12 to 1:30 p.m. to hear a panel comprised of those listed in Wired Magazine's Smart List discuss this election's burning questions, including "How to deal with extreme weather? The urban population explosion? America’s declining world power? Culture clashes between the U.S. military and Iraqis?" The event is free.
Saturday
>> Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., guest speakers from various universities will be at the S. Dillon Ripley Center for a seminar on American Foreign Policy: From Colony to Superpower, which will focus on America's "distinctive approach to foreign policy and analyzing its success and failures." Tickets cost $40; call 202-633-3030.
>> The SAAM holds Latino Voices-A Roundtable Discussion from 1 to 3 p.m. in the lower level of the McEvoy Auditorium. A panel board which includes artist Jesus Moroles, scholar Jennifer Gonzales, and Smithsonian National Latino Board member Dr. Tomas Ybarra-Frausto will be discussing Latino contributions to American history, art, and culture. Afterwards, the Tres Raices Art Collective, Trio Caliete and Raices de Borinquen will perform spoken word, dancing, and music.
>> Another panel discussion titled Public Art Futures will be held at 2 p.m. at the Katzen Arts Center as part of their current exhibit, Close Encounters: Facing the Future and this fall's BrushFire initiative. Panelists will talk about "the potentials for new social dialogue spurred by artists who are moving away from traditional art venues in order to make an impact both on local communities and on mainstream culture at large." Free, call 202-885-1300 or 202-299-0460 for more info.
>> Also on Saturday, Juan Gonzalez will be at the Newseum for Inside Media: The Hispanic Media and Vote at 2:30 p.m. in the Knight TV Studio. Gonzalez is an investigative journalist, co-host of Democracy Now!, and founder of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.