 Animal behaviorist Temple Grandin. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian. |
DCist’s guide to lectures and discussions in the D.C. area
Monday:
>> If you don’t already have plans for today, head to the Natural History Museum for Will the Rainforest Survive? New Threats and Realities in the Tropical Extinction Crisis: Symposium, which runs from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Secretary of the Smithsonian Wayne Clough will introduce, and Director of the museum Cristian Samper will moderate as top scientists debate tropical extinction. Free; also available via webcast.
>> Artists and scientists alike will want to be at the Corcoran tonight at 7 p.m. for a lecture and book signing with Rhodes Scholar and Seed Magazine editor Jonah Lehrer. His book Proust Was a Neuroscientist “presents his research and the idea behind the use of art as a means to investigate the mind.” $20.
>> The S. Dillon Ripley Center is holding a birthday bash for Edgar Allen Poe tonight from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. The event will include a talk with author Daniel Stashower, a dramatic reading by actor Scott Sedar, and even some birthday cake. $45.
>> Or, be at Politics and Prose at 7 p.m. for a book signing with Kim Phillips-Fein and her book Invisible Hands: The Making of the Conservative Movement from the New Deal to Reagan.
Tuesday:
>> At noon, former Navy Seal Dick Couch will be at the U.S. Navy Memorial to discuss his book, Sheriff of Ramadi: Navy SEALs and the Winning of al-Anbar. Free.
>> From 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, the German Historical Institute presents a discussion with professor Harvard Sitkoff titled Civil Rights and America’s Role in World War II, which will explore how the African American civil rights cause was advanced by our country’s role in World War II. RSVP to 202-387-3355 or events [at] ghi-dc.org.
Wednesday:
>> The Freer’s Meyer Auditorium is hosting professor, animal behaviorist and scientist Temple Grandin tonight for a discussion on Creating the Best Life for Animals at 6:45 p.m. Find answers to questions such as “What’s the healthiest environment for a dog who’s alone most of the day? Is a lion pacing in the zoo miserable or just exercising? How can we know what causes emotional distress in an animal?” $25.
