After School Program

In this Earth and Planetary Science course, students will learn about the latest research on geology and planetary science conducted at the Museum by meeting with scientists, hall visits and hands-on activities. Our goal will be to understand the ongoing processes that transform our unique world by looking at how Earth was formed, why and how events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate change occur, and much more.

Meeting Times: Mondays & Wednesdays, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Meeting Dates: 9/25, 10/2, 10/7, 10/16, 10/21, 10/23, 10/28, 10/30, 11/4, 11/6

Cost: Free

Registration Open

A hand-drawn map of a suggested route for the Jesup North Pacific Expedition.
Image credit: AMNH Division of Anthropology

Does what we say reveal something beyond our words? Our ability to communicate emotions, ideas and needs is one of the characteristics that defines being human. However, language is not simply the way humans interact, it can also tell scientists how humans have changed over time. By exploring the way language transforms, impacts or is impacted by culture, scientists can learn about the complex role that language has played in our development as humans. In this course, you will examine how scientists use sound to track the evolution of language, languages in danger of disappearing, and the effect of rapid technological advancement on the future of communication.

Meeting Times: Wednesdays, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Meeting Dates: 9/25, 10/2, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30

Registration Open

What makes a star shine? What holds the stars in a galaxy together? What exactly is a black hole? Could spaceships travel faster than the speed of light? This class will introduce and discuss the physical laws and principles that make the Universe what it is, from gravity to electromagnetism to quantum mechanics. We will meet some bizarre and unfamiliar objects along the ride, such as pulsars, cosmic rays, and dark matter.

Meeting Times: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Meeting Dates: 9/26, 10/3, 10/8, 10/10, 10/15, 10/17, 10/22, 10/24, 10/29, 10/31

Cost: Free

Registration Open

What causes a species to go extinct? How can scientists use their skills to spot, and stop, threats to our natural world? This course will introduce the principles and techniques of conservation biology, the causes of species extinctions and how the environment changes over time by human activity. Aspects of population biology relevant to conservation will be covered, as well as conservation genetics, and genetic techniques used by scientists to study endangered populations.

Meeting Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Meeting Dates: 9/26, 10/3, 10/8, 10/10, 10/15, 10/17, 10/22, 10/24, 10/29, 10/31

Registration Open