Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw to host KLT meeting, panel discussion on Father's Day Flood Nov. 8; Mind Trekkers Nov. 10

(Poster courtesy Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw)

HOUGHTON -- The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw will host two events open to the public on Thursday, Nov. 8. The Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT) will hold its Annual Meeting from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Following the meeting, a panel discussion, "An Overview of Green Infrastructure Opportunities and Preparedness for Future Flooding" will be the first in the Carnegie's 2018-19 Keweenaw Natural History Seminar Series: "The Father's Day Flood: Causes, Effects, and Responses." Both events, to be held in the Carnegie's Community Room, are free and open to the public.

The panel will include speakers David Watkins and Alex Mayer, both Michigan Tech professors, who will discuss the role of green infrastructure and land management in flooding mitigation. The speakers will address the causes of flooding, the impact of land use on flooding, and potential practices and technologies we could adopt in our area to lessen the impact of future floods.

The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw is on the corner of Huron and Montezuma streets in Houghton.

Mind Trekkers at Carnegie Museum Saturday, Nov. 10
 

(Poster courtesy Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw)

The Carnegie Museum's Science Saturday will present the Mind Trekkers -- science and fun for the whole family -- from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Michigan Tech University’s Mind Trekkers bring the WOW! of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to the hands and minds of K-12 students (and their parents) under the inspirational guidance of the Mind Trekkers team consisting of undergraduate and graduate students. Visit their Web site to learn about their activities and demonstrations.

Carnegie Museum to host Erik Lilleskov on "Forest Fungi and the Future" Nov. 15

The Carnegie Museum in Houghton is hosting a 2016-2017 series of Natural History Seminars on "Living in the Woods: The Natural Future of the Keweenaw." Next Tuesday, Nov. 15, Erik Lilleskov, USDA Forest Service, will present "Forest Fungi and the Future." (Photo courtesy Carnegie Museum)

HOUGHTON -- Erik Lilleskov of the USDA Forest Service will present "Forest Fungi and the Future" Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Carnegie Museum in Houghton. Refreshments and Introductions will be from 6:30 p.m - 7 p.m., followed by the Lecture and Discussion from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

"One visible part of fungi can be seen as mushrooms popping up out of soil or rotting wood, but most people know little about what the hidden parts of fungi do for a living, yet they are fascinating, diverse, and paradoxically are central to both forest health and disease," Lilleskov notes. "In my talk I will try to open a window into both the natural history and natural future of fungi in a rapidly changing world."

This event is sponsored by State Wide Real Estate of Houghton.

The December and January seminars will be offered by two professors in Michigan Tech's School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science:

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, Prof. Andrew Storer will present "What are the Threats to Trees in our Natural Future?"

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, Prof. David Flaspohler will present "Birds of the Keweenaw."

FUTURE SPEAKERS (Details to be announced):

Feb. 21, 2017 -- Melissa Hronkin, Algomah Acres Honey House
March 21, 2017 -- Panel Discussion with members of the USDA Forest Service Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.
April 18, 2017 -- Evan McDonald, Keweenaw Land Trust

The Carnegie Museum is on the corner of Huron nd Montezuma Streets in Historic Downtown Houghton.

Visit the Carnegie Museum Facebook Page.

Inset Photo: Erik Lilleskov. (Photo courtesy Carnegie Museum of Houghton)

Carnegie Museum to present "Small Streams and Great Lakes" Natural History Seminar March 15

Carnegie Museum will present "Small Streams and Great Lakes," by Amy Marcarelli, Michigan Tech associate professor in biological sciences, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15. (Poster courtesy Carnegie Museum)

HOUGHTON -- "Small Streams and Great Lakes" will be the subject of the Carnegie Museum's Natural History Seminar at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15.

Amy Marcarelli, Michigan Tech associate professor in biological sciences, will discuss what we do and don't know about the small streams ringing the Great Lakes, focusing on those surrounding Lake Superior, including historical and current stresses and restoration efforts.

Refreshments and introductions will be at 6:30 p.m. and the talk and discussion from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the ground floor Community Room. All seminars are free, open to the public, and wheelchair accessible.

March's Natural History seminar is sponsored by Statewide Real Estate of Houghton.

Carnegie Museum to host "Keweenaw Wetlands" Natural History Seminar Feb. 16

Wetlands such as this one are the subject of the Tuesday, Feb. 16, Natural History Seminar by Michigan Tech Prof. Rod Chimner at the Carnegie Museum. (Photo courtesy Carnegie Museum)

HOUGHTON -- The Carnegie Museum will host "Keweenaw Wetlands" by Rod Chimner, Michigan Tech associate professor at the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the ground floor community room. Refreshments and introductions are at 6:30 p.m.

Prof. Chimner has worked for over 20 years studying wetlands. He currently teaches a senior level wetlands class and graduate level courses in advanced wetlands and restoration ecology at Michigan Tech.

"Wetlands are unique ecosystems that provide many benefits, including protecting shorelines from wave erosion, filtering nutrients and sediments before they enter aquatic systems, storing enormous amounts of carbon, and providing habitats for a variety of species," Chimner says. "Despite the importance of wetlands, many wetlands have been destroyed or are in various states of degradation. I will present a brief overview of what a wetland is, adaptations for surviving in wetlands, types of wetlands in the region, and an overview of local wetland restoration."

This  February Natural History seminar is sponsored by Superior National Trust and Financial Services. All seminars are free, open to the public, and wheelchair accessible.

Talking Rocks, Talking Sky: Authors of books bridging oral and earth/planetary history to visit Houghton, Apr. 14-15

The Carnegie Museum Seminar Series in Keweenaw Natural History will present "Talking Rocks: Common Ground -- geology in the Lake Superior Region and Native Americans" on Tuesday, Apr. 14. (Image courtesy Carnegie Museum)

HOUGHTON -- Two distinguished authors from Duluth, Ron Morton and Carl Gawboy, will visit Houghton and Michigan Tech as part of the Carnegie Seminar Series in Keweenaw Natural History on Tuesday and Wednesday, Apr. 14-15.

Morton is a geologist and emeritus professor from University of Minnesota, Duluth. Gawboy is an Ojibwe elder and well-known artist. They have taught unique classes together that bridge legend and geological science.

A reception will be held at the Carnegie Museum Community Room at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 14. Discussion, introductions and light refreshments will be featured, and this will be followed by a joint presentation titled: "Talking Rocks: Common Ground -- geology in the Lake Superior Region and Native Americans."

As the geologist carefully presents a modern scientific perspective, the storyteller eloquently recounts a traditional Native American understanding, passed on through tales, myths, and symbols that illustrate how intimately his people have known and honored the earth and its history for over a hundred centuries. 

Duluth authors Carl Gawboy and Ron Morton will also give a presentation and book signing at the JR Van Pelt Library, Michigan Tech campus, on Wednesday, Apr. 15. (Book cover photo courtesy Carnegie Museum)

A book signing (Two books: Talking Rocks and Talking Sky) will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Apr. 15, in the East Reading room, First floor, JR Van Pelt Library, on the Michigan Tech campus. It will be followed, from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., by a joint presentation titled: "Talking Sky: Ojibwe constellations and sky stories -- how they used them to live on and with the land."

From the important seasonal constellations (Moose, Panther, Wintermaker, and Nanaboujou) through wandering wolves, flying skeletons, and brave fisher to meteors and comets, the authors bring to life the sky world of a northern people.

This special visit is sponsored by the Carnegie Museum of Houghton with additional support from the Departments of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, and Social Sciences, the JR Van Pelt Library, the Indigenous Issues Discussion Group and the Isle Royale and Keweenaw National Parks Association. If you wish to meet with these visitors contact Elise Nelson (906 482-7140 or elisen@cityofhoughton.com).

The Carnegie Museum is located at 105 Huron Street on the corner of Montezuma Avenue in Houghton.

Click here for more information about these special events.

Rolf Peterson to lead wildlife discussion TONIGHT, Dec. 16, at Carnegie Museum

Rolf Peterson, Michigan Tech expert on Wildlife Ecology, will lead a discussion from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. TONIGHT, Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Carnegie Museum in Houghton. (Poster courtesy Carnegie Museum)

HOUGHTON -- The Carnegie Museum will host Professor Rolf Peterson, Michigan Tech expert on Wildlife Ecology, for a discussion titled "Animal Elements of Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale" from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. TONIGHT, Tuesday, Dec. 16. The museum will open at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments.

The event is part of a monthly series of sessions on the Geoheritage and Natural History of the Keweenaw. The discussions are aimed at the general public, but discuss current research and science.

"In the 19th and 20th centuries many wild animal species in the Keweenaw, along with the forest, were wiped out or reduced by unregulated harvest and widespread fire," Peterson explains. "Protective game regulations and regrowth of the forest allowed some species to recover, a process that continues today. Isle Royale was affected by the same influences, to various degrees."

Peterson will review the status of prominent and obscure species of wild animals, including many that are presently experiencing rapid change.

The Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw is located at Huron and Montezuma in downtown Houghton. Seminars are held in the recently restored Community Room on the ground level of this historic building. Lectures are free, open to the public, and barrier free (wheelchair accessible).

For further information visit the Carnegie Museum on Facebook or contact the Museum at 906-482-7140.

Prof. Alex Mayer to present talk on Huron Creek at Carnegie Museum Oct. 21

HOUGHTON -- The Carnegie Museum is convening a series of Tuesday evening community discussions about the Keweenaw’s natural history. Professor Alex Mayer (Environmental and Geological Engineering at Michigan Tech) is a leader in research concerning Great Lakes water issues. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, he will meet with interested people to discuss a local river, Huron Creek, which is part of local natural history.

The title of Professor Mayer’s talk is: "The (un)natural history of Huron Creek, a working stream on the Keweenaw Peninsula."  Refreshments and introductions are at 6:30 p.m., and lecture/discussion from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. in the Carnegie Museum Community Room.

"I will describe the creek’s history, the impacts on the creek from human activities, and efforts that are underway to restore the creek's ecosystem and aesthetic value," Mayer says. "I want to hear about your ideas for restoring the creek and any of your memories of interacting with the creek."

Humans have spent money and materials to alter the natural pattern of the river, trying to create an environment for work, business and a better life. Mayer has studied these efforts and is very interested in listening to people to hear about natural history along the river. Bring your memories and those told to you by others. How can we live best with rivers and other natural features of our town? Can we develop a management plan which considers the best that rivers can contribute to the quality of life?

All people are welcome. These seminars are meant to attract a broad public and to discuss how university-based research can benefit everyone. Citizen input is a main focus.

Click here for more details and a map of Huron Creek.

The Carnegie Museum is on the corner of Huron and Montezuma streets in downtown Houghton.

(Inset photo of Prof. Alex Mayer courtesy Michigan Technological University)