What’s The Science Salon?
Welcome to the tremendous, amazing, Big Asheville Science Salon!
Our mission: Cultivate curiosity and build community by sharing the coolest, grooviest, and fascinating-ist scientific discoveries. And have a beer (or wine or soda).
How it do: Each month, a bona fide expert takes us on a thrill ride of science awesomeness (i.e., talk about their research and probably show pretty pictures). Afterwards, a lively Q&A segues into general mingling and chatting about why science is so cool.
When: First Wednesday of each month.
Doors: 6:00pm; Presentation: 7:00pm; Socializing: 8:00pm
Where: The Mule (at Devil’s Foot Beverage)
131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
No cover charge – just bring your brain!
SEPTEMBER’
OCTOBER 2nd SALON:
Saving the Elusive Bog Turtle with wildlife biologist Mike Knoerr.
OK, just get it out of your system.
Raising shell, shell hath no fury, and any other shell-larious notions will have to wait (including your turtle-y awesome Aunt Myrtle, who burst her girdle jumping hurdles) because this … is … science!
The bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) dwells in bogs and other wetlands, basking in the sun and trawling the murky depths for insects, worms, and similar swampy delicacies. North America’s smallest turtle (adults are less than 12 cm long), this tiny testudine’s very existence is testament to the enduring strength of nature and the wonders of evolution. Its very existence is also imperiled (populations are in decline across its range) and conserving them is no easy task – try searching acres of wetland for a fist-sized, dark brown blob that can go all day fully submerged in mud.
At the October salon, wade into North Carolina’s mountain bogs with Mike Knoerr, the Wildlife Biologist for Pisgah National Forest (US Forest Service). Mike spent his youth sloshing through wetlands in search of reptiles, his graduate studies investigating the decline of turtle populations, and the ensuing decade on research and recovery of western North Carolina’s bog turtles and other herpetofauna. His current work – including evaluating the status of rare wildlife in Pisgah National Forest – is, therefore, no surprise. In coordination with local and national conservation partners, he also implements restoration projects to benefit the tremendous wildlife diversity of this magnificent National Forest. Join us for a shell-ebration of bog turtles, ecology, and conservation science.