Explore cutting edge science topics, their latest developments, and their relevance to society through speaker presentations followed by question-and-answer period with the audience.
Fall 2023 Science Inquiry Series
The Science Inquiry Series presents a new lineup of in-person presentations at the Museum of the Rockies’ Hager Auditorium this fall, sponsored by the Gallatin Valley Friends of the Sciences, co-sponsored by the non-profit community service organization Hopa Mountain, and hosted by the Museum of the Rockies.
Among our speakers, MSU’s Dr. Devon Orme will share the geologic history of southwest Montana, Wild Ideas’ Kalon Baughan and Bret Davis will recount their monitoring of Montana’s rare wolverines and lynxes, and the Museum of the Rockies’ Dr. John Scannella will discuss the latest dinosaur discoveries in Montana.
The talks are presented on select Wednesdays at 6 pm for the fall. They are free to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Face masks are recommended but not required. To learn more and to check the full lineup, see Upcoming Presentations.
Science Inquiry Series Investigates Monitoring of Wolverines and Lynxes in Montana
How can photography, electron microscopes and artificial intelligence play a role in saving Montana’s rarest carnivores? Wildlife researchers Kalon Baughan and Bret Davis will address this question in the second presentation of the Fall 2023 Science Inquiry Series.
The talk will be presented in the Museum of the Rockies’ Hager Auditorium on Wednesday, October 18, at 6 pm (note the change in time). It is sponsored by the Gallatin Valley Friends of the Sciences, co-sponsored by the non-profit community service organization Hopa Mountain, and hosted by the Museum of the Rockies.
The series explores cutting edge science topics, their latest developments, and their relevance to society through speaker presentations followed by questions from the audience. The talks are free to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Face masks are recommended but not required.
In their presentation, titled “Ghosts of the High Country: The Elusive Wolverine and Lynx in Montana,” Baughan and Davis will share their experience researching best practices and utilizing technology to monitor rare and elusive species like wolverines and lynxes non-invasively.
Baughan holds a B.F.A. in Fine Art from Albion College, and is a professional artist and a member of the Society of Animal Artists in addition to his naturalist studies. Davis holds an M.S. in Physics from MSU and is a scientist in MSU’s Image and Chemical Analysis Lab in addition to his wildlife research. The team uses remotely triggered trail cameras to capture detailed images of wildlife, notably wolverines and lynxes. Through partnerships with state and federal agencies and non-profit organizations, their data is used to inform species-specific conservation in Montana.
The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period.
Keep up on the world of science with this feature offering links to selected online articles in a variety of disciplines.
September’s Featured Article:
From Nature:
Human Ancestors Nearly Went Extinct 900,000 Years Ago
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