| The Magazine of the CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES |
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Director's message About Change Fall is in the air, and as the leaves begin to turn and drop, providing insulation materials for a variety of new nests and dens, we are reminded that rebuilding is a regular and necessary part of life in the natural world. The Academy took a monumental step toward joining this natural cycle on September 14 by breaking ground on its new building in Golden Gate Park. Those of you who have driven past the park recently have probably noticed that the site is now buzzing with activity. Contractors are currently excavating for the aquarium-support level of the building and laying the structural footing for the foundation. As our new building begins to take shape, we hope you will join us in celebrating this period of growth and renewal. Even while we prepare for our future in Golden Gate Park, we are still hard at work here on Howard Street. Two of our scientists, Nina Jablonski and Brian Fisher, have just announced exciting discoveries in major scientific journals––Nina recently found the first fossils from a chimpanzee, and Brian helped to uncover an example of convergent evolution among dart frogs and ants. Meanwhile, a number of other Academy scientists and exhibit developers have been busy assembling a new exhibit about California's biodiversity, HOTSPOT: California on the Edge, which will open on November 19. Visitors to the new exhibit will journey through six different California habitats, where they will meet live animals, find scientific specimens, and learn about endangered species. Those of you who have missed visiting Monarch, the last California grizzly, since the Academy moved downtown will be happy to hear that he will come out of hibernation for the exhibit. We hope you'll be able to join us for the members' opening of HOTSPOT on the morning of November 19. As you can see, the merging of the Academy's magazine, California Wild, and the quarterly members' newsletter, Academy, has now taken place. Near the back of this combined publication, you will find an insert that contains a calendar of events for October and November as well as the other announcements and updates that appeared regularly in the newsletter. We hope you enjoy this new, conservation-conscious format. If you miss hearing from us more frequently, you can sign up to receive our monthly electronic newsletter, Academy Bytes, by sending an email to info@calacademy.org. And, of course, you can stop in and visit us at 875 Howard Street any day of the year. We hope to see you soon. Patrick Kociolek is Executive Director of the California Academy of Sciences. |