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The Magazine of the CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES |
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Director's Message Greening by Example Global temperatures are rising. The rate of species extinctions is climbing. And natural resources are being consumed more rapidly than ever before. But despite all this, there are reasons to hope, many of which can be found within the Academy’s own walls. Over a hundred Academy docents have signed up to help teach visitors about California’s spectacular biodiversity in the museum’s new HOTSPOT exhibit, including 13 enthusiastic new volunteers. Over 1,700 new species have been discovered and described by current Academy curators over the course of their careers, creating an invaluable library of information for other scientists and conservationists. And more than 17,000 threatened or endangered animals have been born through Steinhart Aquarium breeding programs over the past several decades, helping to ensure healthy populations of African penguins, live-bearing goodeid fishes, and several other species. As we begin to build our new home in Golden Gate Park, we are committed to continuing these efforts to protect the natural world—and we believe there is no more important place to do so than in the new building itself. A stunning example of “green” architecture, the new Academy will not only hold inspiring exhibits, but will serve as one itself, providing opportunities for visitors to learn about energy conservation and sustainable design. I am proud to announce that the Academy was recently recognized for these plans by the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction, which awarded the Academy the 2005 Silver Holcim Award for North American projects. The sole U.S. winner of a top-level award, the Academy’s new building project was selected not only for its innovative design, but also for its ability to raise public awareness about the benefits of environmentally-conscious architecture. The Academy’s award-winning project is now well underway in Golden Gate Park. Contractors have begun pouring the foundation for the new building, and some of the largest aquarium tanks—including the 225,000-gallon Coral Reef tank—will begin to take shape in January. We will soon begin documenting the progress of the project by posting photographs on our Web site. If you would like to be notified when the photos are updated, sign up for our electronic newsletter, Academy Bytes, by sending an email to info@calacademy.org. In the mean time, we hope you’ll continue to visit us at 875 Howard Street—our new HOTSPOT exhibit is the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter day. Patrick Kociolek is the Executive Director of the California Academy of Sciences. |