2022 Event Schedule

STEMonstrations – Activities for Kids
3 – 5 PM ~ Gym of Margaret L. Hopkin Middle School
439 South 100 East, Moab, UT 84532
Try some fun Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math activities for kids of all ages, presented by local scientists and educators! Topics range from weird insects to cool chemistry demos.

Arches Timed Entry Talk
4 – 5 PM ~ Star Hall
159 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532
Come learn about the data the National Park Service collected during the Timed Entry Reservation Pilot Program and how the park is measuring success. Amy Tendick (Visitor Use Manager) will discuss findings that will be used to shape the future of visitor use management at Arches National Park

Inhabitants: Indigenous Perspectives On Restoring Our World ~ Movie Night
7 – 8:30 PM ~ Star Hall
159 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532
Movie night for everyone which will showcase Inhabitants: Indigenous Perspectives On Restoring Our World. The Grand County Public Library graciously presents this film which will be viewed at Star Hall.

Utah State University Campus Tour
12 – 1 PM ~ USU Campus
1850 South Aggie Boulevard, Moab, UT 84532
Are you interested in education and sustainability?  Come learn about our net zero energy building, discover the sustainable features of our new campus and explore and enjoy our spaces where our community learns and grows.

Google Maps and Apple Maps are incorrect in directions to USU Campus due to how new the address is. Directions are below:
Headed 191 South from Moab City Center – Aggie Boulevard is accessed on the west side of Highway 191 directly across from the Millcreek Drive and 191 intersection – about 1.3 miles from the traffic light at the 400 East & Hwy 191 intersection.  Turn right onto Aggie Boulevard and drive to the end of the pavement. Turn right into the parking lot.
Headed 191 North from La Sal & Monticello – Aggie Boulevard is accessed on the west side of Highway 191 directly across from the Millcreek Drive and 191 intersection – about 1.8 miles from the traffic light at the Spanish Trail R & Hwy 191 intersection. Turn left onto Aggie Boulevard and drive to the end of the pavement. Turn right into the parking lot.

Covered parking spaces are available (under solar panels).   Use the entrance adjacent to the parking lot and meet at the front desk for the tour.

*Please be aware that Highway 191 is a major highway in the Moab Valley. Left turns off of and especially onto the highway can be extremely dangerous. Please use caution and discernment with vehicular traffic making this turn.*

Snake Ecology Presentation
5:30 -7 PM ~ Star Hall
159 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532
Scott Gibson of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DNR) will give a presentation of an overview of biology and ecology of snakes.  It will cover topics such as reproduction, diet and foraging, as well as behavior and defense while providing real world examples.  There will be special emphasis on venomous snakes as well as snakes of Utah.

Star Party: Night Sky Astronomy Tour
7:45 – 9:45 PM ~ Register to Attend
Location will be provided before the event to registered attendees
Come explore the Moab’s fantastic night sky with Park Rangers!  A constellation tour and telescopes will be provided by National Park Service staff.  Attendance is limited.

Dinosaur Tracksite Talk & Walk
9 – 10 AM ~ Mill Canyon Trailhead
Latitude/Longitude: 38.712524, -109.73938 ~ Directions per BLM Website: Go north from Moab on U.S. Highway 191 for 15 miles. Turn west on a road signed “Mill Canyon”. Proceed on this road approximately 2 miles to the Interpretive Site
Come tour the Dinosaur Tracksite with a Talk & Walk from paleontologist ReBecca Hunt-Foster, who coordinated efforts of international teams during opening and study of this site in 2014.  Over 200 tracks and traces of ten different early-Cretaceous animals are preserved here in the 112 mya(million year ago) Cedar Mountain Formation.  You’ll also hear from BLM representatives about the recent project to upgrade the elevated walkway that helps protect this awesome site.  The short walk is accessible by most from the parking area.

Science Moab
11:30 AM ~ KZMU Radio
90.1 FM, 106.7 FM, and online at kzmu.org
Science Moab talks with Dr. Tom Lachmar, a hydrogeologist from Utah State University, about Moab Valley’s groundwater. Dr. Lachmar is the author of a forthcoming review of the studies examining groundwater in the Moab Valley. We speak with him about what these studies tell us about Moab’s groundwater levels now and into the future.

Moab Mingle with Scientists & Museum Tour
4 – 6 PM ~ Moab Museum Lawn
118 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532
Join regional educators, geologists, archaeologists, paleontologists, biologists, astronomers, other scientists, and science aficionados on the Museum of Moab Lawn (Center Street) for the Science Mingle. Light refreshments will be provided.

Water in the West: Weather, Earth, & People – Keynote Panel
6 – 7:30 PM ~ Star Hall
159 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532
The Festival’s first ever Keynote Speaker Panel: Jon Meyer, PhD | Celene Hawkins, JD | Crystal Tulley-Cordova, PhD. There will be presentations from three speakers respectively on how water effects the weather, earth, and people.  This will include a panel discussion and Q&A about pressing water issues in the Four Corners region.

Please click the link below to join the Zoom webinar for the keynote event
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83090788277

Utah Raptor Talk & Walk
8:30 AM ~ Register to Attend
Location will be provided before the event to registered attendees
Enjoy a morning of birding and discussion about the natural history of common bird of prey species (raptors) in Moab.  We will discuss the unique characteristics of raptors and their role in our ecosystem. The hike will be led by Amanda Foust, a Biological Science Technician with the National Park Service, who is responsible for monitoring raptor nesting success in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Geology Hike
9 – 11 AM ~ Register to Attend
Location will be provided before the event to registered attendees
National Park Service interpretive ranger Will Leggett will lead a geology hike. Leggett and a group of up to 20 participants (FREE ticket required) will hike while discussing how geologic forces forged Moab’s unique landscape.

Parking is limited – please carpool

Lichens of Slickrock Hike
9 – 11 AM ~ Register to Attend
Location will be provided before the event to registered attendees
Whether on rock or vegetation, lichen can be found all around us and play surprising and complex roles. Steve Leavitt, an evolutionary biologist at Brigham Young University, is the curator of the lichen collection at BYU’s Life Science Museum. Take a walk with Steve to learn about what lichen are composed of and why we should care about these colorful and unique life forms.

Vegetation Alters Flooding Talk
1 – 2PM ~ Star Hall
159 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532
Kara Dohrenwend with Rim to Rim Restoration will discuss the land use and water history of Mill Creek. The challenges of building a town at the mouth of a canyon in a flash flood prone system. The flood brought opportunities for regeneration, and community members can get involved in active regeneration work as those locations are identified and permits acquired (and funding is raised).

Town Flooding Walk
2 – 4 PM ~ Register to Attend
Location will be provided before the event to registered attendees
Kara Dohrenwend with Rim to Rim Restoration will take us on a visual tour of the flood path on August 20 2022. More discussion from the talk will discuss the land use and water history of Mill Creek. The challenges of building a town at the mouth of a canyon in a flash flood prone system. The flood brought opportunities for regeneration, and community members can get involved in active regeneration work as those locations are identified and permits acquired (and funding is raised).

Finding Hope In Times of Change
5 – 6PM ~ Star Hall
159 East Center Street, Moab, UT 84532
Much of the science we see in the news is about the negative consequences of climate change. This makes sense, as changes in climate are jeopardizing our infrastructure, safety, economies, and ecosystems. An important complement to this work is the science of solutions. This talk by local scientist Dr. Sasha Reed will focus on Colorado Plateau-specific examples of ways science is suggesting hope in our ability to sustain our dryland ecosystems in the face of climate change.

Lichens of the La Sals Hike
9 – 11 AM ~ Register to Attend
Location will be provided before the event to registered attendees
Dr. Steve Leavitt of Brigham Young University (BYU) will guide a hike in the La Sal Mountains exploring forest lichen ecology, and the impact of fire & water on lichens

Please bring warm layers, hats, gloves, warm jackets etc. due to unpredictable cold temperatures in the mountains.

Geology Driving Tour
2 – 4 PM ~ Register to Attend
Location will be provided before the event to registered attendees
Join scientists Chris Benson and Terry Dial on a geology tour! Learn about rock layers, ancient environments and arch formation. The drive highlights the amazing geology seen at six different and incredibly scenic stops.

Science Trivia
5 – 7 PM ~ KZMU Radio
90.1 FM, 106.7 FM, and online at kzmu.org
Team up with your friends and tune in to KZMU for science trivia, hosted by our friends at Moab Pub Trivia! Want to give your team that extra edge? Attending other Moab Festival of Science events will fill your brain full of neat science facts! Listen in live at kzmu.org, 90.1 FM, or 106.7 FM. Links to submit your answers will be posted on Facebook and on kzmu.org before the show.