2018 Moab Science Fest Schedule

WEDNESDAY, October 3rd

Science Film – 6:00 PM  Grand County Library 

Into the Inferno – Werner Herzog and volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer travel the globe and visit volcanoes in Indonesia, Ethiopia and even North Korea in an attempt to understand man’s relationship with one of nature’s most violent wonders.

THURSDAY, October 4th

Citizen Science Presentation, Dr. Jody Patterson, Montgomery Archaeology Consultants

6:00 PM Moab Information Center

Beginning in 2016, the BLM-Price Field Office in conjunction with Arizona State University, Montgomery Archaeological Consultants, USU-Easter, and the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance, initialed a public archaeological project in Nine Mile Canyon with the primary purpose of introducing students and local adult volunteers to archaeology and the importance of conserving cultural resources. Secondary purposes beyond community engagement include interpretation, stabilization, sustainability of Cottonwood village in the face of increasing tourism and development. The first season of fieldwork occurred in the autumn of 2017 over the course of six three-day weekends. In all, 72 volunteers participated in the program and successfully excavated approximately half of a large pit structure at the site. This presentation describes the public archaeology project, highlights some of its successes, and discusses some of the issues involved in these types of large participatory efforts.

FRIDAY, October 5th

UMTRA Site Tour (Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action) – 10:00 AM Meet at Lions Park

Join us for a 45-minute driving tour of the US-DOE remediation of the former Atlas uranium mill site along the Colorado River just north of Moab.  A project leader will accompany each van to explain how and why the tailings are being relocated, impacts on the environment and site reclamation efforts. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Lions Park Transit Hub. Free Tickets Required – available starting in September at the Moab Information Center or the Grand County Public Library.

Moab Mingle 5:00 PM ~ Museum of Moab Lawn

This social event will give community members the chance to chit-chat with local and regional science figures all while enjoying light refreshments. In case of rain the event will be moved to the library.

Keynote Presentation Nicole Walker Author and NAU English Professor – 7:00 PM at Star Hall

Nicole Walker, nonfiction editor at Diagram and Associate Professor at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, will be discussing her new book, Sustainability: A Love Story. Her other books include A Survival Guide for Life in Ruins (to be released soon), Where the Tiny Things Are, Egg, Micrograms, Quench Your Thirst With Salt, and This Noisy Egg. She is a recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a notable essayist in Best American 2008, 2014, 2015, and 2016 and nonfiction winner of the Best of the net in 2013 and 2014.

SATURDAY, October 6th

Geology Walk   9:00 AM  Powerhouse Lane

NEW EVENT: William Leggett of the National Park Service will lead a hike along Moab’s Old Mail Trail to discuss how geologic forces forged Moab’s unique landscape. Limited to 20 participants, free ticket available at the MIC or GC Public Library.

STEMonstrations 11-3ish, Sun Court/City Gym

The STEMonstration will include multiple booths and hands-on kid-friendly science activities.  Each booth will be hosted by a different organization or scientist so there will be something for big and little scientists alike!

Permaculture Tour    2-4 Start at Sun Court, walk to USU (3pm)

Take a permaculture walking tour with Dr. Roslynn McCann, Associate Professor of the Environment & Society with USU College of Natural Sciences. Walk from the Sun Court through the CommuniTea Garden to the USU permaculture gardens. Permaculture is an integrative design process mimicking nature in creating resilient and productive landscapes and communities. On this tour, discover how, in a small urban space, you can maximize ecological, food and forage benefits of your landscape while minimizing labor and water use. Specifically, we will explore bee habitat, earthworks, curb cuts, rain tanks, plan diversity and more in USU’s permaculture gardens. If you prefer not to walk, meet at the pergola and upcycled picnic table at 3pm.

Presentation – James Rolin – Cowboy Cricket Farms – 5:00 PM Star Hall

There is a need for edible insects in our country now and in the future. Our crickets provide a sustainable alternative to many other animal products such as beef and chicken at a fraction of the environmental cost and in a way that can be grown to benefit the expanding population of our plant. Cowboy Cricket Farms LLC. is an emerging industry leader in the entomophagy (edible insects) market in America. Our product is 100% Archeta domesticus (common house cricket) farmed by us locally in Belgrade, MT, right outside of Bozeman. Crickets naturally have high protein, iron, and amino acids content in a very small package. Read more here: https://cowboycrickets.com/pages/about-us

Star Party – 7:30 PM – Brand M Trails

Come out to gaze at the night sky through high-powered telescopes and interact with night sky experts from Dead Horse State Park and Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

SUNDAY, October 7th

9 am Plant/Biocrust Hike    Hidden Valley Trailhead

Learn to identify plants and biological soil crusts with scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey.

11 am Dinosaur Walk  Mill Canyon

Come listen to a Moab Paleontologist discuss the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite.

2 pm Archaeology Talk – Courthouse Wash Parking lot on right just past bridge over Colorado River

Take a tour of the cultural landscape of lower Courthouse Wash and the American Indian Crossing of the Colorado River (aka “the Old Spanish Trail”) with NPS archaeologist Laura Martin

4pm – Star Hall – Second Chance Wildlife Rehab Presentation

NEW EVENT: Wildlife Rehabilitation: What it IS and what it ISN’T. Debbie Souza-Pappas, Found and Director. http://wildliferehabprice.wixsite.com/2ndchance