Upcoming events | College of Biological Sciences

February 25: Ecology Book Club (Online): 6:30 p.m.

Are you interested in our impact on planet Earth? The web of life? Climate change? Nature? Ecology? If so, this book club is the place for you. Join us as we continue our journey of lifelong learning. The Ecology Book Club meets online at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register online.

February's selection is Shelter And Storm: At Home in the Driftless by Tamara Dean. Please check the club's webpage for updates.

NOTE: Books are selected by the club members, and no scientific expertise or background is necessary to participate. You don't even need to have finished the book!

February 28: Owl Encounter and Nocturnal Nature Adventure: 6:30-9:00 p.m.*

Join us for a special joint program between Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve and The Raptor Center focused on owls and other nocturnal creatures. At 6:30 p.m., learn more about owls with The Raptor Center, including an owl encounter in the Lindeman Discovery Center. After the owl program, Cedar Creek staff will lead the visitors on a night hike, keeping an ear and eye out for owls and other nocturnal wildlife. There will be two hike options, one shorter, family-oriented hike ending around 8:00 p.m., and a second, longer hike for older children and adults ending around 9:00 p.m. The evening also includes an optional, family-oriented craft activity at 5:30 p.m.

The program is free, but space is limited, and registration is required. Registration will open on January 12 at 12:00 PM. For more information and to register, visit https://z.umn.edu/OwlsNightHike.

*End times are approximate.

March 25: Ecology Book Club (Online): 6:30 p.m.

Are you interested in our impact on planet Earth? The web of life? Climate change? Nature? Ecology? If so, this book club is the place for you. Join us as we continue our journey of lifelong learning. The Ecology Book Club meets online at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register online.

March's selection is Tigers Between Empires by Jonathan C. Slaght. Please check the club's webpage for updates.

NOTE: Books are selected by the club members, and no scientific expertise or background is necessary to participate. You don't even need to have finished the book!

June 10-12: Carex of Minnesota: Sedge Identification Workshop

Critical Connections Ecological Services, Inc. (Jason Husveth) is pleased to offer a three-day sedge identification workshop at Cedar Creek. The curriculum will include a basic introduction to all the Minnesota sedge genera (Cyperaceae), with a focus on the identification of Carex species using live plant material. Workshop time will include both indoor and outdoor experiences. This workshop will be useful to a wide array of students, including novice and experienced field botanists, wetland ecologists, and wetland professionals with an interest in identifying Carex taxa to species. This course is accredited as 18 direct hours of continuing education units (CEUs) by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resource’s (BWSR) Wetland Professional Certification Program (WPCP). $650/student. Full details, daily schedule, and registration info on the CCES website and this PDF.

Aug 5-7: Advanced Sedge Identification Workshop

Critical Connections Ecological Services, Inc. (Dr. Anton Rezicek and Jason Husveth) is pleased to offer a three-day advanced sedge identification workshop at Cedar Creek. At the request of past workshop attendees, the advanced workshop will focus on the most difficult group within the genus Carex (Section Ovales; 20 Minnesota species) as well as taxa within the non-Carex genera of Minnesota (e.g. Cyperus, Scleria, Eleocharis, Dulichium, Eriophorum, Scirpus, Schoenoplectus, Schoenoplectiella). The lab curriculum will be taught using live and pressed specimens and our collection of mature perigynia and sedge achenes. Participants will have access to live specimens of dozens of species, dissecting microscopes, hand lenses, metric rulers, and electronic and printed keys. This workshop is geared towards those who have attended the Minnesota Sedge Identification Workshop (or similar) in past years and/or those with a firm knowledge of the genus Carex are encouraged to take the advanced workshop. This course is accredited as 18 direct hours of continuing education units (CEUs) by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resource’s (BWSR) Wetland Professional Certification Program (WPCP). $650/student. Full details, daily schedule, and registration info on the CCES website and this PDF.