All Over Albany

Science Cafe talks at City Beer Hall

This could be some nerdy fun: The State Museum is starting a series of "Science Cafe" events at the City Beer Hall.

That first Science Cafe event is February 9 and will feature State Museum curator of birds Jeremy Kirchman. Craig Gravina, who's a State Museum exhibit designer (and, of course, also a beer historian), will moderate. We emailed Kirchman for a preview:

I suspect Craig and I will veer off on a few tangents regarding such things as the origin of birds, how I became interested in museum collections and bird evolution, response of birds to climate change, maybe the domestication of chickens if we really end up in the weeds.

The idea with the Science Café is that it will resemble a discussion you might have at a party, more so than a lecture in an auditorium. The series will give the museum scientists a chance to teach the public about on-going research in biology, archaeology, and paleontology, and maybe reach an audience we won't get in our Huxley Theater.

Kirchman says he'll be showing a few pictures, but it won't be a parade of Powerpoint slides.

The Science Cafe event on Tuesday, February 9 is from 6-7 pm. Admission is free, and does not include food or drink.

Earlier on AOA: This part of the State Museum is for the birds