Join the Chicago Council on Science and Technology on Tuesday, October 29th, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM for Twilight Nature Fest at Rosehill Cemetery, an evening of nature exploration under the autumn twilight. This special event will feature guided nighttime walks led by experts from the Illinois Audubon Society, West Ridge Nature Park Advisory Council, and the Chicago Mushroom Club, offering a unique opportunity to explore the wildlife and ecosystems of this historic cemetery after dark. Come learn about the diverse plants and wildlife that call this space home and discover how ecosystems adapt and flourish amidst city life.

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Join C2ST, The Geographic Society of Chicago, Chicago Park District, The Wetlands Initiative, and many other community science organizations for a day of fun at Big Marsh Park, one of Chicago’s largest outdoor spaces! Participate in arts and science-based activities with Calumet region scientists and attend guided walks to record nature observations! Big Marsh Park features walking, running, and biking trails that attract outdoor recreation enthusiasts of all skill levels. It is also home to a wide variety of wildlife including amphibians, reptiles, insects, mammals, and birds.

Hormones help regulate various body processes such as growth, metabolism, mood, and reproduction. We can think of our body’s endocrine system as one that acts like a communication hub where hormones are used as messengers! Certain chemicals, which can be natural or human-made, can play tricks by either mimicking hormones, blocking them, or interfering with their production or breakdown; We call these sneaky trickster chemicals endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs can be found in things we use every day like certain plastics, pesticides, and some products like cosmetics or cleaning agents. In short, we are exposed to EDCs through the air, water, or food we consume. What are the potential effects of subjection to these disruptors, even in small amounts? What health concerns should we be looking out for as a result of exposure? Join C2ST and Dr. Jodi Flaws to learn more about the impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on reproductive health and more!

Join us as The Geographic Society of Chicago (GSC) , Friends of Big Marsh, and the Chicago Park District host a day of fun at the Park District’s 297-acre property on the southeast side of Chicago is commonly known as the Calumet Area Reserve.

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How real are the dinosaurs in Jurassic World? Find out and ask your own questions at our Speakeasy on June 21st!

Ever since the 1993 classic Jurassic Park and its subsequent sequels were unleashed into the world, the series has ushered in a new generation of public fascination into prehistoric Earth and inspired a new generation of paleontologists from all over the world. But has the Jurassic Park series been able to keep up with the latest paleontological discoveries, or is the series facing extinction in light of new dinosaur science? Is it possible to tease the paleo-science from paleo-fiction? What is in the realm of possibility or merely speculation concerning these enigmatic, extinct creatures? Join paleontologist Dr. Eric Gorscak in Science Spoilers: Jurassic World as he discusses the evolving science witnessed in both the field of paleontology and in the blockbuster Jurassic Park movie series from the past 30 years.

What’s the word, bird? As we reboot our Science in the Parks series, we are excited to partner with the Chicago Audubon Society, Chicago Ornithological Society, Wild Indigo, and–of course–the Chicago Park District to bring birding to West Pullman Park! Whether you’re a first-time birder looking to get outside, or a seasoned veteran of the birding circuit, this program should be a blast! Our partners are providing expert guides to take you through West Pullman Park’s impressive natural oak savanna, helping teach you about animals you may find in your own backyard. Read more…