Press

New York State Museum historians and scientists will share their knowledge and research in a series of lunchtime talks this fall and winter. “Brain Food for the Curious” will be held select Tuesdays, October through April, from 12:10 – 12:30 p.m. in the Huxley Theater. Each program includes a 20-minute talk with a State Museum historian or scientist followed by a question and answer period. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch.

Following is a schedule of “Brain Food for the Curious” talks for the 2016-17 season:

Thomas Cole: Adirondack Painter?
Tuesday, October 11
Learn about Thomas Cole’s neglected Adirondack work by viewing images of his sketches and paintings from his adventures, beginning with his 1826 trip to Lake George that resulted in his Ticonderoga and The Last of the Mohicans paintings.

Something Old, Something New
Tuesday, October 25

Walk down the aisle of history and explore the Museum’s wedding dress collection. Learn how these dresses reveal changes in both the fashion and ritual of wedding garments.

New York’s Presidents and Presidential Contenders
Tuesday, November 8

Six presidents have hailed from New York; another nine have run for the nation’s highest elected office but lost. Explore the history of these New Yorkers and their quests for the White House.

Erie Canal Warehouse
Tuesday, November 22

Learn about the history of an Erie Canal warehouse in Mohawk, NY. Many objects from the warehouse will be featured in the Museum’s upcoming Erie Canal exhibition.

The Origin and Evolution of Birds
Tuesday, December 6

New technologies in genetics have offered scientists new insights into when and how birds evolved. Coupled with a new view of the fossil record, which suggests that birds evolved from dinosaurs, this is a very different picture of bird evolution.

Bowfin Taxonomy and Systematics: Re-Evaluating a Century of Stasis
Tuesday, December 20

Hear about current research efforts to unravel the complex history of the Bowfin, a primitive fish found throughout New York and the Eastern United States.

How Long Does It Take To Build a Landscape? Examples of How New York’s Finger Lakes Developed
Tuesday, January 10

Long recognized as product of glaciation, learn how new research provides context on the origin and antiquity of the Finger Lakes.

Turned to Stone: The Processes of Fossilization
Tuesday, January 24

How do fossils form? Discover the various ways organisms and their activities can become fossilized.

Ecosystems Out Of The Ice Age
Tuesday, February 7

At the height of the Ice Age nearly 25,000 years ago, New York was almost entirely covered in ice. Hear about how ecosystems evolved from the barren land after the Ice Age to what can be seen outside today.

An Update on Fieldwork and Collection-Based Research at Schuyler Flatts, the Nicoll-Sill House, and the Van Schaick Mansion
Tuesday, February 21

Museum archaeologists have been conducting fieldwork at several historic sites in the Albany area. Learn about their findings and plans for 2017.

Deciphering the Still Largely Unknown Geology of the Catskills
Tuesday, March 7

Between mountains to the east and a broad shallow sea to the west, the nearly 400 million year old rocks of today’s Catskills were formed. Still little known, the Devonian-age rocks of the Catskills continue to reveal their secrets.

Introduction and History of the New York State Museum’s Malacology Collection
Tuesday, March 21

Learn about the Museum’s mollusk shell collection and some of the historic acquisitions that have contributed to its breadth.

What Can Apatite Tell Us?
Tuesday, April 4

Apatite is the most common phosphate mineral on earth. Discover how apatite is used in a variety of forms, including in jewelry, hybrid cars, computers, and smartphones.

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.