Fireside Lectures at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center begin Jan. 8

Fireside Lectures at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center begin Jan. 8

The USDA Forest Service’s 2016 Fireside Lecture series at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center kicks off on Friday, Jan. 8 with a presentation featuring Southeast Alaska’s flying squirrels. Lectures occur every Friday night at 6:30 p.m. with a repeat at 8 p.m. during January, February and March.

“Juneau is fortunate to have experts on many topics,” said Fireside Program Coordinator Laurie Craig in a release. “Wildlife, history, and culture are the general categories. Each year we find new programs to present to the public. This year’s lineup is terrific.”

Lecture topics include Kittlitz’s murrelets, Capitol history, polar bear excursions, Arctic sea ice changes, humpback whale and dolphin behavior, photography, rare yellow cedar trees, remote routes in Southeast Alaska for runners, Taku Glacier, Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, and the 1813 wreck of a Russian America Company frigate near Sitka.

“Winter is a special time for the Forest Service to host lectures for Juneauites,” added Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Director John Neary. “We welcome residents into the visitor center for a more personal experience than is possible during the busy summer season.”

Fireside Lectures are free, as is the visitor center during the months of October through March.

“We offer warm beverages and cookies to create a nice social atmosphere for people to gather and chat before and after the lectures,” said Craig. “Our bookstore partner, Alaska Geographic, provides refreshments. Some bookstore items will be for sale this year, too.”

Here’s a look at the schedule.

Jan. 8: Watch the Fur Fly! Northern flying squirrels are elusive forest dwellers found rarely around Juneau but abundantly in other parts of Southeast Alaska. Researcher Winston Smith will explain how his studies help us understand these mammals and their habitat needs.

Jan. 15: Secretive Kittlitz’s Murrelets. US Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Michelle Kissling researches Kittlitz’s Murrelets, rare stocky seabirds endemic to Alaska and Russia. Discover their association with ice.

Jan. 22; The History of Alaska’s Capitol. Using historical photos and drawings, architect Wayne Jensen will describe the 1929 construction of Juneau’s federal and territorial building and its current restoration.

Jan. 29: Exploring Polar Bear Territory. Guide and photographer Laurent Dick will escort the audience on a photographic journey to some of Alaska’s best polar bear viewing sites.

Feb. 5: Arctic Ocean Phytoplankton Reveal Changes. Dr. Zach Brown will explain his research on how Arctic Ocean ice loss and rapid warming are changing Arctic ecosystems and threatening Alaska Native communities.

Feb. 12: Making a Splash: Humpbacks and Dolphins. Juneau’s waters are home to increasing numbers of humpback whales in addition to dolphins and porpoises. UAS biologist Heidi Pearson studies marine mammal behavior to understand why they are successful here and in other regions of the Pacific.

Feb. 19: Thinking Photos. Juneau’s award-winning photographer Mark Kelley will discuss how he conceptualizes a photo.

Feb. 26: Yellow Cedars: Treasured Trees. Prized for centuries for their special qualities, Alaska’s yellow cedar trees are rare in Juneau. John Krapek will speak about local cedar grove establishment and their spread around town.

March 4: Mountain Running in Southeast Alaska. Juneau runners Dan Lesh and Geoff Roes will take the audience on some of their favorite routes through unique, challenging and inspiring running terrain in Southeast Alaska.

March 11: Taku: The Juneau Icefield’s Only Advancing Glacier. University of Alaska professors Jason Amundson and Martin Truffer will explain how glacial dynamics are pushing up large amounts sediment in front of advancing Taku Glacier.

Friday, March 18: Thomas Corwin Mendenhall: The Man Behind the Name. Historian Jim Geraghty will discuss the life of the renowned scientist and US Geological Survey superintendent whose name is so prominent in Juneau.

March 25: Investigating the 1813 Wreck of the Neva. Russian-American Company sailing ship Neva wrecked in 1813 near Sitka. Dave McMahan will share work an expert team conducted through archival research, interviews and investigations.

For more information, visit www.mendenhallglacier.net or call 789-0097. Winter hours at the center are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday–Sunday.