The Gateway Science Museum offers a variety of exhibits and activities throughout the year. Each October and April the Museum presents a series of lectures entitled Museum Without Walls (MWOW). This series was established before the Museum was built next to Bidwell Mansion. Each four or five presentation series revolves around single broad topic.

Gateway Science Museum Presents: Museum Without Walls

Project Apollo: Scientific Harvest

Presentation video image. Click to view presentation.Dave Schlom
Host, Blue Dot, PRX/NPR Podcasts

Dave Schlom is a science communicator and host of the NSPR’s production, Blue Dot where he interviews other science communicators and environmental activists. Mr. Schlom shares his knowledge regarding geological research in space with the Gateway Science Museum audience. The highlights of his lecture include the Giant Impact Hypothesis and the Lunar Geologic Time Scale. The missions that followed the Apollo 11 moon landing, especially Apollo 12, gave scientists more samples and data in order to actually understand the moon’s surface. Presentation time: 58 minutes | Recorded: October 30, 2019 | View Now

Antarctica: A Scientific Odyssey

Video still image linking to presentation.Dr. Fraka Harmsen
Director, US Engagement
Victoria University of Wellington

During her time as a professor of geology at CSU, Fresno, Dr. Fraka Harmsen was asked to be the sedimentologist on an Antarctic expedition by Dr. Margaret Brach. She was asked to return in 1991 and 1992 with Australian expert, Dr. John Long to conduct research on fish fossil recovery. In this presentation, Dr. Harmsen reads excerpts from Dr. Long’s book, Mountains of Madness: A Journey Through Antarctica. The book is a chronicle of their expedition together as deep field explorers into unknown territory. Presentation time: 1 hour, 1 minutes | Recorded: October 16, 2019 | View Now

Beyond Earth: 50 Years Since Apollo 11

Video still image linking to presentation.Dr. Scott Perry
Peer Leader
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

In a very interactive presentation, Dr. Scott Petty explains what we knew before and after the monumental moon landing on July 20, 1969. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, he demonstrates the mysteries of our solar system and describes the Apollo 11 landing in detail. Dr. Perry concludes that, “Humans will continue to contemplate and learn about the stars as we have in the past but we are very unlikely to ever launch even robotic missions to the stars.” Presentation time: 1 hour, 1 minutes | Recorded: October 2, 2019 | View Now

Wings and Feathers: Citizen Scientists and the World of Birds

Dr. Sarah Blackstone
Retired Dean of Fine Arts
University of Victoria, BC

Slide image from the "Wings and Feathers" presentation.The Gateway Science Museum welcomes back the former Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts, Dr. Sarah Blackstone. Although her doctorate is in Theatre History, she learned to observe nature from her father and being raised on the prairie in Laramie, Wyoming. Dr. Blackstone shares what she has done to be a proactive citizen scientist and how she uses that knowledge to educate others. As an avid bird watcher, her presentation is centered around what she has discovered and her greatest interests. Presentation time: 1 hour, 2 minutes | Recorded: April 24, 2019 | View Now

Into Thinner Air: How pikas live on the roof of the world and implications for their persistence

Dr. Katie Andrea Solari
Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
Biology Department
Stanford University

Slide image from the "Into Thinner Air" presentation.On behalf of the Program for Conservation Genomics, Dr. Katie Andrea Solari shares her research and project findings on pikas. What is a pika? It is a small mammal resembling a mouse or hamster with slightly bigger ears. They live in mountainous countries of Asia, and there are also two species in North America. Dr. Solari has dedicated her professional life to understand the importance of pikas. Learn more about these furry creatures. Presentation time: 53 minutes | Recorded: April 17, 2019 | View Now

Elk in California: History, current status, and future of California’s largest land mammal

Tom Batter
PhD Student
University of California Davis

Decorative use: Image from Elk in California PresentationTom Batter, University of California, Davis, Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, shares his California elk research. The main topic of his discussion is the rise and decline of elk populations throughout California’s history. Through various data collection such as satellite GPS collars, trail cameras, and UAVs they are able to prevent the extinction of different kinds of elk. As a PhD student, Mr. Batter is utilizing research techniques and modern technology to monitor and manage elk hunting. Presentation time: 1 hour, 6 minutes | Recorded: April 10, 2019 | View Now

Insects of Bidwell Park

Dr. Don Miller
Biological Sciences Department
CSU, Chico

Decorative use: Image from slideshow presentationDr. Don Miller explains his findings regarding insects in Bidwell Park. Among butterflies tales, aphids anecdotes, and Jerusalem crickets chronicles, Dr. Miller discusses local conservation efforts. In a surprising twist, he mentions Alfred Kinsey, his research on sexual behavior in humans, and its relation to cynipid gall wasps. Join him as he explores the diverse insect world of Bidwell Park! Presentation time: 58 minutes | Recorded: April 3, 2019 | View Now