Celebrate the Art of Science exhibit, curated by UC San Diego Library, at the San Diego Natural History Museum’s popular nighttime event, Nat at Night. Indulge in the ultimate after-hours experience on the museum’s rooftop deck, boasting some of the best views in Balboa Park.
Explore the museum’s exhibits, unleash inner-creativity during Sketch Party, or mingle with UC San Diego researchers at their outreach booth. Three researchers recognized as a part of the 2023 Art of Science contest will be giving short, 10-minute standup presentations about their work. Presentations start at 7 p.m., and will take place every half hour.
This event is open to all visitors, offering an array of refreshing drinks such as beer, wine and non-alcoholic options, including kid-friendly beverages. Pair beverages with delectable small plates curated by The Nat’s esteemed restaurant partner, Wolf in the Woods. Museum admission is half-price after 5 p.m.
7 p.m.: Scott Mcavoy | Temple of Bel in Palmyra, Syria
Data Systems Analyst, Cultural Heritage Engineering Initiative (CHEI)
Qualcomm Institute, UC San Diego
A temple constructed over the first and second centuries was a center for religious life in the ancient city of Palmyra. But in 2015, it was destroyed. Learn how the temple has been digitally reconstructed using cutting-edge, three-dimensional modeling and artificial intelligence to stitch together crowdsourced photographs and recreate the structure. The project has helped digitally preserve more than a dozen lost reliefs, sculptures, frescoes and paintings, all publicly available on the UC San Diego Library’s Digital Collections website.
7:30 p.m.: Jess Davids | Face the Bees
Surveys revealed that San Diego County is home to roughly 700 species of native bees, some of which were previously unknown to science. Now that scientists know what these bees are and where they live, learn how they can take steps to protect their populations.
8 p.m. Stuart Sandin, Ph.D. | Coral Reef of Samoa
Director, Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation
Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
Imagine if you could see a coral reef without the ocean water in the way. By taking thousands of photographs and stitching the images together, see how researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography create realistic models of underwater habitats.
Partners: San Diego Natural History Museum
Contact:
Jen Cormier
ucsdlibrary@ucsd.edu
Image Credit: James Nicholson
Image Description: One full coral polyp surrounded by four others. The purple ring is the corallite, or skeleton.