Spotlight Science: The Forest

Forests have trees, of course—but they are so much more! Join us to explore everything about the forest. Learn about trees and other plants, water, air, fire, and animals–even humans! Forests are rooted in many perspectives, and we’ll focus on how those come together in collaboration and co-management of resources, adaptation for climate change, and careers in forestry and beyond!

When you drop in, you can get answers to your tree care questions, explore tools like maps and microscopes to understand how scientists collect and analyze data, learn about trees in the city and how you can help urban forests, weigh in on policy questions, and more!

Visit with special guests from a collaboration of fire knowledge carriers, authors, practitioners, and researchers working to restore fire to the Great Lakes region. They will read from their children’s book, Ishkode, for Story Time, show how trees respond to fires using fire scarred tree samples, and show their short documentary A Wilderness Act, about how returning fire to the land and people can be healing for all.

While you’re here, be sure to see Secrets from a Forest, our award-winning Bell original planetarium show. Led by the artistic vision of award-winning nature photographer Jim Brandenburg, award-winning director Neil Lucas, and featuring members of the Minnesota Orchestra, the production tells a special story from the forest, about the relationship between nature and art through the exquisite and rare Stradivarius violin.