PUBLIC LECTURES

Peter H. Stauffer

As part of the celebration of Earth Week in 1990 at the USGS Menlo Park facilities, Bill Rambo and Leslie Gordon decided to put together a series of 12 talks by USGS scientists for the general public. These talks, highlighting aspects of USGS research that were of particular public interest, were presented over five consecutive days (Monday-Friday), mostly during the day, in the Building 3 conference room on the Menlo Park campus.

Attendance at the first daytime talks early in the week was sparse--there were too many competing events, both at the USGS and outside, and it was hard to get the public’s attention and let them know they were happening. Nonetheless, the talks themselves were good, and the members of the public who did attend were appreciative. Attendance picked up during the week, and was especially large at the two evening talks. Bill Rambo therefore decided to try continuing the talks as a monthly series of evening public lectures.

From that tentative start in 1990, the Public Lecture Series has evolved into a Menlo Park tradition. The monthly lectures have become well known in the local communities and regularly attract audiences of 100 to 200 people. Topics have ranged over the full spectrum of USGS research activities, including, since the incorporation of the new Biological Resources Division in 1996, biological topics such as wildlife ecology and fisheries.

The public lectures, illustrated with slides, videos, and even musical performances, are normally presented in the large conference room in Building 3. However, during two periods when Building 3 was being remodeled and seismically reinforced, the facilities of the Menlo Park and Palo City Council chambers, kindly made available by those city governments, were used. Each lecture is advertised on the Web, in the calendar sections of local publications, and by distribution of colorful fliers.

Now in its 15th year, the public lecture series has already offered more than 160 presentations on USGS research to the general public.

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