Previous Topics

Thursday, November 10, 2022: 7:30pm - Mysteries Behind the Greatest Predator
Uncover the truth behind the greatest predator the world has seen, Tyrannosaurus rex and discover the world it lived in with dinosaur enthusiast and Cranbrook Institute of Science Program Presenter, Tim Urban.

Thursday, April 14, 2022: 7:30pm - Meet Science Fiction author D.M. Taylor
Join Taylor as she talks about the rules of time travel in her Amazon bestselling and 2021 Reader's Favorite Gold medal winning series, The Reckoning. Five lecture attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a free autographed copy of The Reckoning! To learn more about the book, visit amazon.com.

Thursday, March 10, 2022: 7:30pm - Uncovering Hell Creek
Take a deep dive into one of history's greatest ecosystems and discover the dinosaurs that inhabited it with dinosaur enthusiast and Cranbrook Institute of Science Program Presenter, Timothy Urban.

Thursday, February 10, 2022: 7:30pm - Ancient Fossils and the Search for Life on Mars
Billions of years before humans or dinosaurs walked the Earth, our planet was inhabited solely by microscopic life. Join Dr. Andrew Gangidine, Curator of Earth and Space Sciences at Cranbrook Institute of Science, to learn how hunting ancient fossils can inform our search for life elsewhere in the Universe. 

Thursday, January 13, 2022: 7:30pm - What’s So Great About the Great Lakes?
Join Cranbrook Institute of Science Director Dr. Michael Stafford for a comprehensive overview of the Great Lakes. Learn about how the Great Lakes came to be, the environmental balance in which they function and how people have used and impacted the Lakes, both in the distant past and the present. Of special emphasis will be how human activities are impacting the Great Lakes in terms of their overall vitality and sustainability, as well as how changes in our daily decisions and actions will be necessary to keep the Great Lakes healthy for generations to come. The dynamics that drive changes in the Lakes’ water levels will also be a point of focus.

Thursday, November 11, 2021: 7:30pm – Michigan's Sky Tonight and Tomorrow
Join Cranbrook Head of Astronomy Michael Narlock for a virtual tour of what can be seen from your backyard over the next few months.

Saturday, May 15, 2021: 9:00 am: Young Stargazers
Make the sky turn dark and sprinkle the sky with stars! The setting is complete as you embark on an exciting and educational journey through the night sky and the planets.

Thursday, May 13, 2021: 7:30 pm: What’s Up?
Join Cranbrook’s Head of Astronomy Michael Narlock for a brief tour of the night sky as seen from Michigan. After our dusk-to-dawn sky tour, we will explore the upcoming June annular solar eclipse!

Saturday, April 10, 2021: 9:00am – All About Shells
Have you ever wanted to know if it's really the ocean you hear inside a shell? If so, we invite you to grab your shells, or pick some shells up from the Institute (quantities are limited), and through this interactive session, we'll learn all about these unique specimens, including shapes, textures, what lived inside, and more.

Thursday, April 8, 2021: 7:30pm - Trouble in Poseidon's House: The Global Decline of Modern Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are among our planet’s most complex and fascinating ecosystems. Join Dr. Michael Stafford, Director of Cranbrook Institute of Science, for an informative and timely presentation on the natural history of these living creatures, composition, and what may be contributing to the decline of coral reefs around the world.