Every third Friday of the month | Doors open at 7:00pm
Ignite your curiosity—for just $5 general admission!
Join us every third Friday of the month for our new Ignite Your Curiosity Speaker Series Collection, showcasing the groundbreaking work of local scientists and STEAM professionals who are making an impact in Metro Detroit and beyond.
The series is intentionally scheduled during $5 Fridays after 5:00pm, when general admission is just $5—making science more accessible to all.
From hidden histories to groundbreaking environmental science, each fascinating talk invites you to see the world in a new way.
Seats are first come, first served. While the speaker series begins promptly at 7:30pm, we encourage you to arrive early to explore the Institute’s exhibits—including our newest traveling exhibit, Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs—and make it a night to remember!
Upcoming Speakers Series:
Friday, September 19, 2025
Dr. Zhijiang Lu of Wayne State University
Urban Soil Contamination by Current-Use Pesticides and Their Transformation Products<
Dr. Lu, Assistant Professor of the Department of Environmental Science and Geology, will explore how pesticides, plastic additives, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals enter our soils and water, and the ripple effects on ecosystems and human health.
Friday, October 17, 2025
Dr. Barrett Klein of University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
The Insect Epiphany: How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture
Dr. Klein, Professor of Entomology and Animal Behavior, will investigate how insects are vital to the Earth’s ecosystems, from human culture and civilization to the arts, cuisine, and beyond. Dr. Klein will also be bringing some insect friends to help demonstrate this connection!
WOMEN IN SCIENCE SPEAKER SERIES:
Thursday, November 13, 2025: 5:00pm to 8:00pm | Underwater Wonder: Exploring Ancient Archaeology Below the Great Lakes
Dr. Ashley Lemke
Archaeologist, author, Explorers Club Fellow, and Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Enjoy an evening of discovery with Dr. Ashley Lemke!
When you think of underwater archaeology, shipwrecks and catastrophes might come to mind, but this scientific field dives far deeper. Beneath the surface lie ancient landscapes and evidence of the plants, animals, and humans that once called them home for thousands of years.
In this lecture, explore the 9,000 year old submerged sites in the North American Great Lakes that were once coastal lands exposed at the end of the last Ice Age. Learn how these underwater worlds play a role in the global archaeological record and uncover the unique stories they can tell us about the past.
Dr. Ashley Lemke is an anthropologist, archaeologist, and Explorers Club Fellow. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Michigan. An expert on submerged ancient sites, she has received grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Her books include Anthropological Archaeology Underwater and The Architecture of Hunting. She has directed research projects in North America and below its waters, including in the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean, and has conducted archaeological research in Europe in Germany, Spain, Romania, and Serbia. Lemke collaborates with Computer Scientists to explore applications of virtual worlds, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality for archaeological research and discovery. She previously taught at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Outstanding Teaching Award for Tenure Track Faculty, and was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Lemke is a past chair of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology.
This Women in Science Speaker Series is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Tickets for members are $12 for adults and $7 for children ages 2–12. Tickets for non-members are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 2–12. Children under 2 are free.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
5:00pm: Doors open—explore exhibits, including our newest traveling exhibit Permian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs, and enjoy light refreshments
6:00pm: Speaker Series & Q&A with Dr. Lemke
7:00pm: Continue exploring the Institute’s exhibits
8:00pm: Event concludes
Friday, November 21, 2025
Dr. Suzanne Spencer-Wood of Oakland University
Women Who Rocked Science: How Reform Women’s Domestic Science Movements Transformed Western Culture from the 19th Century into the 20th Century
Dr. Spencer-Wood, Professor of Archaeology, will highlight pioneering women who brought scientific thinking into the domestic sphere. Among them is Christine Frederick, whose application of efficiency principles transformed the 20th-century kitchen. From the archaeological remains of a 19th-century general store and ornate garden décor to scientific testing of kitchen cabinets, discover the hidden contributions of women who truly shaped science.
Friday, December 19, 2025
Chad Munger of Mammoth Distilling & Dr. Eric Olsen of Michigan State University
Shipwreck to Sipping Whiskey: Lost Rye Genetically Revived by MSU and Mammoth Distilling
Join Chad Munger, Founder & CEO, and Dr. Eric Olsen, Associate Professor of Plant, Soil & Microbial Science, for a fascinating story of adventure, science, and fine spirits! They’ll reveal how rye seeds from the 1878 James R. Bentley cargo schooner wreck in Lake Huron were recovered—and how, 145 years later, each played a role in bringing those historic seeds back to life for whisky production.
Friday, January 16, 2026
Cameron Wood of Cranbrook Institute of Science
Blood, Sweat & Tears: Cultural Context of Filipino Arms & Armor from CIS Collections
Cameron Wood, Curator of Collections and Anthropology Education, will showcase rarely seen Filipino arms and armor from the Institute’s collection. Within the wood, steel, and fibers lies the story of the Philippines from the Highlands of Luzon to the Sulu Archipelago. Discover how these weapons were used, the cultural beliefs etched into their designs, the impact of Spanish and American colonialism, and how these martial traditions endure today.
February 20, 2026
Alexus Boone of Sidewalk Detroit
Eliza Howell Park: Revitalizing a Hiddeon Detroit Gem
Join Alexus Boone, Outdoor Strategist and advocate for environmental stewardship, as she highlights the revitalization of Eliza Howell Park—a 250-acre green space on Detroit’s west side. Discover how inclusive outdoor programs, eco-artist residencies, and hands-on stewardship workshops are educating and empowering diverse communities while fostering deeper community engagement.
March 20, 2026
Dr. Richard Stamps of Oakland University
Seeing what we really want to see, or seeing what is really there - the Michigan Relics
Dr. Richard Stamps, Professor of Archaeology Emeritus and Adjunct Curator of Archaeology at Cranbrook Institute of Science, will explore the mystery of the Michigan Relics—clay, slate, and copper artifacts unearthed between the 1890s and 1920s that once captivated the public and fueled fierce debate. He will trace how these objects were once thought to connect Michigan to the Lost Tribes of Israel, and reveal their ties to pseudoscience.
April 17, 2026
Matthew Gross of MHG Jewelry Studio
Taxco, Mexico: The Silver Jewelery Capital's Rich Legacy
Join Matthew Gross—jewelry designer, storyteller, and business owner—for an interactive journey into Taxco’s silver legacy. Explore how artisans in the “Silver Capital of the World” are blending modern style with traditional Mexican motifs, and discover how their work continues to shape the global arts and crafts scene.
May 15, 2026
Elizabeth Parkinson of Cranbrook Institute of Science
The Night Matters: Exploring the Impacts of Light Pollution
Explore emerging research on the environmental impacts of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) with Elizabeth Parkinson—National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow, 2025 Oakland County 40 Under 40 Honoree, and Head of the Freshwater Forum at Cranbrook Institute of Science. Learn how ALAN, one of the fastest-growing global pollutants, disrupts natural behaviors in wildlife and what ongoing efforts are underway to address its effects.
Don’t miss out! Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
Mark your calendars and fuel your curiosity!