To celebrate this semester’s theme: Climate for Change, check out the Sciences Library’s new exhibit on climate change and sustainability!

In an interactive experiment, learn about the albedo effect: How light and dark colored surfaces, and their ability to reflect or absorb light and heat from the sun, can change the temperature.

In our climate change display, learn what is (and is not) a greenhouse gas, how researchers use air samplers to collect information about air pollution, and about some of the effects of climate change.

In our sustainability display, you can learn about some of the steps you can take as an individual, and the steps we’re taking as a campus, to become more sustainable.

Many thanks to the Office of Sustainability and the Stone and Hornbuckle Research Groups for their assistance and for loaning materials and equipment to us for this exhibit.

Stop by the Sciences Library to see our new winter exhibit: Colors of Winter.

We normally think of the colors of winter as rather dull and drab, at least until the first snowfall. But the plumage of birds and coats of small mammals often change dramatically during the winter months, allowing them to blend in better with their surroundings.

In our cases, you’ll find birds and other animals in their winter colors, and their summer colors for comparison. Come check it out! And as always, many thanks to the Museum of Natural History for loaning us several specimens from their collections.

Introducing our new exhibit: Go Hawks!

In Iowa City, Herky is famous, but you may be less familiar other members of his family. Red-tailed hawks, Cooper’s hawks, and others are often spotted in Johnson County. These beautiful birds are accomplished predators, feeding on smaller birds and small mammals. Come see two impressive specimens up close at the Sciences Library.

Many thanks to the Museum of Natural History for the loan of the hawks and hawk egg, to the University Archives for the homecoming buttons, and to wildlife photographer James Scheib for the beautiful photos.

The Sciences Library has a new exhibit, relating to this semester’s theme: Our Lives Online. The exhibit, “Library Technology Through the Years”, showcases items from the University Archives collection that have been made obsolete by new forms of media and online streaming. In our cases, you’ll find an antique typewriter, an Edison phonograph record, a Barbara Streisand 8-track, an Asteroids Atari game cartridge, and so much more. Check out our exhibit and take a walk down memory lane! How many of the items do you remember?