Celebrate Science Indiana is very excited to have Mr James Lowery of Birmingham AL at our 2019 festival. Mr Lowery will be doing two hour-long presentations on his first-hand experiences from five trips to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, and South America in January 2006, in December 2009, in December 2010, in 2012 (that time for a month on an icebreaker), and again in February 2018 (that time crossing the Antarctic Circle). Both presentations will be in the classroom at the West end of the Elements Financial Blue Ribbon Pavilion. There will be directional signs as you enter Celebrate Science Indiana through the main doors of the Elements Financial Blue Ribbon Pavilion and signs at the entrances to the classroom. Mr Lowery will also have a booth in the Exhibit Hall so you can visit with him about his experiences when he is not presenting.

Mr Lowery’s two presentations will be:

“Antarctica — Personal Encounters with the White Continent” from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
This presentation combines the sights and scientific information from Mr Lowery’s five trips to Antarctica. It presents the trips from the standpoint of a “tourist traveler” but also incorporates some of the science of the region and its wildlife – sea birds, penguins, whales, seals, etc. Views of the land, ice, icebergs, glaciers, animals, research stations, etc. are combined with information about each stop on the trips.

“Penguins of Antarctica, The Falkland Islands, and South Georgia Island” from 2:30 -3:30 PM
This presentation combines the sights and scientific information about penguins from Mr Lowery’s five trips to Antarctica. It presents facts about penguins as well as personal experiences with the penguins and photographs and videos of the penguins he saw – 1.5 million on one of the trips and a total of several million on all trips combined. Views of the land, ice, icebergs, glaciers, research stations, etc. are combined with information about the penguins. Mr Lowery will also make a short presentation on the “Dynamic Soaring Used by the Seabirds of the Southern Ocean”.

About the Presenter: James Lowery is retired from an administrative position at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and considers himself an “Amateur Scientist.” He is involved in environmental education and is a member of ten environmental and science-related Boards of Directors as well as the Board of Directors of two historical railroad organizations. He serves as an officer on five of the Boards. He gives presentations concerning constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment, creeks and streams he has walked, the Historic Birmingham Mineral Railroad, the Wetumpka (Alabama) Impact Crater, the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, Antarctica, and the Netherlands. He conducts guided tours of the Wetumpka (Alabama) Impact Crater (Astrobleme) as well as interpretive guided tours of Shades Creek and local historic railroad sites. He enjoys paddling whitewater rivers as a member of the Birmingham Canoe Club. He has traveled to Antarctica five times and states that it is his most favorite place on Earth.