Creating Common Ground - Planets and Pollinator Gardens
Join us for our fourth Common Ground Conversation!
Planets and Pollinator Gardens
At our Common Ground Series, we take two seemingly unrelated topics, learn about them from local community experts, and then work together to find the common ground that connects them.
The series is an attempt to not only highlight the cultural richness that exists within the Greater Mankato Area but also delve into the interconnection between seemingly different unrelated circles and communities.
Planets:
A century ago, human beings knew of no more than 8 planets — today, more than 4500 have been discovered. Multiple planets in the solar system have now been visited and 100s of billions could be discovered in the Milky Way galaxy alone. We’ll discuss how our understanding of the planets have changed over thousands of years as curious humans have considered them in the night sky, the diversity we know to exist in planets today, and some of the open questions yet to be answered about planets.
Presented by Michael Rutkowski, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Most of the time, when he’s not lecturing on planets, Michael spends his time studying young stars in distant galaxies with space-based telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope with colleagues here in Minnesota and around the world.
Pollinator Gardens:
It is estimated that 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators. Find out how you can help them continue their vital role by planting a simple or elaborate pollinator garden.
Presented by Mary Walker. Mary is a member of the Minnesota River Valley Master Gardeners who has planted gardens to attract pollinators for several years. One currently exists in the community gardens at Good Counsel.
Please register via eventbrite:
This event is FREE to attend, thanks in part to a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council.
