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Cycads are older than dinosaurs and more endangered than any other group of organisms on Earth, but for something with those impressive superlatives, their plight is woefully obscure. If you’ve ever looked at dinosaur art, you know what cycads look like: They’re the flora in the background, palm-like but with stout trunks and large cones. Learn all about this fascinating group of plants, their intriguing reproductive cycle, and the cutting-edge DNA techniques researchers are using to help save them, all in this special NightSchool episode in honor of Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum, the Academy’s McAllister Chair and Associate Curator of Botany.

Featuring: Maia Jones, Jian Liu, & Manuel Luján

NightSchool is live on the first & third Thursdays of every month.

All NightSchool virtual programming is intended for audiences 21+.

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Upcoming events

April 4th at 6:00 pm

We're serving more than looks in a night all about weaving connections through fashion.

April 11th at 6:00 pm

Make room for ‘shrooms because fungi are taking over! Enter the mystical world of mycology at this annual fave.

April 25th at 6:00 pm

Attention Earthlings: our planet's calling & it's time to answer. Join us for a night of community & activism.

May 2nd at 6:00 pm

Feel the beat of connection through the power of musical instruments.

May 9th at 6:00 pm

See what’s revealed once the sun goes down and explore the nocturnal side of the Academy.