Monthly Archives: February 2012

Lots of Fun coming to Kid’s Day during National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Kids’ Day will be here in two weeks! Woo hoo! It’s a great way for kids (of all ages!) to learn about invasives species as part of National Invasive Species Awareness Week.

***View the Kids’ Day agenda to find out who’ll be there***

I’ve been working on my Kids’ Day presentation and activity, “Invasive Hunter Academy”. I do Tae Kuan Do, as you may see from my videos, and I was sparring on Friday. That is when you put on gear, similar to football gear, except softer and no face guard.

During the sparring match, I got kicked in my hand when I was doing a narabam spinning hook kick combination. Ouch that hurt and it swelled up a little. I’m doing better now, but I’d better watch out, because that’s when the invasives may try to ambush me. 😉

I hope to see you at Kids’ Day! It’s going to be a lot of fun!

Commander Ben signing off…

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Filed under National Invasive Species Awareness Week, Tae Kwon Do

Young Commander Ben and Dr. John Grotzinger Rocket to Mars at Hot Science – Cool Talks

When I was looking through some of our old family photos, I found some of these wonderful pictures of me enjoying Hot Science – Cool Talks, when I was younger (and before I became an invasive hunter!).

The talk was The 2004 Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Evidence for Water and Prospects for Life by Dr. John Grotzinger on October 13, 2005.

As part of his talk, I think he showed a NASA animated video of the rover landing, but I’m sure that I enjoyed making and launching a baking soda rocket with one of the Hot Science volunteers:

Here I am with Dr. John Grotzinger (blinded by his awesome science):

Update: How exciting to learn that Dr. Grotzinger is a project scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory that is part of the Curiosity Mars rover that landed on the red planet on August 6, 2012.

Upcoming Spring 2012 Hot Science – Cool Talk presentations

I’m sorry that I’m going to miss this month’s Hot Science – Cool Talk because I’ll be preparing for my presentation at Kid’s Day for National Invasive Species Awareness Week in Washington DC, but I hope that you’ll be able to make it.

Here’s what’s coming up this month:

From Fracking to the 40 Acres

Dr. Michael Webber, Co-Director of the Clean Energy Incubator at the Austin Technology Incubator, and Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin
Friday, February 24, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. CST

And then in April, I look forward to joining you and learning more about our universe:

Life on Europa? Exploring Jupiter’s Icy Moon

Dr. Britney Schmidt
Friday, April 13, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. CST

Be sure to get there early to enjoy all the fun activities before the talks.  Last month included making a moon lander before Dr. Howell’s presentation!

Commander Ben signing off…

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Filed under Dr. Britney Schmidt, Dr. John Grotzinger, Europa, Hot Science - Cool Talks, Jupiter's Icy Moon, Mars Rover, NASA

Invasive Hunter Academy launches during National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Learn how to become an invasive species hunter at Commander Ben’s Invasive Hunter Academy at Kid’s Day during National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) in Washington D.C.  With this video, get a preview of some of the techniques that I’ll teach you.

Join me as an elite defender of native species, and learn more about NISAW and Kid’s Day at the U.S. Botanic Garden on February 26, 2012.

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Filed under Battles with Invasive Species, Giant Reed, Invasive Hunter Academy, National Invasive Species Awareness Week, U.S. Botanic Garden