By: Tom Wickersham

If there isn't a "Murphy's Law" about scheduling conflicts, perhaps there should be. When there are two or more things of interest to you, they are probably scheduled at the same time.

This law applies as two free science discovery opportunities offered by Explorit Science Center happen to be scheduled at the same time. However, if you're clever, you could probably manage to benefit from both events.

On Tuesday, November 17, Explorit's Astronomy Club offers "A Night of Shooting Stars." Also on November 17 the Cutting Edge of Science lecture series continues with "Tending the Wilds: How Native Americans Used and Shaped California's Landscapes." Both events are free and open to the public.

"A Night of Shooting Stars" will be your chance to join others to observe the annual Leonid meteor shower. In 1966, the Leonid meteor shower proved to be a truly impressive show with some observers estimating up to 150,000 meteor streaks per hour. This year's Leonid meteor shower, according to Dennis Smith, the Astronomy Club host, is "the most anticipated meteor shower in 1998!"

The Astronomy Club meteor shower party, weather cooperating, will start at 7:30pm and will be held at Fairfield Elementary in West Davis at the intersection of Road 32 (Russell Blvd.) and Road 96. Dress warmly, bring something comfortable to sit or lie on, and enjoy the show.

Also at 7:30 on the 17th you'll have the chance to see Dr. Kat Anderson present "Tending the Wilds" at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street. Because there was standing room only at the October lecture, Explorit recommends arriving early to see this free lecture.

Anderson, an ethnoecologist with the National Plant Data Center of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, studies plant uses, harvesting strategies, and land management practices of indigenous peoples around the world with an emphasis on California.

You'll have the chance to discover diverse and rich horticultural techniques used by California Indian tribes to manage wildlands and to discover how nature can provide people with a storehouse of products like a pharmacy, grocery store and hardwood shop. For additional information on either of these events call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.

Can't decide which event to attend? Try this; visit the lecture first then head out to Fairfield Elementary to join the meteor shower viewing in progress. Remember, if you look hard enough, you can probably find a loophole in any law, even "Murphy's Law."

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Did you know that Explorit Science Center held a Wine Label Design Contest? Open only to students, Explorit Science Center offered a prize of $500 for the best potential wine label design. The winning image will be used to grace a special bottling of wine for the 15th anniversary of Explorit's Vintage Masters Wine Tasting & Auction to be held April 23, 1999.

The judges have conferred and now Explorit Science Center is pleased to announce the winner of our Wine Label Design Contest. Congratulations to Anita Carney; her work entitled "The Universe," a computer-generated image, was chosen from over 50 entries by 38 artists.

Explorit wishes to thank all artists that took time to submit entries to the Wine Label Contest.

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Explorit Science Center is located at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is From Redbud to Redwood: Native Plant Science. Public hours are Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Regular admission is $3; members, teachers (with school ID) and children under 4 are free.