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Science Sunday: La Brea Tar Pits
Science Sunday:
La Brea Tar Pits
Join us for Atheists United’s Science Sunday at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles!
Tickets purchased through Atheists United are:
Members & Member Guests: $15
General public: $25
Student (13-17): $12
Children (3-12): $7
Children under 2: free w/ adult ticket
Our tour will be hosted by geoscientist Michelle Vanegas! Born and raised in Southern California, Michelle first discovered her love for science while attending Pasadena City College, where she decided to pursue a career in science education. In 2017, she graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science with an emphasis in geology. She has 10 years of experience working as a science educator at free-choice learning institutions, and she is currently a faculty member at Cal State L.A. teaching earth & space science and physical science in the Natural Science Program. This spring, Michelle will become Master of Science, earning a master’s degree in environmental science researching rockfish morphology and speciation. When she’s not teaching or doing research, Michelle enjoys sewing her own clothes and spending time with her boyfriend Chris, and her cat Jo.
If there’s interest, we’ll organize a group lunch afterward at a time and location TBD.
Convenient parking is available for $18 at the museum's parking lot, located at the corner of Curson Avenue and 6th Street, directly behind the museum. Enter from the western side of Curson Avenue. If you choose street parking, please read all parking signs carefully, as restrictions apply. We also highly recommend all participants try and carpool or take public transit to help the environment.
Please contact Evan Clark at evan@atheistsunited.org with any questions.
See you there!
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La Brea Tar Pits
Visit the only Ice Age fossil site in the world that's being actively excavated in the middle of a city. Discover the past come to life when mammoths, saber-toothed cats and giant sloths roamed Ice Age L.A. and how our excavators and scientists are digging up the past today.
What is Science Sundays?
Launched in 2021, Science Sundays are seasonal science trips designed to bring people together to explore and celebrate the impact of science on our world. We tour museums, labs, and natural wonders around LA with the best and brightest science communicators available.
Science Sunday: Aquarium of the Pacific
Science Sunday:
Aquarium of the Pacific
Join us for Atheists United’s first Science Sunday of 2024 at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach!
Tickets purchased through Atheists United are $40.95 for adults (discounted from $45.95) and $23.95 for children (discounted from $29.95).
Get tickets here: https://affiliatetickets.aquariumofpacific.org/affiliate/link?ID=BB09CA7F-E19D-4E72-91C8-3E94BCB3038B
MUST PRE-ORDER TIMED TICKETS TO ATTEND. Please purchase tickets for 3 PM on Sunday, February 25 to join our event.
Our community will gather at Sea Shell Park, just outside the aquarium entrance, at 2:45 PM. We'll then enter the aquarium as a group at 3 PM and explore for at least 2 hours. Special guest science communicator to be announced at the event.
If you'd like to hang out for a group meal afterward, we'll meet at P.F. Changs (walking distance from the Aquarium) around 5:30 PM.
Convenient parking at the Aquarium is available for $8 with validation. We also highly recommend all participants try and carpool or take public transit to help the environment.
Please contact Evan Clark at evan@atheistsunited.org with any questions.
See you there!
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Aquarium of the Pacific:
The Aquarium of the Pacific’s mission is to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and its ecosystems. Attendees will explore over 11,000 animals representing 500 species on view throughout the over 100 world-class animal exhibits and habitats.
What is Science Sundays?
Launched in 2021, Science Sundays are seasonal science trips designed to bring people together to explore and celebrate the impact of science on our world. We tour museums, labs, and natural wonders around LA with the best and brightest science communicators available.
Zion National Park Atheist Adventure
Grab your friends, tents, and telescopes for our third annual Atheist Adventure camping trip!
Atheists United has chosen the iconic Zion National Park for its 2023 Atheist Adventure and Stargazing Party.
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Zion National Park is one of the crown jewels of the U.S. National Park Service system. It is known worldwide as a geologic wonderland of towering cliffs, deep narrow canyons, and sweeping expanses of bare sandstone slickrock. Its focal point is Zion Canyon, a steep-walled gorge carved through hundreds of meters of early Jurassic-era Navajo sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River.
Due to its location near the junction of three great geographic provinces of the American West, the Park protects a remarkable diversity of plant and animal species inhabiting several different life zones. It also preserves evidence of nearly 8,000 years of human habitation, including the Mormon settlers of the mid-nineteenth century who gave the area its name, used in their religion to connote an association of the righteous.
Today, as one of the “Big Five” national parks in southern Utah, Zion is famous for its many hiking trails and activities, including camping, horseback riding, nature walks, and rock climbing. On top of all that, the dark night skies attract visitors from around the world because of the park’s International Dark Sky Park status.
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Limited tickets available!
Purchase tickets now to reserve a spot in our group campsite!
Tickets are per person and include:
Access to our reserved group tent campsites at Watchman Campground
Access to Friday & Saturday group adventure itineraries (hikes, sightseeing, etc.)
Access to Saturday night’s star talk and telescope night with our guest astronomer
HUGE discounts for members of Atheists United. Become a member today!
AU Members SAVE 40% compared to General Public tickets!
Get "Super Early Bird" tickets before Sept 14th and SAVE AN ADDITIONAL 40%!
FREE tickets for children under 18!
MASSIVE discounts for students and those with financial need!
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You’re not required to camp with us Thursday and Friday nights. Arrive when you're available.
Participants are responsible for planning their own transportation, bringing their own food/drinks, and bringing their own camping gear.
Have more questions? Email evan@atheistsunited.org
Science Sunday: Queer Ecology Hiking Tour of Griffith Park
Queer Ecology Hiking Tour of Griffith Park
Our summer Science Sunday tour guide is Jason "journeyman" Wise, a certified California naturalist, professional outdoor environmental educator, prolific tree hugger, and a native plant daddy.
He'll be guiding us on a two hours hike where we'll stop a few times to discuss queer ecology!
What is queer ecology you ask?
Essentially, it's the study of everything in nature that subverts our Western cultural expectations about how the natural world *should* work. There are of course the more newsworthy examples like the gay penguins, but it goes much deeper. We'll explore the roles of males and females in the animal kingdom, the transitioning of animals, insects, and plants from one sex to another, and even why we gender anything at all.
Most of all, this tour is a discussion about how human society defines the natural world within its own cultural structures and limits, and how learning from nature can help free us from those unnatural rules.
Let's go explore nature together!
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Where: Exact location of our hike and where we're meeting to start will be emailed to all ticket holders in the days leading up to the event.
When: We recommend you arrive 20-30 minutes early to find proper parking and find the group. Cellphone signals can be bad in this section of the park. We're going to start our hike not long after 9AM
Parking: Parking can be extremely limited in Griffith Park on a Sunday morning. PLEASE arrive early and plan ahead. We highly recommend public transportation or ride-sharing.
What to bring: Hiking shoes, water, sunblock, and anything else you need to be comfortable for a 2-hour hike.
Finding the group: We'll meet right at the trailhead. Look for an Atheists United sign. Most cellphone networks struggle with reception in this section of the park. Please plan ahead.
Our Tour Guide: Learn more about Jason Wise here: http://jasonjourneyman.com
Science Sunday @ Mount Wilson Observatory (Private Tour)
IF YOU PURCHASED TICKETS FOR OUR FEBRUARY 26 OR MARCH 19 TOURS THAT WERE POSTPONED, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY NEW TICKETS. THEY’VE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THIS NEW DATE. EMAIL EVAN@ATHEISTSUNITED.ORG WITH QUESTIONS.
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Join us for a unique community field trip to the Mount Wilson Observatory!
Tickets are $25 per person for active members ($35 per person for non-members) and include a two-hour, expert-led, private tour.
Tickets must be purchased here to RSVP:
https://secure.givelively.org/event/atheists-united/science-sunday-wilson-observatory
Your ticket will get you access to a docent lead talk on the history of the institution, walk around the grounds (two hours or more), and visits to the major telescopes including close-up looks at the instruments with descriptions of their operation and of the amazing discoveries made with each.
Please note the Mount Wilson Observatory is on top of a mountain and extra driving time might be required. Dress according to the weather. It’s much colder at altitude in the winter!
If the event is canceled because of weather we will inform everyone who has RSVP’d.
Children are welcome with adult supervision, but children younger than 8 are not recommended.
POSTPONED | Science Sunday @ Mount Wilson Observatory (Private Tour)
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED BECAUSE OF DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS.
A NEW DATE WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.
CONTACT evan@atheistsunited.org WITH QUESTIONS.
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Join us for a unique community field trip to the Mount Wilson Observatory!
Tickets are $25 per person for active members ($35 per person for non-members) and include a two-hour, expert-led, private tour.
Tickets must be purchased here to RSVP:
https://secure.givelively.org/event/atheists-united/science-sunday-wilson-observatory
Your ticket will get you access to a docent lead talk on the history of the institution, walk around the grounds (two hours or more), and visits to the major telescopes including close-up looks at the instruments with descriptions of their operation and of the amazing discoveries made with each.
Please note the Mount Wilson Observatory is on top of a mountain and extra driving time might be required. Dress according to the weather. It’s much colder at altitude in the winter!
If the event is canceled because of weather we will inform everyone who has RSVP’d.
Children are welcome with adult supervision, but children younger than 8 is not recommended.
Anza-Borrego Atheist Adventure
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in the lower 48 states and is internationally famous for its extraordinary views, majestic wildflowers blooms, and unique natural wonders. Visitors can discover slot canyons, natural palm oases, wilderness areas, peninsular ranges, and otherworldly landscapes.
This year (along with hiking, camping, and partying) we’re hosting a unique sunset “rock talk” with special guest, The Groovy Geologist, overlooking the breathtaking Borrego Badlands.
Full-Weekend Tickets include:
Access to Friday & Saturday adventure itineraries (hikes, sightseeing, etc.)
Access to Saturday’s geology talk at sunset with The Groovy Geologist
Access to our pre-reserved tent campsites in Borrego Palm Canyon Campground (Nov 10-13)
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About The Groovy Geologist
The Groovy Geologist (Cate Larsen, B.S. Geology) is a geo-communicator and host of the weekly live-stream show, Rocks & Hops, and The Schist of It podcast. She’s dedicated to teaching geoscience in new and exciting ways and has built a massive following on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube as the Groovy Geologist. Across these platforms, she shares funny videos with trending themes, informative posts about geologic concepts (and misconceptions), and immersive videos explaining and showing real-world examples while out in the field.
Cate has given formal talks, spoken in classrooms, and been featured in numerous podcasts to spread awareness and understanding of geoscience. She also acts as a consultant for science communication on social media. Through partnerships with schools, companies, and government organizations, she not only shares important information on her own platform, but teaches other scientists how they can use social media to advance their own field.
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Have questions about this event? Please email Evan at evan@atheistsunited.org.
AU Field Trip: Natural History Museum
This Sunday, instead of our normally scheduled speaker program, we’ve organized a community field trip to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles!
All attendees should RSVP through Eventbrite so we have an accurate count of how many are attending and can pre-order discounted group-rate tickets. All Atheists United members will save 20% on their tickets if they purchase through Eventbrite.
If you don’t RSVP and you’re an AU member you’re still welcome to join us but will not be able to access our discounted tickets.
Please meet us on the steps out front of the museum entrance between 10:45am - 11am. Look for someone holding a sign with the Atheists United logo.
Family and friends of all ages are welcome to join us as we explore earth’s many billions of years of history. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is one of the largest natural history museums in the United States. Its collections include nearly 35 million specimens and artifacts and cover 4.5 billion years of history.
After visiting the museum we hope you join us for lunch at The Lab Gastropub, a science-themed lunch spot just a 10-minute walk from the museum.
If you have questions please email evan@atheistsunited.org