Elephant in the Room The Many Faces of Conservation
Date
Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 6–9 pm
Location
Tickets
Limited paid parking will be available in the NHM Car Park on Bill Robertson Lane.
Elephant in the Room: Small Talk, Big Issues
Explore NHM’s iconic 100-year-old diorama halls after-hours with Elephant in the Room, a bold new discussion series that tackles thought-provoking, and sometimes controversial topics in the museum world and elsewhere. This year’s theme pulls back the curtain on the artistry, science, and controversies surrounding the museum’s beloved installations, providing a platform for dialogue and discovery. The inaugural series complements NHM’s latest exhibition, Reframing Dioramas: The Art of Preserving Wilderness, offering a fresh perspective on these iconic and historic displays.
March 20 | The Many Faces of Conservation
Join us for the culminating event in our Elephant in the Room series, where we focus on the changing perspectives in conservation science. The evening will feature Museum Collections on view from NHM's Mammalogy and Herpetology departments, a pop-up program with Museum Educators in the PST Reframing Dioramas exhibit, a discussion in the new Commons Theater, and will conclude with a cocktail hour to meet and greet the program participants. Come be part of the conversation as our moderator, neuroscientist and science communicator, Dr. Yewande Pearse leads a lively panel including producer and artist, Lauren Schoth, the creator behind The Ever-Changing Flow, Dr. Daniel S. Cooper, Principal Conservation Biologist at the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, Heidi Lucero, Indigenous Anthropologist at California State University Long Beach, and Rudy Ortega Jr., Tribal President of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians.
Program Schedule
Museum Collections | Foyer | 6–7 pm
Museum Collections: View rarely seen Museum Collections from NHM's Mammalogy and Herpetology departments.
Pop-up Programs | Level 2, Reframing Dioramas | 6:30 pm
Discovering Dioramas: Explore one of our featured habitat dioramas to uncover the detailed stories it tells about our natural world. Learn how these artistic displays capture moments in time, reflect the evolution of museum exhibitions, and inspire wildlife conservation today.
Discussion | Commons Theater | 7–8 pm
The Many Faces of Conservation
Conservation work is as important today as it has ever been and recent natural disasters only amplify how critical conservation efforts are. In this eye-opening discussion, we’ll explore the ways in which art, science, and culture can inform the future of conservation. From artistic representations in museums, to boots to the ground research, and indigenous knowledge, conservation is a community effort. How can differing perspectives work hand in hand to tackle the biggest challenges facing conservation efforts today? Join us as we acknowledge the many faces of conservation and what the future may hold by working together to make lasting change.
Meet the speakers:
Dr. Yewande Pearse | Moderator
Dr. Yewande Pearse is a neuroscientist turned science communicator, bridging the gap between science and culture. London-born and now Los Angeles-based, she is the founder of Nyewro, a science translation and communications company. Driven by the belief that science isn't just for scientists and has the power to connect people and communities, Nyewro's mission of "Broadening where science belongs" brings science into art galleries, music venues, and cultural institutions. She serves as an advisor to the California Science Center and is a Community Fellow at The Center for Diverse Leadership in Science at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.
Lauren Schoth | Artist and Producer
LA native artist Lauren Schoth uses digital multimedia and immersive storytelling to engage communities and inspire change. Her piece, "The Ever-Changing Flow," bridges art, science, and technology to promote ecological stewardship and sustainable urban development, encouraging collective action toward restoring the L.A. River and fostering a more connected future.
Dr. Daniel S. Cooper, PhD
Dan is a Principal Conservation Biologist at the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. Before this, he worked as an independent ecologist throughout southern California, focusing on the Los Angeles Basin and Santa Monica Mountains. He also teaches Ornithology (CSULB) and co-teaches the Senior Practicum for the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. His work involves habitat assessments for agencies, non-profits and private clients, and is on Biodiversity Expert Council for the city of Los Angeles.
Heidi Lucero
Heidi Lucero is an Indigenous Anthropologist and is a descendent of Acjachemen and Mutsun Ohlone tribes of California. She is an accomplished native artist and basketweaver and enjoys teaching traditional cultural knowledge. Heidi enjoys working with native foods to improve the health of native populations. She works closely with the tribes in her area to maintain cultural continuity and respect for traditional ways and values. Heidi has spent a good portion of her adult life in the protection of sacred sites and in the return of ancestors and sacred objects under NAGPRA, she is a true “NAGPRA WARRIOR.” It is her hope through her education to help bring back language and cultural traditions that have been nearly lost and to return this information to the tribes that are in need of this information for retaining cultural heritage and continuity.
President Rudy Ortega Jr.
Rudy Ortega, Jr. is the Tribal President of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, a native sovereign nation of northern Los Angeles County. As the elected leader of his Tribe, Ortega Jr. oversees the governmental body and manages affairs pertaining to the rights of all Fernandeño Tataviam tarahat (people).
Ortega Jr. is a member of Siutcabit, the lineage of present-day Encino, CA. His ancestors come from the villages that originated in the geographical areas of Santa Clarita Valley, Simi Valley, and San Fernando Valley. From 2004 – 2018, Ortega Jr. invigorated the Tribe’s non-profit Pukúu Cultural Community Services as the Executive Director. Through this role, he served the greater Los Angeles County American Indian community and oversaw Haramokngna American Indian Cultural Center. Through his seat as Tribal President, Ortega Jr. helped establish the Tataviam Land Conservancy, Paséki Strategies Corporation, and a co-management agreement with the City of San Fernando for Rudy Ortega Sr. Park. Currently, Ortega Jr. is Chair of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
Cocktail Hour | African Mammal Hall | 8–9 pm
Cocktail Hour: Enjoy the opportunity to meet and greet with the evening's program participants. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available.
