Lunchtime Discovery Series

Chrystal Regan, Executive Director, Tryon Palace

Tryon Palace was originally built between 1767 and 1770 as the first permanent capitol of the Colony of North Carolina and a home for the Royal Governor and his family. Today, this restored historic building and its grounds and gardens attract thousands of tourists, history buffs, and school children annually, but there’s much more to the story.
Join Tryon Palace Executive Director Chrystal Regan to learn the whole story of Tryon Palace from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War Era to today, including the African American history of the site and its connections to the culture of the region.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Terri L. White, President and CEO of the Charlotte Museum of History
Terri White is a dedicated champion of the arts and humanities with a rich background that includes roles at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, the Heinz History Center, and the Carnegie Science Center. As the President and CEO of the Charlotte Museum of History, Terri brings a wealth of experience and insight into the intersection of history and science.
Join her for an engaging discussion on how STEM fields are revolutionizing historic preservation and museum interpretation. From the impacts of climate change to technologies like ground-penetrating radar to the innovative use of video game technology to enhance exhibit experiences, Terri will explore the many ways STEM is shaping the future of American museums and helping preserve our past.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Earl L. Ijames, Curator, North Carolina Museum of History
Earl Ijames is the Curator of African American History and Agriculture at the North Carolina Museum of History and is also an Emmy Award-winning documentarian and USDA-licensed tree farmer. Join us as he shares his unique perspective on the longleaf pine ecosystem in our state’s history, including the story of Union General William T. Sherman’s march through the longleaf pine forest that once stretched from Georgia through South Carolina and into North Carolina.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Kyleene Rooks, Park Manager, Walnut Creek Wetland Park
Join Kyleene Rooks to learn about the history of Southeast Raleigh and how a community of African American residents successfully advocated for their rights to access maintained green spaces, better water quality, and protections from their municipality. Learn about who and what inspired the creation of the Norman and Betty Camp Education Center and how the legacy of these great advocates continues in work happening throughout the city by their partners.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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The Roanoke Cooperative Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Project works to restore and conserve threatened forest land by increasing the forest owners’ income and the value of the land. Join program director Alton Perry to learn more about this unique program that began as a partnership between the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Forest Service and has since grown to include other state and federal agencies, the forest industry, academic institutions, and forestry and conservation organizations. Alton will discuss how the program started in seven counties that make up Roanoke Cooperative’s service area and is expanding in the region, and possibly the state. 
February 5, 2025 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Laura White, Seasonal Park Ranger

Laura White is well-known in the North Carolina environmental education community and served as the supervisor of Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve for 22 years. She has taught and mentored hundreds of students and environmental educators and continues to support young people in the field today. But her career didn’t end when she retired from the Town of Cary – Laura has continued to teach others about the environment by serving as a seasonal park ranger at National Parks. Laura will share some of her adventures and her photography. This will be a great talk for those who are just starting out in the field and for those nearing retirement and interested in “encore” career opportunities.

Wednesday, January 29 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Jeffrey C. Beane, Collections Manager for Herpetology, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Snakes are important components of North Carolina’s ecosystems. Jeff Beane, Herpetology Collection Manager with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, will discuss basic snake biology as well as identification, natural history, ecology, distribution, and status of each of our state’s 38 species.

Wednesday, January 22 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

North Carolina has recently had the rare opportunity to enjoy the Northern Lights in our skies. Tony Rice joins us to explain why these opportunities to see the Aurora Borealis have presented themselves recently, what is required for the aurora to be visible this far south, and tips for seeing it. We’ll also explore the larger topic of space weather and its impact on satellites, astronaut health, and more.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025 @ Noon – 1:00 p.m. Eastern
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