From explaining the role of bumblebees to debunking the myth of the brontosaurus, books play an important role in educating children and adults about our natural world and the science behind it. Two special talks, a collaboration between the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and the Iowa City Book Festival, will explore the relationship between the written word and past and present life on Earth.

Science writer and amateur paleontologist Brian Switek will discuss “Why Dinosaurs Matter” in a special UI Explorers Seminar at 7 p.m. Thursday Oct. 2 in the Biosphere Discovery Hub in Macbride Hall on the University of Iowa campus. Dinosaurs tower over us in museum halls and roar across movie screens, but why do we love them so much? Switek will explore how our affection for the "terrible lizards" has informed and altered our understanding of life's history and our place in it.

"Dinosaurs are celebrities, but I think there's more to them than prehistoric star-power,” says Switek. “I hope that the museum's audience will come away with a deeper understanding of how our story and the tale of the dinosaurs are intertwined."

Switek, who is the author of My Beloved Brontosaurus and Written in Stone, shares the latest paleontology news on his National Geographic blog Laelaps. Business Insider has named him one of the “top science social media wizards” and HLN declared him one of “Twitter’s 8 coolest geeks.”

Iowa’s simple, elegant natural beauty has brought inspiration to writers and visual artists for generations. Many of the works that make Iowa City a City of Literature celebrate our surrounding landscape. The bonds between art, literature and nature are expressed in the children’s picture books as well and can be an invaluable tool in introducing children to nature.

Local author and illustrator Claudia McGehee will share her experiences illustrating and writing nature-focused picture books, and the inspirations behind her work in a special talk titled “From Page to Pathway: Connecting to our natural world through picture books” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. McGehee’s award-winning titles A Tallgrass Prairie Alphabet, A Woodlands Counting Book and Where Do Birds Live explore and celebrate ecosystems found regionally and coast-to-coast. Her presentation will include ideas on how to use picture books to expand the outdoors for young readers, a survey of some favorite nature connected picture books, and a peek into her latest book projects echoing this same theme.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact the Pentacrest Museums in advance at 319-335-2010.