AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Events June 11-13: Waste-to-energy, Teenage History Stars and the World’s Best Nature Photos

This week, learn about an alternative way to save energy, see the work of National History Day contestants and see nature like you’ve never seen it before

Paul Bisceglio

June 10, 2013

Baltimore’s waste-to-energy station creates energy by incinerating waste. Learn about whether or not this process is right for DC in a talk at the Anacostia Community Center on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Flickr user spike55151

Tuesday, June 11: Waste-to-Energy in DC

DC, like any city, produces a ton of waste. Environmentally-minded city residents recycle and compost, but is that enough? “Waste-to-energy” is the process of creating energy by incineration. Americans can be skeptical about the effectiveness of this process, but there is evidence of its success in Europe. Is waste-to-energy is right for DC? Have an opinion or just want to know more? Stop by the Anacostia Community Museum this evening to learn the facts and discuss! Free. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Anacostia Community Museum.

Wednesday, June 12: National History Day Contest

From June 9 to 13, roughly 2,400 6th- to 12th-grade students from all 50 states are gathering at the University of Maryland, College Park, for the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest. The students, who competed at state and regional levels to reach the national stage, have completed tabletop exhibits, dramatic presentations, video documentaries, papers and websites based on historical research around this year’s theme, “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events.” Today, the contestants are making a trip to Smithsonian to show off their work, so visit the Museum to see the country’s best history students! Free. 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. American History Museum.

Thursday, June 13: Nature’s Best Photography Awards 2012

Step 1: Preview these jaw-dropping photos of animals and places. Step 2: Go see them in person! The pictures are the winners in various categories of the 2012 Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards, annual honors given to the best amateur and professional nature photographers in the world. They just went on display last week, and will be on view through early 2014. Free. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Natural History Museum.

Also, check out our Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.

For a complete listing of Smithsonian events and exhibitions visit the goSmithsonian Visitors Guide. Additional reporting by Michelle Strange.