In brief

Is there a docent in the house?

The Semitic Museum at Harvard University is looking for volunteer docents to guide tours for the new exhibit “The Houses of Ancient Israel: Domestic, Royal, Divine.” Training will begin later this month. E-mail kconnors@fas.harvard.edu for more information.

Sackler Saturdays return with ‘The Wonders of Nature’

The Harvard University Art Museums will resume its third season of the popular Sackler Saturdays program for families and children on Feb. 14. Families with children ages 6 to 11 are invited to explore “The Wonders of Nature: Rocks and Mountains, Sea and Sky” from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Sackler Museum, 485 Broadway St. (at the corner of Quincy Street).

Come see how artists in ancient times celebrated rocks, mountains, flowers, and landscape. Attendees can also decorate a scroll or a folding screen like the ones from the Sackler’s Asian galleries.

Admission is free, and children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call (617) 495-4402.

Dean’s Award nominations sought

Nominations are now being accepted for the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Dean’s Awards for Leadership in the Advancement of Women Faculty and Staff. The annual awards – initiated by HMS Dean Joseph B. Martin – recognize one faculty member and one staff member who have made exceptional contributions to enhancing the professional lives of women at HMS and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HDS). The Joint Committee on the Status of Women (JCSW) organizes the awards.

Members of the University community are encouraged to submit nominations by Feb. 27 for the faculty award, and by March 5 for the staff award.

To obtain a nomination form, contact Nancy Meyer at (617) 432-0719 or Nancy_Meyer@hms.harvard.edu. Visit the JCSW Web site for more information.

Poster and Exhibit Day registration now open

Faculty and students of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) are invited to participate in the 18th annual Poster and Exhibit Day, to be held March 11 in the Kresge Building cafeteria. Prepared by students or by a team on which a student is the first author or presenter, the posters and exhibits offer the HSPH community an opportunity to learn more about the research and service activities being carried out at the School. The best posters will be eligible for a $500 prize, as judged by the Faculty Council.

Space is limited, so early registration is recommended. To sign up, visit the Web site. The registration deadline is Feb. 27.

BSC course to examine study strategies

The Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC) will be offering morning and afternoon sessions of its spring-term Reading and Study Strategy course beginning Feb. 9. Through readings, films, and classroom exercises, students learn to read more purposively, selectively, and with greater speed and comprehension. The class, which meets for one hour per day, will be held Feb. 9 through March 12 (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) from 8 to 9 a.m., and Feb. 9 through Feb. 27 (Monday-Friday) from 4 to 5 p.m. The cost is $150.

To register, visit the BSC at 5 Linden St., or call (617) 495-2581 for more information.

– Compiled by Andrew Brooks