By John Hernandez

See more photos from Pushing the Limits visit to the Biosphere 2 online at: http://bit.ly/UEqGWA.

A group of Tri-Community residents braved Saturday’s cold weather and snow to tour Biosphere 2 as part of the Pushing the Limits program. This program was organized by the Mammoth Public Library and was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Pushing the Limits is a program for adults served by rural libraries. It is a reading, viewing and discussion program offered to the community. The Mammoth Library has pushed the limits a little further, adding workshops and field trips to the schedule of events.

Linda Leigh, one of the original designers of Biosphere 2, helped lead the science tour along with other guides. Linda spent two years sealed inside the Biosphere 2 experimental environment.

Library Director Diana Stirling has organized a number of program events for Pushing the Limits. The programs are centered on four themes: connection, nature, knowledge and survival.

For each theme, there is a suggested book title to be used for a discussion. Scientist Linda Leigh will join the informal gatherings to discuss the book and topic.

The programs tell about humans pushing their limits in extraordinary ways. Special interest videos include stories about a triple amputee athlete, competitors in a demolition derby, an artist and adobe builder, and a celebrity chef.

The remaining schedule for Pushing the Limits activities is listed below. Registration for any or all of the events is still open. All the programs are free but pre-registration must happen at least one week before the event. Attendees do not have to be a reader to attend any of the events.

The programs are for adults and children 16 and over. To register, contact Mammoth Public Library at (520) 487-2026. Leave a message including name, number, the name of the event(s) and the number of people attending.

Register online at their website, Library.TownofMammoth.us. The library is located at 125 N. Clark Street.

Saturday, Feb. 23, 4 p.m. – Bioactivity – making miniature biospheres with Linda Leigh

Saturday, Mar. 2, 4 p.m. – Bird walk in the Bosque – field trip with Celeste Andresen

Tuesday, Mar. 5, 6 p.m. – Knowledge – discussion and viewing book: The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel

Saturday, Mar. 9, 4 p.m. – Primate skulls – workshop with Maren Wilson

Saturday, Mar. 16, 4 p.m. – Mining Mars – workshop to suggest targets for high resolution images of Mars

Tuesday, Mar. 19, 6 p.m. – Survival – discussion and viewing book: Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler

Saturday, Mar. 23 – 4 p.m. – Wrap-up – party and displays