Science Seminars are co-sponsored by the Academy of Science of St. Louis and the Saint Louis Zoo.
This is 21st Century Science:
From a house that grows itself, to embryonic stem cells minus the embryos-community-wide seminars cover the latest in conservation biology, stem cell research, astrophysics, citizen science and large scale discovery, architecture and sustainability, and Alaska's Tongass Rain Forest.
The Science Seminar Series is free and open to the public (geared for high school age and older). No reservations required.
All Science Seminars are held on Wednesday evenings in the Zoo's Living World (north entrance of the Zoo on Government Drive). Free parking on the North Lot. Call (314) 646-4544 for more information.
Also check out the list of this year's programs for adults which includes weekend and evening offerings that looks at what the Zoo is doing for both animals under our care and in the wild.
Scent of a Male
Cheryl S. Asa, Ph.D., Fellow and 2009 Outstanding St. Louis Scientist Fellows Award recipient, Academy of Science - St. Louis; Director of Research, Saint Louis Zoo
Wednesday, October 7, 2009; 7:30 - 9 p.m.
How do animals, including humans, find the right mate? In most species, females do the choosing. They look for males that are attractive, which can mean different things in different species; but females also look for males that are a good genetic match. A male with "good genes" may be attractive to most, if not all females; but if he's a close relative, he won't be a good genetic match. That means females also need to determine a male's genetic distance to avoid inbreeding. When searching for the best match, females respond to subtle differences in male scent; and the way that genetically determined "odor fingerprint" affects a female, appears to be similar across species, including humans. Female cheetahs are notorious for being choosy, so the Saint Louis Zoo is studying how they use male scent marks to pick the best genetic match. Reproductive biologist, Dr. Cheryl Asa talks about the nature and chemistry of pairing up.
The Most Violent Places in the Universe (2009 International Year of Astronomy)
James H. Buckley, Ph.D., 2004 Outstanding St. Louis Scientist Innovation Award recipient, Academy of Science - St. Louis; Professor of Physics in Arts & Sciences, McDonnell Center Faculty Fellow, McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
Wednesday, November 4, 2009; 7:30 - 9 p.m.
When one looks at the seemingly unchanging stars in the night sky it is hard to imagine the violent processes that are at work in corners of our universe -exploding stars, flaring super massive black holes, and rapidly spinning stars with the mass of the sun packed into an object smaller than St. Louis. Astrophysicist and Washington University Physics Professor, Dr. James Buckley, presents highlights from "high energy astrophysics" - a field of astronomy that studies some of the most energetic processes in the universe and seeks to uncover some of the fundamental questions about the formation of galaxies and the makeup of the universe. Dr. Buckley shares how his field of gamma-ray astronomy probes these violent processes and may provide a means of detecting the dark components of our universe, ranging from black holes to the dark matter. It's an out-of-this-world talk you won't want to miss.
How to Make Embryonic Stem Cells without Embryos
R. Michael Roberts, Ph.D., Curators' Professor of Animal Science, Biochemistry, and Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri - Columbia, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center
Wednesday, December 2, 2009; 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are pluripotent--that is they have the potential to develop into more than one type of mature cell, and can theoretically give rise to all the tissue of the body. They have enormous therapeutic potential as agents to replace worn out or damaged tissues, but the safety of such cells and the likelihood that they will be rejected as "foreign" raise questions about their eventual utility. Recently, pluripotent cells very similar to ES cells have been obtained by "re-programming" ordinary skin cells, raising the possibility that the graft cells can be matched to the patient. Nevertheless, safety of the technology is still a major concern, as the cells may become cancerous after transfer. In Dr. Michael Roberts' laboratory at the University of Missouri - Columbia, they are deriving such induced pluripotent stem cells from pig, with the view to testing the safety and efficacy of transplants in a large mammal whose anatomy, physiology, and immune system resemble those of the human. It's a fascinating look at science on the frontiers of biochemistry.
Citizen Science: From the Cosmos to Coneflowers - The Story of How Ordinary People Are Enabling Large Scale Discovery
Pamela Gay, Ph.D., Astronomer, Assistant Research Professor, Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville; Co-Host, Astronomy Cast; Team Member, Galaxy Zoo
Wednesday, February 10, 2010; 7:30 - 9 p.m.
We live in a new age of technology-driven science, with new instruments and new computers that allow us to collect more information - more images, more DNA profiles, more environmental sensor data, than ever before. With this flood of information, scientists are no longer able to explore all the images, all the data, on their own, so more and more, science is turning to the public and requesting help. From the discovery of rare "Green Pea" galaxies to the first sighting in fourteen years of a rare non-spotted ladybug in the Northeastern U.S., ordinary citizens are contributing to discoveries in science.
It is possible to get involved in meaningful science either by going online or by going outside. The Galaxy Zoo project invites people to help astronomers better understand our evolving universe by classifying online galaxy images from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Rather be outside? The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a variety of bird counting projects to help track the population of birds around the United States. Starting with the original citizen science projects begun by Benjamin Franklin, astronomer, writer, and podcaster, Pamela Gay, talks about citizens and science, the problem of data flood, and the ways ordinary citizens today can, and do, contribute to the pursuit of scientific discovery.
Subversive Science: Sustainability and Architecture
Bruce Lindsey, Dean, College of Architecture and Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design, E. Desmond Lee Professor for Community Collaboration, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Washington University in St. Louis
Wednesday, March 10, 2010; 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Two years after the publication of Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, botanist Paul Sears described ecology as a "subversive science" because it called into question the cultural and economic premises of Western societies - pointing out the ironic fact that the root word for economics and ecology is the Greek word oikos for house, household, or family. Bruce Lindsey, Dean of Washington University's College of Architecture, takes a look at some of the early American environmental thinking as a foundation for discussing current trends in sustainability and architecture. Beginning with early voices such as Aldo Leopold, Ian McHarg, Rachael Carson, and others, he explores sustainability as both a cultural and technical force driving contemporary architectural practice.
A house that grows itself, a sustainable farmers' market in the Ville neighborhood of St. Louis that improves public health, a play structure for an after school arts program in Pagedale, a sustainable skyscraper in Chicago.... Projects by both professionals and students illustrate the current issues informing environmental design. Dr. Lindsey speculates about the future of architecture and its relationship to our environment and us.
Salmon in the Trees: Life in Alaska's Tongass Rain Forest
-- a photographic journey and book signing with Amy Gulick, award-winning photographer and author, Salmon in the Trees
Wednesday, April 7, 2010; 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Salmon in the Trees tells the story of the Tongass, a rare rain forest spread among thousands of islands in the panhandle of Alaska. It's a place where everything grows everything. Young saplings grow on top of fallen, centuries-old trees. Bears, eagles, and Native cultures grow strong on wild salmon. Trees grow salmon, and salmon grow trees.
At almost 17 million acres, the Tongass is America's largest national forest, and comprises nearly a third of the world's rare old-growth temperate rain forest. With some of the highest densities of grizzly bears, black bears, and bald eagles in the world, it's a place that time hasn't quite caught up to -- yet. Can the great forest's biological treasures withstand the modern pressures of a globalized world? The Tongass is public land entrusted to all Americans. The decisions we make today will determine if the Tongass will continue to be a place where everything grows everything, and salmon grow in trees.
During the past two years, wildlife photographer Amy Gulick, has documented the grizzly bears, wolves, bald eagles, humpback whales and wild salmon of the Tongass National Forest. Gulick is an award-winning photographer and writer specializing in natural history, wildlife and conservation issues.
Book signing, "Salmon in the Trees: Life in Alaska's Tongass Rainforest" with author Amy Gulick will follow the talk.
Special thanks to the Alaska Wilderness League for sponsoring, "Salmon in the Trees."
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