Science Cafe Bloomington is on hiatus until it is safe to gather indoors again. We will try to hold some virtual science cafe sessions in the Summer months.
March+
Cicada cycles
Dr. Armin Moczek gave a great talk on Cicadas last week, and with his permission I’m linking to it here in lieu of an in person meeting this month.
50 billion of these will be coming up this week in Monroe County
https://iu.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/t/1_a53hmqk9/212337753
The Trouble with Psychotherapeutic Drugs
February 19, 7:00pm
Many drugs are available to treat schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, but the drugs are far from effective. And after more than 70 years of searching for effective drug therapies, we still have little insight into the underlying mechanisms of mental illness. The trouble lies, at least in part, in how the drugs were developed and how modern medicine operates.
George Rebec is Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus, Psychological and Brain Sciences
November 20th: The Universe of Protein Science
“How Structure Biology Aids to Visualize the Molecules of Life”
Have you ever wondered what makes our planet look green from space? Have you ever wondered how our cells generate the power we need to function and live? Have you ever wondered how our cells communicate with the outside world? Have you ever wondered what is responsible for how we experience ourselves and the world around us?
Join Dr Susanne Ressl on a fascinating journey through highlights from structure biology and how this particular field helped to understand how molecular machines (proteins) work.
Several things to note:
1) We’re starting at 7pm
2) We’re on the 3rd Wednesday
3) We’re at Hopscotch on Morton & Dodds
4) Hopscotch doesn’t have much food, which is why we’re beginning at 7pm (They do have great coffee, tea, beer, and pastries all the time.)
October 16th: Neurobiology of Obesity
The obesity epidemic is sweeping the globe. Find out how the body regulates weight, why it’s so difficult to keep weight off, and what this means for health outcomes and the future of obesity.
Dr. Natasha Murataeva received her PhD in neuroscience from IU
Several things to note:
1) We’re starting at 7pm
2) We’re on the 3rd Wednesday
3) We’re at Hopscotch on Morton & Dodds
4) Hopscotch doesn’t have much food, which is why we’re beginning at 7pm (They do have great coffee, tea, beer, and pastries all the time.)
Beyond Counting Monarchs: Assessing biodiversity worldwide and what it means to society
Dr. Eduardo Brondizio will provide an overview of the process and some of the key findings of IPCC for biodiversity*.
Launched in May 2019 after three years of work by over 400 experts from 50+ countries, the Global Assessment is the most comprehensive analysis of the global environment to date, looking past 50 years and scenarios going forward. It covers terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems, it evaluates international agreements on sustainable development and biodiversity, and several multilateral conventions; it looks at interactions between climate change and other drivers of change, and their implications for society; it’s the first assessment to systematically consider the contributions of indigenous and local knowledge and issues relevant to Indigenous peoples and local communities; and, it assess options and approaches going forward.
(* the Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the UN Intergovernamental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services IPBES)
Wednesday, August 21st, Gravity by Mike Snow
Wednesday, August 21, 7pm at Hopscotch
Physicist Mike Snow will join us for another Science Cafe, this time on the subject of gravity. Come learn the latest about the nature of the force that keeps us grounded.
Several things to note:
1) We’re starting at 7pm
2) We’re on the 3rd Wednesday
3) We’re at Hopscotch on Morton & Dodds
4) Hopscotch doesn’t have much food, which is why we’re beginning at 7pm (They do have great coffee, tea, beer, and pastries all the time.)
Wednesday, January 30th — postponed!
We were all set to hold our next meeting at the Roost on the 30th, when we found out about this lecture: Leading astrophysicist on landmark gravitational wave discovery to speak at IU
So, we’re encouraging Science Cafe aficionados to attend this IU event at 7:30 p.m. in Swain West, Room 119.
We’ll re-schedule Dr Newman’s talk, and will post our February talk soon!
Play is an important way that young children learn. Playing with spatial toys and engaging in spatial activities may prove to be an essential part of the development of spatial thinking. There are a number of studies that have related spatial play with spatial skill and number processing both of which are important for success in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). I will discuss some evidence in support of the spatial play STEM achievement relationship.
Our speaker is Sharlene Newman, PhD
Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences (cni.lab.indiana.edu)
Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (ovpue.indiana.edu)
Director, IU Program in Neuroscience (neuroscience.indiana.edu)