Science Cafe – Page 2

Science Cafe, March 20, 2024: The Way to Ozempic

Our quest for weight-reducing prescription drugs

our quest for weight-reducing prescription drugs

We humans are more susceptible to obesity than any other mammal. While this trait served a vital purpose in pre-agricultural times, it has evolved into a significant public health issue in modern societies. Developing pharmacological therapies for obesity has been a formidable challenge, marked by numerous ineffective and sometimes hazardous interventions. However, Ozempic, a pioneering drug belonging to the GLP-1 agonist class, has recently emerged as a safe and effective approach to weight reduction. In this science café discussion, we’ll delve into why Ozempic works, how Ozempic works, and whether it lives up to the unprecedented hype.

Dr. Gergö Szanda is our presenter this month. Dr. Szanda is a Gill Center Research Scientist

Stellar Billiards, November 9, 2022 6pm

Researcher: Maggie (Margaret) Thompson.SOFIA: Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

The universe is a dynamic environment where collisions and close encounters play a significant role. For instance, we will take a closer look at collisions responsible for the birth of our planet Earth and life itself, but also those that nearly destroyed it. Is our Solar system safe? Are there any hidden dangers we can expect in the future? Let’s find out.

Dr. Vaclav Pavlik is our speaker this month

Science Café, October 12, 2022: CRISPR genome editing

Dr. Jingwei Meng, Assistant Research Professor at the IU School of Medicine will walk about CRISPR, a new tool that has opened the door to a revolution in gene editing.

CRISPR, the most powerful tool for genome editing, has innovated the scientific research for the past decades. Originally identified as an immuno-response mechanism in bacteria, CRISPR technology has weaponized scientific research, clinical applications, and our understanding of the human race. Its profound impact on future scientific development, its legal battles between CVC and Broad Institute, and its ethical implications on genome editing will attract our attention in the foreseeable future.

August 10, 2022: Hurricanes and Climate Change

Science Café is happening on Aug 10 at 6PM at Hopscotch.

Dr. Chanh Kieu, Associate Professor at IU’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences will discuss broadly how hurricanes and climate are related. He will also talk about a way by which hurricanes can be used to diagnose future climate changes, along with potential uncertainties and challenges of this approach.

We will restart Science Café monthly (mostly) on Wednesdays starting at 6 at Hopscotch on Dodds & Morton.

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

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.