Marin Science Seminar

2011-11-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

The Large Hadron Collider:

What it is and what we have Learned from it so far

Photo from ParticleFever.com

with Beate Heinemann, Ph.D.

Marin Science Seminar Presentation: "The Large Hadron Collider: What it is and what we have Learned from it so far" Watch the protons fly as Dr. Heinemann returns to tell us the latest on CERN's Large Hadron Collider and the ATLAS project. Download the flyer here, (November 16, 2011, 7:30-8:30 pm, Terra Linda HS, Room 207, San Rafael, CA)

R.S.V.P. on Facebook here:

"The field of "particle physics" tries to understand the physics of the most fundamental building blocks of matter. How many such building blocks are there? How do they relate to each other? Why are they there? Currently we do not have a good theory why we have any mass at all, even though of course we know that all matter has a mass. There are, however, many theories about why this might be and the goal of my experiment is to prove or disprove them, or to maybe find completely unexpected phenomena that will then need to be explained. One exciting possibility is that we find extra dimensions of space that could even result in the production of mini-blackholes. My experiment is called ATLAS and is situated at the "Large Hadron Collider" (abbreviated as LHC) that is located in Switzerland. There are more than 2000 physicists on my experiment, and many engineers and technicians: all of them collaborate with each other to answer some of the most basic and fundamental questions of Science today. In my talk I will describe how this experiment works and what we hope to discover there."

Dr. Heinemann is Associate Professor of Physics at UC-Berkeley.

SPOOKY Physiology & Embryology this October at MSS!

2011-10-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

“Making Faces: Developmental Mechanisms of Craniofacial Evolution”

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Terra Linda High School, San Rafael, Room 207


Dr. Rich Schneider, Man of Mystery

Dr. Schneider will overview experiments in his laboratory that have revealed molecular and cellular processes involved in facial patterning. He will describe how his studies to understand the basis for skull shape in breeds of dogs led him to create a cell transplant system whereby duck embryos develop with quail beaks. He will bring an assortment of skulls. Get the flyer here. (October, 2009; October 19, 2011)

Visit Dr. Schneider's website

R.S.V.P. on Facebook here:

Dr. Schneider graduated from Hampshire College in 1991. As an undergraduate, he published his first paper, which was on skull evolution in domestic dogs, following an internship at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. He received his Master's Degree in 1994 and his PhD in 1998 from Duke University. He also studied embryology at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, and at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, NY. For his Postdoctoral work at the UCSF, Dr. Schenider investigated molecular mechanisms that pattern the craniofacial skeleton. In 2001, he joined the faculty of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF.

2011-09-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

Let's welcome back Vania Coelho, Ph.D. of Dominican University

Photo by Vania Coelho

“Homeless Nemo: What Does the Future Hold for Coral Reef Communities?”

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Terra Linda HS, San Rafael, CA - Room 207

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Coral reefs are undoubtedly among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Studies predict that without increased conservation and restoration efforts a complete collapse is only a few decades away. This talk will focus on the current status of coral reefs around the world, including threats to them and the consequences of those threats. (4/30/08, 9/29/10, October 5, 2011) Get the flyer here.

Dr. Coelho holds degrees in Biology, Ecology and Zoology and she completed doctoral research while working as a visiting scientist at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. After completing her doctorate she held research scientist positions at Columbia University. Dr. Coelho’s research focuses on the ecology and evolutionary biology of marine invertebrates including benthic community ecology, population biology, behavior, systematics of crustaceans, and coral reef ecology. She is currently Associate Professor of Biology at Dominican University.

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What's in Our Genes?: How our genes make us who we are"

2011-09-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
Terra Linda High School, 320 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA
Room 207

RSVP on FaceBook

with Jane Gitschier, Ph.D. of UCSF's Institute of Human Genetics

What makes us male or female? What makes us susceptible to disease? What makes us different from each other? And what makes us different from other animals? Come learn the answer to these questions. It's all in our genes! Download the flyer. (September 28, 2011)

Dr. Gitschier’s laboratory has broad interests in the field of human genetics, ranging from past work on the molecular genetics of hemophilia, through gene discovery for a variety of inherited disorders. Combined with discovery of genes in mouse mutants and the generation of mouse models for human disease, her research has led to a deeper understanding of heavy metal metabolism and has provided more accurate genetic diagnosis and prognosis for families. Currently her lab is engaged in two unusual projects. The first concerns understanding the genetic basis for absolute pitch perception, a rare cognitive trait in which the pitch of a tone or sound can be named without any reference tone. While she hypothesizes that AP has a large genetic component, exposure to music in early childhood is also key. A second project involves the use of DNA haplotypes to infer ancestry, an endeavor known as genetic genealogy.

Jane Gitschier joined the UCSF Faculty in 1985 following post-doctoral work at Genentech. She received her PhD from MIT in Biology in 1981. She was an HHMI Investigator and a Guggenheim Fellow. Her longstanding interest is in human genetics. She lives with her daughter Annie Steinberg and cat Pogo in San Francisco.

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Sea Cucumbers Invade TLHS!

2011-01-26T10:01:00.000-08:00

Wed. January 26, 2011

“Life in the Slow Lane - Peristaltic Locomotion in Sea Cucumbers” How exactly do soft-bodied animals get around? This talk combines results from projects investigating locomotion in four species of sea cucumbers (Echinoderms). Professor Spain will talk about peristaltic locomotion being used to crawl and burrow into sand. She will also give an overview of results on the kinematics analysis of crawling across sand. These include variables like stride distance, stride length, and crawling velocity. Crawl on over and check it out! Download the flyer. (January 26, 2011)

Dr. Spain is Assistant Professor of Biology at Dominican University, San Rafael. She earned her B.S. in Biology Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Currently, her research focuses on the functional morphology and locomotion of invertebrates

Physics for Future Presidents

2010-11-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

with Professor Richard Muller of UC Berkeley
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Terra Linda High School, San Rafael, Room 207

Physics for future Presidents? Yes, that is a serious title. Energy, global warming, terrorism and counter-terrorism, nukes, cancer, internet, satellites, remote sensing, ICBMs and ABMs, DVDs and HDTVs -- economic and political issues increasingly have a strong high tech content. Misjudge the science, make a wrong decision. Yet many of our leaders never studied physics, and do not understand science and technology. I will .. give you a quick course in what you need to know about the physics of terrorism, nukes, alternative energy, and global warming.

Richard Muller is Professor of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley and Faculty Senior Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

More here.

Health News - Beta blockers reduce risk of death after surgery, study finds

2010-09-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

Health News - Beta blockers reduce risk of death after surgery, study finds

Homeless Nemo: What Does the Future Hold for Coral Reef Communities?

2010-09-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

Homeless Nemo: What Does the Future Hold for Coral Reef Communities?
with Vania Coelho, Ph.D. of Dominican University, San Rafael, CA

Coral reefs are undoubtedly among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Studies predict that without increased conservation and restoration efforts a complete collapse is only a few decades away. This talk will focus on the current status of coral reefs around the world, including threats to them and the consequences of those threats. (April 30, 2008; September 29, 2010) Get the flyer here.

Dr. Coelho holds degrees in Biology, Ecology and Zoology and she completed doctoral research while working as a visiting scientist at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. After completing her doctorate she held research scientist positions at Columbia University. Dr. Coelho’s research focuses on the ecology and evolutionary biology of marine invertebrates including benthic community ecology, population biology, behavior, systematics of crustaceans, and coral reef ecology. She is currently Associate Professor of Biology at Dominican University.

Ants: The Invisible Majority

2010-09-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Brian Fisher, Ph.D.

Marin Science Seminar Presentation: "Ants: The Invisible Majority" (September 22, 2010) Download the flyer here.

Dr. Fisher is modern day explorer who treks through the last remote rainforests, deserts and plains of Madagascar in search of ants. His research highlights insects as a useful tool to discover and preserve all plants and animals on this unique island. Along the way he has discovered over 1000 new species including the jumping ants and Dracula ants. He has published over 75 peer reviewed articles in scholarly journals including the recently published “Ants of North America” with Stefan Cover. He has appeared in a number of BBC, Discover Channel, and National Geographic films and has been profiled in Newsweek and Discover magazine. When not working in the field, Dr. Fisher lives with the banana slugs in a treehouse in Marin County.

Dr. Fisher is currently Associate Curator of Entomology at the California Academy of Sciences and adjunct professor of biology at both the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State University.

Cartoon Physics - How Scientists and Artists Make Pixar Films

2010-09-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

with Rod Bogart of Pixar
Wed. Sept. 15, 2010, 7:30 pm, TLHS, San Rafael, CA

Pixar films are known for their characters and stories, but how is the film actually made? This talk will describe the various applications of math and science behind the art, from animation and
simulation, through shading and lighting, to mastering for the
audience.

Rod Bogart joined Pixar in 2005 after spending ten years as a software engineer at Industrial Light & Magic. He has a M.S. from the University of Utah, where he specialized in computer graphics. At Pixar, Mr. Bogart is in charge of color science at the studio, overseeing the technology for creating the final distributed masters of the movie.

Nanoscience Now (Let's move atoms one by one and watch them with powerful microscopes!)

2010-09-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

with Miquel Salmeron, Ph.D. of Lawrence Berkeley Labs

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Terra Linda High School, Room 207

Prof. M. Salmeron is the Director of the Materials Science Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Adjunct Professor at UC Berkeley Materials Science and Engineering Department. He is the Scientific Director of the Imaging and Manipulation Facility of the Molecular Foundry, the Department of Energy Nanoscience Institute in Berkeley. He received his B.A. in Physics from the University of Barcelona, and his Ph.D. from the University Autonoma of Madrid, Spain, in 1975. In 1984 he moved to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a Divisional Fellow, becoming a Senior Scientist in 1996.

His research focuses on atomic scale structure and properties of surfaces and nanomaterials for applications in electronics, catalysis, tribology and environmental science. He was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1996 and of the American Vacuum Society in 2003. He received the Outstanding Research Award in 1996 and the Outstanding Scientific Accomplishment Award in Materials Chemistry in 1995 from the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2004 he received the Klaus Halbach Award for the development of innovative instrumentation at the Advanced Light Source. In 2008 he received the Medard Welch Award of the American Vacuum Society and the Langmuir Lectureship Award of the American Chemical Society.

Prof. Salmeron is the President of the Scientific Advisory Board of the “Institut Catala de Nanotecnologia” inBarcelona, Spain. He has published 390 Journal articles and book chapters.

2010-07-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe this. This woman is making her own transistors with silicon wafers and a few chemicals, some of which are from the hardware store.

She made a MOSFET, incredibly.

Here is it

The Decision Tree with Wired editor Thomas Goetz

2010-06-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

Marin Science Seminar visited Kishore Hari's Down to a Science cafe in San Francisco last week and participated in a fun game-show style presentation on using technology to make and track personal medical decisions. One of the kids got to play the part of a basketball player with a genetic heart condition which might preclude him from continuing his lucrative career. Wisely, he chose not to continue playing so he wouldn't suddenly drop dead. Wired editor Thomas Goetz ran the show while explaining how new technologies can help us to make better medical and personal health choices. He then entertained a lively discussion on health care, bioethics and physician vs. patient access to expertise. Here is a pic of some of the MSS young people with Kishore and Thomas, and a copy of Thomas's book The Decision Tree, which he very generously signed and gave to each of the game-show participants. A edutaining time was had by all!

Sun, Skin Cancer, and the Highlands of Guatemala with James Cleaver, PhD of UCSF

2010-04-20T14:49:00.000-07:00

Dr. Cleaver will describe the discovery of a Guatemalan village with a high incidence of skin cancer and his lab's plans for their care. The genetic cause is a failure to repair sunlight damage to DNA. Repair of DNA is a mechanism our bodies possess for protection against all kinds of environmental exposures. DNA repair defects are involved in many kinds of cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Get the flyer here. (April 21, 2010)

Dr. Cleaver gained his BA and PhD at the University of Cambridge, England. He spent two years as a postdoctoral student at Harvard, and joined the faculty of UCSF in 1966 in the Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environmental Health, and became the research director. He discovered that the basis of xeroderma pigmentosum was a DNA repair deficiency in 1968, and has worked on this and related diseases ever since. He was granted Emeritus status at UCSF in January 2004, but continues to carry out research. His appointments as Professor are held in the Departments of Dermatology and of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and he is a member of the UCSF Cancer Center.

Dr. Cleaver is an internationally recognized expert on the molecular mechanisms of environmentally-induced and genetically-determined human cancers. He demonstrated as early as 1968 that cancer can be viewed as a genetic disease and his revolutionary work on xeroderma pigmentosum has led to breakthroughs in our understanding of the link between DNA repair efficiency and human disease. His pioneering work has resulted in more than 350 papers and reviews. He received research awards from the Radiation Research Society (1973), American Academy of Dermatology (1976), the Phycological Society (1991), Harvard University JB Little award (2003), the UCSF Faculty Research lectureship (2004) and the American Skin Association (2006), He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1999.

Analysis and Dating of Ancient Chinese Jade with Sam Bernstein

2010-04-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

March 3, 2010
Analysis and Dating of Ancient Chinese Jade with Sam Bernstein

Mr. Sam Bernstein will lecture on the topic of stylistic and physical examination techniques utilized in authenticating ancient Chinese Works of art. The usefulness of art historical and scientific testing techniques give us a valuable tool kit for understanding how ancient artists worked. Get the flyer here. (March 3, 2010)

Sam Bernstein is an internationally recognized authority on Chinese jades. His company, S. Bernstein & Co., deals in Chinese jade, antiquities, and rare books on China and jade. It is located on the first floor of the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco.

Why are there Stars?

2010-02-24T09:38:00.000-08:00

with Steven Stahler, Ph.D.
Wed. February 24, 2010

On a clear night, the sky is filled with countless stars. Our Sun is one of them. How do these objects form? In recent decades, astronomers have begun answering this very old question. This progress has occurred despite the fact that the youngest stars are invisible to the eye and even to most telescopes. Along the way, we have learned how planets like the Earth are created as part of the stellar birth process. (February 24, 2010) Get the flyer here.

Dr. Steven Stahler is an astrophysicist at U. C. Berkeley. Raised in Maryland, he attended graduate school at UC-Berkeley in physics. He was a professor at MIT before returning to the Bay Area in 1992. His research centers on the problem of star formation, and he recently coauthored the first comprehensive textbook in the field (“The Formation of Stars,” Stahler & Palla, Wiley-VCH, 2004). Trained as a theoretical physicist, Steve especially delights in the esthetic aspect of his research, which he tries to convey in his numerous public talks.

"We Are Stardust: Genesis of the Elements" with Mary Barsony, Ph.D.

2010-02-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

Marin Science Seminar Presentation: “We Are Stardust: Genesis of the Elements” Dr. Barsony's talk focuses on how stars shine and how they have generated the elements. (February 3, 2010) Get the flyer here.

One of the fundamental goals of astronomy and astrophysics is to understand how the Universe and its constituent galaxies, stars, and planets formed, how they evolved, and what their destiny will be. Dr. Barsony's research is focused on the formation of stars out of the raw material provided by tenuous interstellar gas found in frigid clouds in our Galaxy. Since the present birthplaces of stars are hidden by interstellar dust mixed in with the gas, exploring the detailed mechanisms involved in star (and planetary system) formation requires observations at wavelengths whose passage is relatively unimpeded by the intervening dust: radio, millimeter, submillimeter, infrared, and X-ray wavelengths.

Through submillimeter observations in the early ‘90’s, Dr. Barsony helped identify the first true protostar—an object surrounded by infalling gas that is in the process of accumulating the mass it will have as a full-fledged star. Such objects are rare, and the focus of intense current (and future) study, with space-based observatories such as the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Herschel Observatory, and the planned JWST (Hubble’s replacement that wil operate at infrared wavelengths).

Dr. Barsony is Adjoint Professor of Physics & Astronomy at San Francisco State University and a Research Scientist at the Space Science Institute. She earned her Ph.D. from CalTech and her S.B. from MIT.

Meet the Researcher: Sophie Boddington of UCSF

2010-01-25T18:46:00.000-08:00

“Monitoring Stem Cell Based Therapies with MR and Optical Imaging”
with Sophie Boddington of UCSF Dept. of Radiology

January 27, 2010

Ms. Boddington will go over new methods to monitor stem cell therapies with Magnetic Resonance (MR) and Optical Imaging. She will give a brief description of new understandings in stem cell biology with an emphasis on advancements in the field of stem cell tracking. (January 27, 2010) Get the flyer here.

Sophie Boddington graduated from the University of Colorado in 2005 with a double major in Psychology and Pre-Med and a certificate in Neuroscience. She is an author on several scientific papers and currently works as a Lab Manager and Junior Specialist at the UCSF Dept. of Radiology.

“Infectious Disease and the H1N1 Virus”

2010-01-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

with Charles Chiu, M.D. Ph.D
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Research in the Chiu laboratory explores (1) the replication, biology, and pathogenesis of human cardioviruses and (2) detection of known and novel viral agents in acute diseases suspected to have an infectious etiology.

The Chiu lab is actively validating the Virochip and “deep” sequencing for use in clinical diagnostics and in outbreak investigation. Current projects include (1) a prospective longitudinal study of respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients at UCSF, (2) a metagenomics analysis of H1N1 influenza A strains, and (3) design of a respiratory / stool subtyping microarray for use in diagnosis of acute respiratory infections and gastroenteritis.

Dr. Chiu is currently Director of the UCSF Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center and Assistant Director of the UCSF Microbiology Laboratory.

How to Bring Solar Energy to Seven Billion People

2009-11-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

"How to Bring Solar Energy to Seven Billion People" with Cyrus Wadia, Ph.D.
November 4, 2009

Dr. Wadia is a pioneer in bringing a multidisciplinary approach to solving the complicated issue of renewable energy. Join him in a lively discussion on the promise -and the pitfalls - of solar energy. Download the flyer here.

In the city of San Rafael, the only way solar energy can be cost-effective is if the local government provides generous subsidies. That's true just about everywhere in the world. But what if there were a photovoltaic technology that was so cheap and so easy to install that even the poorest and most remote villages of the world could gain access to electricity? In this presentation, learn about discoveries of new materials that can make solar energy a reality for billions.

By exploiting the powers of nanotechnology and taking advantage of non-toxic, Earth-abundant materials, Cyrus Wadia has fabricated new solar cell devices that have the potential to be several orders of magnitude less expensive than conventional solar cells. And by mastering the chemistry of these materials - and the economics of solar energy - he envisions bringing electricity to the 1.2 billion people now living without it.

Dr. Wadia holds an MS in Chemical Engineering from MIT and a PhD in Energy Resources from UC-Berkeley. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in Berkeley. Dr. Wadia spent six years in the high tech industry, has specialized in launching new technologies to market and has completed several successful new product introductions. Presently, Cyrus continues his work helping companies take technology to market as part of an independent consulting practice he began in 2001.

Making Faces: Developmental Mechanisms of Craniofacial Evolution

2009-10-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

"Making Faces: Developmental Mechanisms of Craniofacial Evolution"
with Rich Schneider, Ph.D.
October 28, 2009

Dr. Schneider will overview experiments in his laboratory that have revealed molecular and cellular processes involved in facial patterning. He will describe how his studies to understand the basis for skull shape in breeds of dogs led him to create a cell transplant system whereby duck embryos develop with quail beaks. He will bring an assortment of skulls.

Dr. Schneider is on the faculty of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF, and in 2004 he was made Director of the Department's Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory on the Parnassus Heights campus.

“Stimulating the Brain with Electricity and Stem Cells”

2009-10-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

“Stimulating the Brain with Electricity and Stem Cells”
with Daniel Lim MD PhD
October 21, 2009

Dr. Lim will discuss Neurosurgery for Parkinson’s Disease and other Tremor Disorders, treatments for such disorders ranging from Deep Brain Stimulation (delivery of electrical currents), and the future of stem cell based therapies of such disorders.

Dr. Lim is Assistant Professor in Residence of Neurological Surgery and Director of Restorative Neurosurgery at the UCSF School of Medicine. The focus of his research is on neural stem cells and neurogenesis. He is particularly interested in the molecular biology of the population of neural stem cells found in the subventricular zone (SVZ). For neural stem cells to make neurons, daughter cells need to express certain sets of genes while repressing others. The maintenance of such lineage-specific transcriptional programs is in part regulated by chromatin structure – the “packaged” state of DNA with histone proteins. Recently, Dr. Lim’s work has revealed that the chromatin remodeling factor called Mixed Lineage Leukemia-1 (MLL1) is essential for postnatal neural stem cells to make new neurons. Currently, his work focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which MLL1 specifies a transcriptional program instructive for neurogenesis. In the future he hopes to define the genetic programs and molecular mechanisms that guide the formation of neurons and glia from SVZ neural stem cells, and translate these discoveries into cell-based and genetic therapies for human neurological diseases.

In addition to his basic science interests, Lim has a clinical interest in stereotactic neurosurgery and has worked to study deep brain stimulation for movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and atypical tremors resulting from multiple sclerosis or stroke.

Bad Blood: Interrogating Signaling Networks in Blood Disease

2009-10-12T21:56:00.000-07:00

Wed. October 14, 2009
Bad Blood: Interrogating Signaling Networks in Blood Disease
with Michelle Hermiston, M.D. Ph.D.

Dr. Hermiston will talk about her training and experience as a physician and research speacialist in the field of pediatric hematology and oncology.

Dr. Michelle L. Hermiston is a specialist in pediatric cancer and blood diseases at UCSF Children's Hospital with a special interest in defining the underlying mechanisms in the development of lymphoid malignancies, including leukemia and lymphoma. She earned her medical degree and doctorate in developmental biology at Washington University School of Medicine and the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences. Hermiston completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology and a residency at UCSF before joining the faculty in 2002. She also participated in a Medical Scientist Training Program at Washington University and at the UCSF Molecular Medicine Research Fellowship Program. She holds memberships with numerous organizations, including the American Society of Hematology and American Academy of Pediatrics. Hermiston is an adjunct instructor of pediatric hematology and oncology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Smashing Protons!

2009-09-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

"Smashing Protons!: Exploring Nature's Fundamental Particles and Forces with the Large Hadron Collider" with Beate Heinemann, Assistant Professor of Physics, UC-Berkeley

(September 30, 2009)

Dr. Heinemann's experiment recently became famous when it was featured in the blockbuster movie "Angels & Demons" with Tom Hanks. She will discuss particle physics and her work with the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.

"The field of "particle physics" tries to understand the physics of the most fundamental building blocks of matter. How many such building blocks are there? How do they relate to each other? Why are they there? Currently we do not have a good theory why we have any mass at all, even though of course we know that all matter has a mass. There are, however, many theories about why this might be and the goal of my experiment is to prove or disprove them, or to maybe find completely unexpected phenomena that will then need to be explained. One exciting possibility is that we find extra dimensions of space that could even result in the production of mini-blackholes. My experiment is called ATLAS and is situated at the "Large Hadron Collider" (abbreviated as LHC) that is located in Switzerland. There are more than 2000 physicists on my experiment, and many engineers and technicians: all of them collaborate with each other to answer some of the most basic and fundamental questions of Science today. In my talk I will describe how this experiment works and what we hope to discover there."

Detecting Illicit Nuclear Material with Edward Morse, PhD

2009-09-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

Join us for the kick-off to the Marin Science Seminar Fall 2009 season!

Detecting Illicit Nuclear Material with Professor Edward Morse
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009, 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Terra Linda High School, San Rafael, Room 207

Detecting nuclear material at ports of entry into the United States and at other locations is a daunting problem but is an essential element of a counterterrorism strategy for the country. A major difficulty in detection is the minimization of false-positive signals from a wide variety of cargo containing NORM, or naturally occurring radioactive material. One technique which looks promising is the use of nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) for detecting special nuclear material such as U-235. We have embarked on a five year program at UC Berkeley, called DoNuTS (Domestic Nuclear Threat Security), which looks at various aspects of the threat detection problem. This program will be discussed, with emphasis on the physics and technology of NRF as well as other aspects including materials science, computer machine vision, sensor networks, and basic nuclear physics research.

Prof. Edward Morse is a professor of Nuclear Engineering at UC-Berkeley and has a thirty-year involvement in teaching and research at Berkeley in the areas of applied physics, nuclear technology, electronics, and mathematics.

Fall 2009 Schedule now available

2009-09-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Fall 2009 Marin Science Seminar schedule is now online at http://www.marinscienceseminar.com/calendar.html

Lots of fascinating talks! Join us!

Food for Thought

2009-07-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

Aug. 10, 2009 - Field trip to Atlas Cafe "Down to a Science" Science Cafe

2009-07-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

From the Down to a Science website. Join us! You can RSVP at the Facebook event page here or by sending me an email at marinscienceseminar@gmail.com.

When: Monday, August 10th 7-9 PM
What: Confessions of an Alien Hunter
Where: Atlas Cafe, 3049 20th St @ Alabama St. in the Mission District
Who: Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute, Renowned Alien Hunter
The Deets:
Why do we think aliens are out there? Is Earth really being visited? Will aliens really be short, gray, and hairless? What happens if we pick up a signal from another world?

These are just a few of the questions this month’s guest, Seth Shostak, tackles regularly in his role as the senior astronomer for the SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) Institute. Shostak will also discuss the beginnings of life on earth, how this knowledge impacts what astronomers search for in other galaxies, and the growing consortium of scientific voices who believe "it would be offensively self-centered to imagine that what has happened on Earth has only happened on Earth."

Before Egg and Sperm: Stem Cells of the Germline

2009-04-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

with Diana Laird, Ph.D.

Although we do not need our gametes for 20 or 30 years, they are established during early development in the womb by stem cell precursors. Professor Laird's research in mouse embryos asks how these cells acquire and maintain their identity, migrate to the forming ovaries or testes, and avoid becoming cancerous on their way to differentiating as egg or sperm.

NanoHigh: One Session Left

2009-03-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed the NanoHigh flyer in the science classroom we have our seminars in. Nanohigh is a series of lectures given by UC Berkeley professors about nanotechnology. The last one, which I attended, discussed the use of carbon. I learned about why there are 2 forms of carbon, the use of nanotubes, the world's smallest motor, and graphene, the revolutionary material formed when you write with a pencil.

The next talk is about getting things from the lab to the market, and is on April 25, Stanley Hall, 10 AM. Registration is requested, click on the above link for the site

How we Know What we Know about the Brain

2009-03-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

Marin Science Seminar Presentation: "How we Know What we Know about the Brain” (formerly “The Case of the Knocked-Out Neuron: Why brain neurons die and how we can save them”) Dr. Swanson will talk about how we have learned what we know about the brain and about his work's impact on Alzheimer's disease and stroke. He will also talk about how scientists work to figure out why neurons die and what can be done to keep them alive.

Cartoon Physics - How Scientists and Artists make Pixar Films

2009-03-11T18:07:00.001-07:00

with Rod Bogart of Pixar Studios

Pixar films are known for their characters and stories, but how is the film actually made? This talk will describe the various applications of math and science behind the art, from animation and
simulation, through shading and lighting, to mastering for the audience.

Can we mend a broken heart? Thinking about stem cell therapy with Harold Bernstein MD PhD

2009-03-04T17:29:00.000-08:00

Dr. Bernstein is Professor of Pediatrics and a Senior Investigator of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at UCSF. He will talk about the field of stem cell therapy, specifically relating it to his work using stem cells to treat heart disease. Dr. Bernstein also practices Pediatric Cardiology at UCSF Childrens Hospital. He attended public school in New York, received his undergraduate degree from Harvard, his doctoral and medical training at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and his postgraduate training in pediatrics and cardiology at UCSF. Dr. Bernstein's research focuses on stem cell biology, muscle development, and heart regeneration. He has been recognized as an Established Investigator by the American Heart Association, and currently is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (Proposition 71).

Feb. 4th: The neurological processes of alcohol addiction

2009-02-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

with Asma Asyyed, M.D.

Dr. Asyyed's research interest is in the neurological processes of alcohol addiction. While at UCSF she was involved in two research projects. The first project was to study the effects of ethanol on CRE-mediated gene transcription in mice, using biochemical, behavioral and neuroanatomical techniques (Asyyed et., 2006). The second research project was to study candidate genes that may have a link with alcoholism (ADORA1, MOR and PKIB genes), using molecular biology and biochemical techniques.

“Global Change and the Future of African Wildlife" with Wayne Getz

2009-01-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

with Professor Wayne Getz of UC-Berkeley
(January 21, 2009) in the TL Performance Theater

Professor Getz discussed the impact of global change on the ecology of wildlife in Africa. He showed a short film on zebra collaring in Africa. Graduate student Andy Lyons spoke about field work in Zambia and the inter-relation between human and animal populations in that African nation.

Professor Getz received his BS in Applied Mathematics and his Ph.D. in Modeling and Control of Birth and Death Processes from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. His specialty is Quantitative Population Biology and his research interests include a broad range of theoretical and applied questions in population and biology with application to epidemiology and conservation biology. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management at UC-Berkeley's College of Natural Resources. At this time projects in his laboratory include: (i) Ecology of anthrax and parasitic co-infections in the plain’s herbivores of Etosha National Park, Namibia., (ii) Bovine TB in wild animals, livestock, and humans in southern Africa., (iii) Movement Ecology: exploring the causes, patterns, mechanisms and consequences of organism movements with particular application to buffalo and elephants., and (iv) Merging dynamical systems modeling and analysis at different levels of biological organization.

Invention in Medicine: How Medical Devices get Invented and Go to Market

2008-12-10T21:04:00.000-08:00

with Art Wallace M.D. Ph.D.
December 10, 2008, Room 207

Dr. Wallace started out in experimental surgery and radiology studying imaging of the heart using CT scanners. He has worked on a number of devices that originally were built for experimental studies that evolved into clinically useful devices including a cardiac output monitor, the off pump CABG, off pump aneurysm surgery, electronic sedation, and a selective coronary vasodialtor. Dr. Wallace will explain his experiences with the inventive process using examples from both device design and drug development. There will be a brief discussion of the importance of intellectual property, patents, venture capital, FDA approval, and business development in completing the invention process.

November 12 - "Applied Software Engineering for Large-Scale Complex Systems" with Alex Rush

2008-11-13T09:22:00.000-08:00

"Applied Software Engineering for Large-Scale Complex Systems" with Alex Rush

An exploration of the software engineering discipline as applied in development of large-scale, global applications. Specifically, the issues of managing inherent complexity and risk in large-scale systems using industry standard iterative development methods, modeling and design techniques, software architecture, performance engineering and testing will be explained using real-world examples. This talk will highlight how software development has evolved from a relative “black art” to a true engineering discipline in recent decades. This talk would be of interest to anyone who is curious about software development in general, and in particular how complex, large-scale systems are designed, tested and successfully deployed.

Post your blog comments below!

"Space Exploration with NASA-AMES" with Ruben Ramos, M.S. in the TLHS Studio Theater

2008-10-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

"Space Exploration with NASA-AMES" with Ruben Ramos, M.S. in the TLHS Studio Theater

Admit it, he was pretty cool. What did you learn? What did you think about what he said?

Post your blog comments in the comments field below. Detailed directions for contributing to the blog are available if you scroll down.

"Is HIV Infection Impossible to Cure?" with Nejat Duzgunes, Ph.D.

2008-10-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

October 15, 2008
Marin Science Seminar

Is HIV Infection Impossible to Cure?
with Nejat Duzgunes, Ph.D.

"We will describe how HIV infects its host cells and the molecular targets of current anti-HIV drugs. We will discuss why it has not been possible to cure HIV infection or to develop a vaccine against it, and how one might cure AIDS. We will also discuss briefly the challenges of doing scientific research in the United States, and how one might overcome these difficulties."

Post your paragraph by clicking on the "comments" link below.

HOW TO BLOG

2008-10-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

HOW TO BLOG

CONDITIONS FOR CREDIT:

If your teacher is offering credit for this, you need to:

1) Have signed in at the session about which you are writing

2) Have introduced yourself to me (Alfia Wallace) at the session regarding your intention to blog for credit, or, I happen to know/remember who you are

3) Write at least 5 original sentences in a cohesive paragraph about the session or a related, relevant topic. This means no lists of "This is what I learned: 1. Blah blah blah" etc.

YOUR COMMENTS:

After reading a post about a particular Marin Science Seminar Session, click on the comments link below. It will have my name (Alfia Wallace) and then a link that says "0 comments" or "1 comment" or some other number of comments. Click on it. You will be taken to a page where you can enter your comments. It makes sense to write or type your comments in a separate document and then to copy/paste them in the comments box so that you can proof your writing.

WHO ARE YOU?

Below the comments box it will say "Choose an Identity" in orange. The top choice is Google ID which you can log into if you want to use your gmail to post. The third choice down is Name/url. Choose this one to just write your name or pseudonym (url optional). This is probably the best choice for most people. If you choose a pseudonym, you'll need to email me with your pseudonym and real name so that I can let your teacher know what you wrote.

2008-10-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

I found this quite interesting. Hope it tells people not to smoke. My mom is taking nursing classes to learn to be a nurse and she said that a partially clogged artery is so hard it goes "tap, tap" if somebody hits the plaque. It is partially grown into the wall of the artery. Also, I am somewhat surprised there is no radioactive method.

Jump in!

2008-10-01T22:39:00.000-07:00

The water's fine! If you've been invited to post to the blog, you can do so. Also note that *anyone* can comment. Some teachers are offering extra credit for blogging at least 5 relevant sentences about a science seminar session. Why not go for it? Here's my five sentences.

Regarding this evening's lecture by Dr. David Saloner, I was pretty amazed by how they could create 3-D maps of the arteries and then measure the blood flow through various parts of them. Then they can look at the same arteries over a period of years and tell how they had changed. They could tell the change both in terms of how fast or slow the blood was flowing in different areas, and in how big the arteries were getting because of arteriosclerosis. This helps not only charting the progress of the disease, but also helps see how different medical therapies might be working over time. It made me wish that I had taken more math in school and made me glad that the kids at the MSS were getting to see all the cool things you can do with math. I didn't get to see that when I was in high school.

What did you find interesting?

What is Radiology?

2008-09-28T12:21:00.001-07:00

Click the link above to see a 10 minute documentary touching on the history of radiology and the career of radiography (2 year program).

For those who pursue more in-depth studies, the careers of radiologist (a type of doctor/physician) and research scientist are available. On Wednesday, October 1st, David Saloner Ph.D., will talk to the Marin Science Seminar about radiologic techniques related to cardiovascular disease.

What is Radiology? Click to learn about careers in radiology and more.

Click below for a lecture on radiology for beginning medical students at UCSF Medical School. (1 hour, but interesting stuff within first 15 minutes)

Large Hadron Rap!

2008-08-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here´s a pretty awesome rap about the mission of CERN´s gigantic particle accelerator in Switzerland. Get higgsy with it.

Welcome!

2008-08-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Marin Science Seminar Blog! This blog is open for students, parents, teachers and MSS speakers to post and comment on items of interest in the fields of science, math, engineering, medicine, statistics and related fields.

We are currently recruiting staff to contribute to the blog. If you are a high school student in the San Rafael High School district and are interested, please email me at marinscienceseminar@gmail.com with your school, grade, and science teacher´s name. I will then send you information on becoming part of the staff. Teachers and MSS speakers are also welcome to join. Student posts can be anonymous or made under a pseudonym, but I need to confirm that you are a real person. :-)

If you would like to be a casual poster to the blog, email me at marinscienceseminar@gmail.com with your full name, whether you are a student or adult and your association with the MSS. Anyone can post comments to MSS posts.

We are putting together an exciting second season of the Marin Science Seminar for 2008-2009. Check out the calendar and feel free to post relevant ideas, comments, links, videos, etc.

Looking forward,

Alfia