Past Talks
WELCOME TO THE PAST TALKS
SATURDAY SCIENCE PAGE
Title: “The mathematics of well-behaved and chaotic population growth"
Date: February 23, 2013, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center - On Wittenberg's Campus
Group Leader: Dr. Flavia Sancier-Barbosa, Wittenberg University
Topic: Mathematics
Poster: Coming Soon
Mathematical modeling is the art of describing a particular phenomenon by means of quantitative objects such as functions and equations. In the study of population growth, several models have been developed and used to predict how the number of individuals of certain species evolve with time. In this program, we will look at a well-known mathematical model and explore its use in different population dynamics. We will then explore how some of its intriguing properties can be used to describe chaotic behavior.
Title: “From swine flu to zombie attacks: modeling the complex dynamics of infectious disease outbreaks"
Date: January 26, 2013, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center - On Wittenberg's Campus
Group Leader: Dr. Amber Burgett, Wittenberg University
Topic: Biology
During an outbreak of an infectious disease, health organizations work swiftly to identify the source of the outbreak, contain the infection, and prevent further spread of the disease. Ever wonder how they can accomplish this efficiently while minimizing the impact of the disease? In this program, we will discuss a wide range of infectious diseases and explore how to use mathematical models to estimate their spread through a population . During the laboratory portion, we will simulate the impacts of one infected Saturday Science participant on the population of Wittenberg students.
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Title: “Patterns and Pictures in Python" Date: December 8, 2012, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center - On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Steve Bogaerts, Wittenberg University Topic: Computer Science Poster: Here |
Learn to use the Python programming language to write programs that generate creative pictures and cool patterns.
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Title: “Evolution and human health: The red queen hypothesis" Date: November 10, 2012, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center - On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Richard Phillips, Wittenberg University Topic: Biology Poster: Here |
Darwin suggested that populations change over generations often in response to environmental conditions. Although Darwin’s idea was formulated without an understanding of germ theory or genetics, the application of natural selection to the medical field has seen increased attention as many pathogens are developing resistance. In the lecture portion, we will briefly examine evolution in light of germ theory and discuss the myriad of human health implications. We will discuss the selective pressures both on humans and their pathogens as well as discuss their relative ability to respond to respond to one another (the red queen hypothesis). In the laboratory selection, we will conduct computer simulations meant to examine selective pressures.
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Title: “Exploring Mountain Glaciers" Date: October 6, 2012, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center - On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Sarah K. Fortner, Wittenberg University Topic: Geology Poster: Here |
Extreme mountain glaciers in the ice-free dry valleys of Antarctica stand tall above the horizon with steep cliffs that stand 5 people high; these are among the strangest on earth. Fierce winds blow sediment onto their surfaces. During the 24-hour summer this debris creates pockets of life in an otherwise hostile glacier surface and streams flow into ice-covered lakes. While dry valley mountain glaciers are in the same position seen by explorers a century ago, most of the mountain glaciers in temperate and tropical regions are retreating at alarming rates. Glacier retreat in the Cordillera Blanca Peru threatens water quantity and quality, especially during the dry season important to agriculture. In this session of Science Saturday, I will overview mountain glaciers in the extreme. Together, we will model how glacier retreat relates to water availability. We will also use ‘flubber’ to model how the flow of glaciers depends on factors such as slope and temperature.
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Title: “Pattern and process: The Art and Science of Animal Tracking" Date: Mar 31, 2012, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Richard Phillips, Wittenberg University Topic: Biology Poster: Here |
Animals in an urban environment are rarely seen and the ability to identify animals by their tracks increases your understanding of the natural world. You will learn to identify tracks of common species in the Springfield area and learn characteristics of tracks from a variety of mammalian families. We will start off in the classroom briefly going over common species and their tracks and then head to Buck Creek to search for tracks. Depending on the weather conditions, you may make a plaster cast of the track of your choice. Bring an old pair of shoes/boots you don’t mind getting dirty. And be sure to dress for the weather.
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Title: “Finger Print Analysis" Date: Feb. 25, 2012, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Ray Dudek, Wittenberg University Topic: Chemistry Poster: Here |
In this talk, Dr. Dudek will present the chemistry behind several methods for recording finger prints. Students will do these techniques in a lab to record their own fingerprints. In addition, there will be a crime scene, whree students will need to lift fingerprints and compare them to a suspect list to determine the culprit!
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Title: “Reading Your Mind… With Math!!!" Date: Jan. 28, 2012, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Adam Parker, Wittenberg University Topic: Mathematics Poster: Coming Soon |
Everyone knows that math is useful. It can help us solve problems, model real world phenomena, analyze data, etc. But we sometimes forget that math can be fun! Dr. Parker will use results from geometry, number theory, and probability, to make predictions that will appear as if he’s reading your mind. He promises he isn’t! Bring a calculator and be ready to have some fun.
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Title: Scientific Investigation of Morality Date: Nov 19th, 2011 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Don Reed, Wittenberg University Topic: Philosophy Poster: Here |
Morality seems to some just a matter of opinion. Or maybe there are genuine moral rules, but children in different cultures learn different rules, about for instance what should not be eaten. Scientific investigations of moral judgments and of moral impulses and emotions have revealed universal patterns that arose in human evolution. They have also uncovered interesting facts about the relations between conscious judgments and pre-conscious impulses that challenge common notions about how we know right from wrong. After a brief overview of what is known, we will explore one such challenge.
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Title: Avian Altruism - Predator Mobbing Date: October 22, 2011 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Richard Phillips, Wittenberg University Topic: Biology Poster: Here |
Predator mobbing is a form of anti-predator strategy used by many animal species. Although there are several instances where individuals put themselves in danger for a group, the idea of self-sacrifice is not necessarily the explanation. We will examine this mobbing behavior in the context of evolution and then offer explanations for its occurrence . Finally, using binoculars and bird guides, we will identify common avian “mobbers” and try to invoke mobbing activity.
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Title: What the Frack? Groundwater Flow and the Study of Hydrogeology Date: Sept 10, 2011 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. John Ritter, Wittenberg University Topic: Geology Poster: Here |
Groundwater is one of our region’s greatest natural resources. Aquifers in this area of Ohio have some of the greatest yields in the U.S., producing in excess of 1000 gallons per minute sustainably. Unfortunately, the same geologic properties that produce such high yields also cause their potential for pollution to be extremely high. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, of the subsurface, one of the most contentious issues in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York right now, is a potential source of pollution but one that has not been studied adequately. In this session of Science Saturday, we will focus on groundwater flow and the controls on it, including permeability, porosity, and hydraulic gradient. We will use Darcy flow tubes to model groundwater flow and then apply the model to groundwater flow on campus.
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Title: The Science of CSI Date: April 16, 2011 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Michelle McWhorter, Wittenberg University Topic: Biology Poster: Here |
Have you ever wondered how police are able to determine the guilt or innocence of a suspect based on DNA? Do you want to understand what makes each of us genetically unique? Do you want to isolate your own DNA (and make a keepsake necklace)?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, please join us!
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Title: The Chemistry of Ice Cream Date: March 26, 2011 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Ray Dudek, Wittenberg University Topic: Chemistry Poster: Here |
This talk will explore the ingredients that make up ice cream and the chemistry that combines them into the familiar treat. In looking at this dessert, such topics as suspensions and emulsifiers as well as freezing point depression will be explained. Finally, during the hands on portion students will get the opportunity to try different ice cream recipes to see which composition is most appealing, and creat their own ice cream using liquid nitrogen.
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Title: The Science of Beauty Date: February 26, 2011 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Katie Warber, Wittenberg University Topic: Communication Poster: Here |
Do you ever wonder what is is that makes someone beautiful? Is beauty on the outside, or something to be found within? What makes someone sexy? In this program, Dr. Warber will explore the science behind beauty. Evidence from biology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, and communcation will be used to explain aspects of beauty and will focus specifically on the influence of physical beauty and attraction in human interaction.
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Title: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics: How to Keep from Drowning in a Sea of Data
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Statistics is one of the most useful of all quantitative subjects, with applications in all natural sciences, social sciences, and most areas of industry.
Title: Finding Invisible Planets
Date: December 4, 2010 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus
Group Leader: Dr. Dan Fleisch, Wittenberg University
Topic: Physics
Poster: Click here for a poster
Book-Delivering Prof Named Ohio Professor of the Year
Dr. Dan Fleisch, 2010 Ohio Professor of the year will be giving our December Saturday Science program! He has been called a "master scientific communicator" by Electronic Design Magazine and has won many awards for his teaching. You can read about many of his accomplishments here. His program will start with an open lecture about how scientists detect invisible planets as well as how to find hidden information in stars. After the lecture, those students that register will have the opportunity to use a spectroscope to take light apart and use the computer program MATLAB to search for invisible planets! This program should not be missed!!!
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Title: Using satellites to find your way: The science of GPS navigation. Date: November 13, 2010 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Andrew Scholl, Wittenberg University Topic: Geography Poster: TBD |
This should be a particularly fun program, as after learning how GPS works, student will have the opportunity to do a scavenger hunt around Wittenberg’s campus using hand-held GPS units (weather permitting). Students should wear appropriate clothing.
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How can we program a computer to play a game like chess or Connect 4? Is it possible for a program to be better at a game than the person who programmed it? What are the differences between the way game-playing programs and humans make decisions in a game? These questions and more will be considered in a variety of activities.
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Date: Saturday, September 18 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. John Ritter, Wittenberg University Topic: Geology Title: Exploring the Envirnomental Impact of Dams and Dam Removal Poster: TBD |
His talk will examine how hydraulics, water chemistry, and biology can be used to study the changes to our very own Buck Creek after the recent removal of several dams. In the second hour of the program, weather permitting, we will take students to Buck Creek so they can get a first hand view of the impact of removing those dams.
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Date: March 20 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Richard Phillips, Wittenberg University Topic: Biology Title: Springfield's Animal Community |
Animal life in urban setting can be diverse, but often quite different from animal communities in more “natural” environments. Here we will compare Springfield’s wildlife with what we would have seen here 500 years ago and the impact this may have on food webs and species diversity. In the latter portion of the class, we will head out doors to examine techniques commonly used by ecologists to determine the distribution and abundance of animals.
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Date: February 20th, 2010 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Ray Dudek, Wittenberg University Topic: Chemistry Title: The Chemistry of Pigments and Dyes |
In this Science Saturday session students will learn how molecules act as pigments and dyes. The nature of light and how we perceive color will also be explored. In the second hours students will get the change to mix and use their own dyes. Since dyes are being used, it is recommended that participants wear clothes they do not mind getting stained.
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Date: January 23, 2010 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Bill Higgins, Wittenberg University Topic: Mathematics at Play |
Puzzles and other activities included in “recreational mathematics” have a long history – from puzzles posed by Lewis Carroll and Samuel Lloyd to Rubik’s Cube and more recent offerings from Martin Gardner and popular Soduku and KenKen puzzles. We will delve into the history and stories behind a variety of puzzles and, of course, try our hand at solving some! We’ll also see some links between certain puzzles and mathematics. Here are copies of the handouts from the presentation.
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Date: December 5, 2009 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Jeremiah Williams, Wittenberg University Topic: Physics Title: From Stellar Nurseries to Microchips: The Ubiquitous (dusy) plasma state of matter. |
Williams' presentation will discuss plasmas, the most common and least known naturally occurring state of matter in the visible universe. In particular, this talk will describe the many places where plasmas occur and the impact that they have on everyday life.
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Date: November 14, 2009 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Main Atrium of Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Andrew Scholl, Wittenberg University Topic: Geography Title: Reconstructing Nature: How we can determine what the environment looked like in the past |
Have you ever wondered what happened to the infamous Roanoke settlement? How you ever wondered how people know what the climate was like in the past? Where plants used to live? What the landscape used to look like? Much of this information has been reconstructed using trees rings. We will explore how trees act as nature’s historians recording changes in the environment over hundreds to thousands of years, and how scientists can read the trees.
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Date: October 10th, 2009 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Steve Bogaerts, Wittenberg University Topic: Computer Science Title: Patterns and Pictures in Python |
We will learn to use the Python Programming language to write programs that generate creative pictures and cool patterns.
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Date: September 12, 2009 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Room 113, Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. John Ritter, Wittenberg University Topic: Geology Title: Hydrology and Hydraulics of Buck Creek |
Several lowhead dams on Buck Creek will be modified for recreational purposes in the coming years. The recreational value of these changes for kayakers, canoeists, and tubists will depend on the hydrology of Buck Creek and the hydraulics created by modifications to the dams. Students in this experience will explore the hydrology and hydraulics of flow in a laboratory flume, then apply this information to streamflow in Buck Creek. Implications for water quality, sediment transport, and flooding and will be discussed.
We will meet in Rm 113 BDK Science Center and an adjacent lab. Following an introduction and demonstration, you will either walk or be transported to Buck Creek, where we will spend about 45 minutes in the creek. You should be prepared to wade in the creek so wear suitable shorts and water sandals or an old pair of tennis shoes. Everyone will be provided life vests, and waders will be provided on an as-needed basis. No students will be allowed in water over waist-deep.
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Date: April 25th, 2009 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Michelle McWhorter, Wittenberg University Topic: Biology Title: Embryos, How We Are Really All Alike .. |
Have you ever wondered how you developed as an embryo? Have you ever wondered how other animals, like chickens and fish, developed as embryos? Do you want to observe the beating heart of a chicken embryo? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, please join us!
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Date: March 21, 2009 Location: Room 248. Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center. Group Leader: Dr. Ray Dudek, Wittenberg University Topic: Chemistry Title: The science of photography, from old black & white film to the digital age |
The development of science photography will be presented, beginning with the chemical processes involved in black and white film. An overview of color film will then be given, followed by the workings of electronic photosensors. The lecture portion will end with an explanation of what different features in digital cameras are and how they work. During the hands-on portion of the session, students will make their own black and white prints, as well as explore the impact of different light sources on the exposure conditions.
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Date: February 21st, 2009 10-12:00 Location: Bayley Auditorium in Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Michael Anes, Wittenberg University Topic: Psychology Title: How We See: From Eye to Brain |
Seeing is very complex - even the newest robots can't see like humans do! We'll take a "tour" of the human visual system, look at visual illusions that shed light on how we see, and we'll talk about how vision breaks down after brain damage.
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Date: January 24, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Location: Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center- On Wittenberg's Campus Group Leader: Dr. Adam Parker, Wittenberg University Topic: Mathematics Title: The Symmetric World |
Symmetry is all around us: in our clothing, our art, our architecture, etc. It even appears to be part of our subconscious nature! Come learn about the mathematics that underlies the patterns we see every day.
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