Darwin Festival 2014 Schedule

Darwin FestivalSM 2014 Salem State University Department of Biology Schedule of Events 10 - 14 February 2014
Dedicated to Virginia and Richard Keville, for 35 years of inspiration
Printer-Friendly Schedules:  Lectures Only:  HTM   PDF       Full Schedule:  HTM  PDF

	MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014
7:50 a.m.	VIDEO: “Charles Darwin: Evolution’s Voice” – Biography.	Slater Lecture Hall
9:30 a.m.	VIDEO: “Meteor Strike” – NOVA.	Slater Lecture Hall
11:00 a.m.	“GENES INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR, BUT IT’S NOT SO SIMPLE” – Steven Hyman, Director, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute, Cambridge MA. Sponsored by the Salem State Chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.	Veterans Hall
12:30 p.m.	VIDEO: “Decoding Neanderthals” – NOVA.	Slater Lecture Hall
1:40 p.m.	VIDEO: “Can I Eat That?” – NOVAscienceNOW.	Slater Lecture Hall
3:05 p.m.	“’JAWS’ REVISITED:  NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE ECOLOGY OF THE WHITE SHARK IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC” – Gregory Skomal, Senior Marine Fisheries Biologist, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Sponsored by the Biological Society.	Veterans Hall

	TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2014
8:00 a.m.	VIDEO: “What Plants Talk About” – Nature.	Slater Lecture Hall
9:25 a.m.	“MORAL TRIBES: EMOTION, REASON, AND THE GAP BETWEEN US AND THEM” – Joshua Greene, Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA	Veterans Hall
10:50 a.m.	VIDEO: “What Females Want” – Nature.	Slater Lecture Hall
12:15 p.m.	“Artemisia annua, AN EFFECTIVE AND SIMPLE HERBAL TREATMENT FOR MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES” – Pamela Weathers, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester MA.  Sponsored by the Charles Albert Read Trust.	Veterans Hall
1:40 p.m.	VIDEO: “Chasing Ice” – New Video Group (75 min).	Slater Lecture Hall
3:05 p.m.	VIDEO: “Deadliest Tornadoes” – NOVA.	Slater Lecture Hall

	WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2014 - Charles Darwin’s Birthday
7:50 a.m.	VIDEO: “Silence of the Bees” – Nature.	Slater Lecture Hall
9:25 a.m.	VIDEO: “The Human Spark” – PBS.	Slater Lecture Hall
10:50 a.m.	“LIFE IN THE ‘PLASTISPHERE’: THE ECOLOGY OF PLASTIC MARINE DEBRIS” – ErikZettler, Sea Education Association, Woods Hole MA. Sponsored by the Charles Albert Read Trust.	Veterans Hall
12:15 p.m.	VIDEO: “Ultimate Mars Challenge" – NOVA.	Slater Lecture Hall
1:40 p.m.	“HUMAN EVOLUTION: NEW SURPRISES FROM SOUTH AFRICA” – Jeremy DeSilva, Department of Anthropology, Boston University, Boston MA. The Keville-DePalma Founders Lecture.	Veterans Hall
3:05 p.m.	VIDEO: “Mind of a Rampage Killer” – NOVA.	Slater Lecture Hall

	THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 Charles Albert Read Science Lectures
7:50 a.m.	VIDEO: “The Animal House” – Nature.	Slater Lecture Hall
9:25 a.m.	VIDEO: “Hurricane Sandy: Inside the Megastorm” – NOVA.	Slater Lecture Hall
10:50 a.m.	“THE REALITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE:  ADAPTATION PLANNING FOR COASTLINES” – Paul Kirshen, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH. Sponsored by the Department of Geography and the Charles Albert Read Trust.	Veterans Hall
12:15 p.m.	“EXOPLANETS AND THE SEARCH FOR HABITABLE WORLDS” – Sara Seager, Departments of Planetary Science and Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA.  Sponsored by the Department of Chemistry & Physics and the Charles Albert Read Trust.	Veterans Hall
1:40 p.m.	VIDEO: “Bag It – Is Your Life Too Plastic?” – Reel Thing Film (78 min).	Slater Lecture Hall

			FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 - Biology Alumni Day
	7:50 a.m.		VIDEO: “How Smart Can We Get?” – NOVAscienceNOW.	Slater Lecture Hall
	9:25 a.m.		“RABIES: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE” – Catherine Brown, State Public Health Veterinarian, Massachusetts Department of Public Health.	Veterans Hall
	10:50 a.m.		VIDEO: “What Males Will Do” – Nature.	Slater Lecture Hall
	12:15 p.m.		“BREAKTHROUGHS IN GENETICS: FROM SEX CHROMOSOMES TO SILENCING THE DOWN SYNDROME CHROMOSOME” – Lisa Hall, Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester MA.  Sponsored by the Charles Albert Read Trust.	Veterans Hall
	1:40 p.m.		"SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES – WHAT THE PERMIAN-TRIASSIC MASS EXTINCTION TELLS US ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND EARTH’S FUTURE” – RobynHannigan, School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Boston MA. Sponsored by the Department of Geological Sciences and the Charles Albert Read Trust.	Veterans Hall
	3:05 p.m.		VIDEO: “Invasion of the Giant Pythons” – Nature.	Slater Lecture Hall
	Founded By:  Philip A. DePalma and Virginia F. Keville
	Darwin Festival home    History of the Darwin Festival    Links and References Salem State University Biology    Salem State University Home Page
	If you require interpretative services, please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at TTY (978)-542-7146 or osd@salemstate.edu. To help us best meet your needs, please notify us of your requirements at least 2 weeks in advance. All videos are close-captioned. Veterans Hall is located on the 2nd floor of the Ellison Campus Center. Dr. Schuyler G. Slater Lecture Hall (MH 444) is located on the 4th floor of the Frederick A. Meier Arts & Sciences Hall. The Festival is open to the public. All events are free. The location for all events is Salem State University's North Campus, 352 Lafayette St., Salem, Massachusetts, 01970. For directions, go to http://www.salemstate.edu or contact the Biology Department (978-542-6236). Major funding for the DARWIN FESTIVALSM has been provided by the Salem State University Administration, the Charles Albert Read Trust Fund, the Student Government Association through the Biological Society, the Keville-DePalma Darwin Festival Endowment Fund, contributions from Hayden McNeil Publishers, McGraw Hill, Pearson Higher Education, SimbioticSoftware, WH Freeman, and other individual contributions. Darwin FestivalSM Committee: Susan M. Case (Coordinator),Juditha C. A. Burchsted, Ryan Fisher, Lynn Fletcher, Paul Kelly, Sheila Schreiner, T. Nelson Scottgale, Alan M. Young andNoelia Fernandez (President, Biological Society).

Climate Change in New England Lecture Series

Information Session October 2, 2013 in 426MH 4:30-6:00 (Liberian Fieldwork 2014)

Howdy All,

See announcement below for our fourth trip to Liberia, during Winter Break. We are holding an informational meeting in MH 426 on 2 October at 1630 for interested students. If you would kindly announce this opportunity in your classes, particularly BIO 121/122, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!  Joe

"Oceans and Climate Change" - Lecture 9/24/2013 at 7:30 PM! at the National Park Service Visitors Center, 2 New Liberty Street in Salem.

S SoundNet - September 24, 2013  "Oceans and Climate Change," the second lecture in the "Climate Change in New England series" will be held this evening at 7:30 pm at the National Park Service Visitors Center, 2 New Liberty Street in Salem. In tonight's presentation, Barbara Warren, Executive Director of Salem Sound Coastwatch, will give an overview of an often overlooked aspect of climate change--the toll it is taking on the ocean and marine life. Oceans are the lifeblood of the planet. As the ocean soaks up CO2 and absorbs heat, the chemistry and biology of the oceans are changing. Ocean acidification, warming waters, polar ice cap melting, changing ocean currents, rising sea levels and impacts on marine biodiversity are all effects of climate change. This 5 part lecture series, which is sponsored jointly by Salem Sound Coastwatch and the National Park Service, continues every Tuesday evening through October 15. All presentations are free and open to the public. Parking is available across the street at the Museum Place Garage for $.75/'hr. The rest of the series includes: Tuesday, October 1 - "How is Climate Change Affecting Our Natural Resources--The National Park Service Response" - Jonathan Parker, Salem Maritime Historic Site     Tuesday, October 8 - "A Piece of the Carbon Mitigation Puzzle: America's Offshore Wind Energy Opportunity" - Fara Courtney, US Offshore Wind Collaborative     Tuesday, October 15 - "Dealing With the Reality of Climate Change--Adapting Infrastructure" - Dr. Paul Kirshen, Engineering Professor, University of New Hampshire and member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.

BioSociety and Criminal Justic Academy Co-Event-1st Annual Sean Collier Hike

Billy Boulter, a MIT detective, is sponsoring a hike in honor of Sean Collier (see below).  The BioSociety and Criminal Justic Academy will be sponsoring a group from SSU.

We are trying to get an idea of numbers.  We would like everyone participating to make a donation to the Sean A. Collier '09 Criminal Justice Scholarship Award.  If it is a large enough group, we plan renting a bus for transportation.  The bus would leave Salem State at 6:15am on September 7th.  Please let me know if you are interested and how many would be joining you.

Sheila Marie Schreiner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Salem State University
Meier Hall 538B
978-542-2291
sheila.schreiner@salemstate.edu

MIT 1st Annual Collier Climb to the Top!

Who: Anyone and Everyone!!!!!

What: A group climb to the top of Mt. Washington

Where: Ammonoosuc Ravine Route in North Conway New Hampshire

When: Saturday September 7, 2013 at 8:30 AM from the base parking lot

Why: Last year I had a discussion with Sean about hiking. He got me interested in climbing Mt. Washington because he said he enjoyed the time to clear his mind and enjoy the sights. I took him up on the idea and climbed it with my wife. I have decided to do it annually and would like to do it in Sean’s memory. I have extended the invitation to the MIT Outing Club and they are happy to be a part of this climb. They have invited everyone who goes to a cookout at their cabin after the hike. I would love to get a good showing. I am not raising money, just a day to get together and embrace one of Sean’s favorite hobbies. If you are interested please contact me for more information.

Sincerely,

Billy Boulter, MIT Police, Harbor@mit.edu

May 16, 2013 - Faculty and Staff End of the Year BBQ at Cat Cove!

Chef Ted Maney (L) with Joe Butner

Left to right: Christine Maney, Lisa Dillisio, Sheila Schreiner, Sue Case and Mark Fregeau.

Harry Pariser (L) and Nelson Scottgake

Passing the Torch - Current Chair, Mark and Fregeau (L) and our future Chair Ryan Fisher.

Group Photo at Cat Cove - May 14, 2013.

 May 14, 2013 - A small and lovely gathering of Biology faculty, staff and graduating Seniors at Cat Cove.

"Good Germs, Bad Germs," Peter Alachi at the Explorers

Peter Alachi gave over an hour long presentation on 4/26 to the Explorers LLI Institute on the topic of beneficial and harmful bacteria in our bodies, "Good Germs, Bad Germs, why we Need Bacteria to Live."  Fifty three attendees listened his PowerPoint presentation, which was very well received.  Chairperson Ted Novakowski stated that the talk was extremely informative and enlightening and that "many more of us will be sure to wash our hands often!".

One Health Forum and Public Dialogue (Monday, April 22, 2013 6:00pm - 8:30pm)

One Health Forum and Public Dialogue

 

Monday, April 22, 2013

6:00pm - 8:30pm

 

 

The Northeast Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, in association with the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine of Tufts University School of Medicine, is sponsoring this forum and public dialogue on One Health on Monday, April 22, 2013 (Earth Day), 6:00PM-8:30PM, in Room 114 of the Arthur M. Sackler Center for Medical Education, Tufts University, Boston Campus.

 

The forum will feature a panel that will consist of a physician, veterinarian, microbiologist and environmental scientist.  The panel will present their perspectives on the One Health Initiative (“a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment”, http://www.onehealthinitiative.com) and then engage the audience in a discussion of the meaning of One Health, its inclusion in educational and training programs, incorporating the perspective into career paths, and how the One Health Initiative can be promoted generally. 

 

The invited audience in includes undergraduates in pre-professional programs, graduate students in the biosciences, health professions students and post-graduate trainees, although all who are interested are invited.  A light supper will be provided.  The event is free, but registration is required

 

Register at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=g8sdkygab&oeidk=a07e77ydotd7902b556

A Day in Emily's Shoes Seminar - Monday, March 25, 11 am, MH 539

60th Anniversary of Watson and Crick's Discovery of the Molecular Structure of DNA

Today (Feb 28, 2013) is the 60th anniversary of Watson and Crick's landmark discovery of the molecular structure of DNA - they subsequently published their findings in the Journal Nature (April 25, 1953.).   

James Watson (R) and Francis Crick.

DESERT > JUNGLE > GENETOWN - Lunch Seminar with Amanda Kennedy (’12)

DESERT > JUNGLE > GENETOWN

Lunch Seminar with Amanda Kennedy (’12)

Monday, Feb 25^th, 11 am, MH 539

Pizza and Drinks--All Departments Invited

How does an aspiring science student go from high school in the “middle of nowhere, New Hampshire” to the desert, the jungle, and finally the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard? Just ask someone who sat at your lab bench—only one year ago! Amanda Kennedy (’12), one of our very own BioSociety alumni, will take a break from “playing with blood and quantifying DNA using an army of robots” to have lunch with us, share her story, and offer advice for students dreaming about their own futures. (She will also be inviting students, on a space available basis, to visit the Broad Institute for a tour later this semester.)

Amanda Kennedy served a lot of drinks at Gulu Gulu Café to fund her studies in Cell and Molecular Biology at Salem State University. She also studied field genetics with Operation Wallacea and the Bedouin people of Sinai, Egypt where she learned to collect biodiversity data and extract DNA from a variety of organisms. After graduating in 2012 with her B.S. in Biology, Amanda was briefly drawn to another field project -- this time in the jungle of Honduras. Between DNA extractions, Amanda applied for jobs back here in Genetown USA (Cambridge, MA), and landed her first full-time position as a technician at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. The Broad is a nonprofit research institute that uses genomic data to address a variety of medical questions such as “puzzling out autism's genetic clues, and uncovering common melanoma mutations.”

It is helpful to RSVP on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/events/417597658315320/

Biological Society Hosts: Eric Silva, Jennifer Sawyer, and Victoria Gillespie

Faculty Hosts: Tracy Ware and Sheila Schreiner

On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin - Raffle!

Tickets sold at the Darwin Festival - for $1, you're eligible to win this beautiful edition of the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin!  Buy $5, $10, $20 of tickets and increase your odds of winning.  5 books available for 5 draws.

New Bio-Society t-Shirt! $10

Got SSU Biology 2013 t-shirt?  Well for only $10 you can get one!

Sold by the BioSociety during the Darwin Festival week.

The Big Picture on Evolution - a 16 page booklet

2/12/2013 - Happy Birthday Charles Darwin!

"Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution," says Theodosius Dobzhansky in 1973.

This 16 page colorful pdf pamphlet explains Evolution to High School students in England. It provides answers to important questions about Darwinian Evolution:

• Why is this theory so controversial?
• What forces control the destiny of life on Earth?
• What is Natural Selection and how does Evolution work?
• How did life begin?
• Which came first, proteins, RNA, or DNA?

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/stellent/groups/corporatesite/@msh_publishing_group/documents/web_document/wtd026042.pdf

Vorticella Feeding Frenzy - Filmed 2/6/2013 at the Micro Lab, SSU

Slide and Microscopy by Professor Amy Sprenkle
Film and edit by Instructor Peter Alachi 

Vorticella, a protozoan, is seen here feeding on various microorganisms, mostly bacteria. The genus is commonly found in fresh bodies of water - this sample is from the sedentary water of vase flowers. The ciliate is shown anchored by a stalk onto some substrate while rapidly beating its cilia and creating a vortex to take up mixed microbial populations, which are subsequently digested inside its feeding vacuoles.  

February 12, 1809 - Darwin and Lincoln: Birthdays and Evolution

Source - http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,12215148001_1879622,00.html