Sahotra Sarkar
The Balcones Canyonlands
We will talk about the Hill County and the remarkable animals and plants that make up its biotic community. How well are we preserving this biodiversity? What is its future? What will climate change do to it?
Misha Matz
Deep Sea Exploration
People seeking challenges have a tendency to look up into the sky more than below their feet. This is perhaps why the deep ocean largely remains a mystery. I will review the methods currently used for deep-sea research, tell some stories from my personal experience, and tell about our recent discovery at 3000 ft depth that is perhaps the best illustration of the unexpected things that can be found down there.
Eric Miller
Seeing It As It Happens: Witnessing, controlling, and understanding evolution
How do scientists discover how evolution affects a group of organisms? By doing what scientists do best — experimenting and recording the results! Join us as we talk about how scientists control the environment of bacteria, viruses, and insects to learn more about evolution. We will also talk about how people use evolution to improve computers, crops, pets, and clean up the environment.
Mike Singer
Humans, from the Perspective of a Californian Butterfly
Back in 1953 my grandmother said: “Butterflies…HAH! Very pretty, but what are they FOR?” I had no answer. In this talk I will turn the question around and ask from the butterfly’s perspective: “Humans…very big and clumsy…. but what are they FOR?” We might think that the answer is just that humans are BAD, but no, it’s more complicated than that. Without thinking about it, we humans create puzzles for butterflies to solve. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they don’t.
Science Under The Stars 