The Natural Science Seminar Series involves informal, bi-weekly presentations that are open to everyone, and are sponsored by the CWU Department of Biological Sciences and the CWU College of the Sciences.

Location: CWU Science Building, Room 147 (unless otherwise noted)
Refreshments served at 3:50pm, Seminar from 4:00-5:00pm

For videos, see our CWU Biology YouTube Channel.

 

Upcoming Presentations

Winter 2020

Friday, March 13 -- POSTPONED UNTIL SPRING QUARTER

“Materials-Driven Approach to Discovering and Understanding the Materials of the Future.”

One of the most productive mechanisms for improving existing technology or developing entirely new technologies is to incorporate novel materials with ground-breaking properties.  What kinds of materials are well-suited to drive the technological innovations of the future?  Many will be correlated electron materials that boast “super” properties such as superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance, colossal magnetocaloric effects, and many others.  One of the dirty secrets of correlated electron materials research is that our understanding of the physics that governs such properties is surprisingly underdeveloped.  Theories that both comprehensively explain correlated electron phenomena and, more importantly, predict which materials will exhibit them remain elusive.  In such an environment, new correlated electron phenomena are discovered experimentally, sometimes completely by accident, by studying the properties of new materials.  This materials-driven approach to discovering and understanding correlated electron properties will be discussed, including how it is used in undergraduate student research at CWU.

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Previous Presentations

Winter 2020

Title: “Democracy, the Worst Form of Government” *

Presenter:  Dr. Aaron Montgomery, CWU Department of Mathematics  

Dr. Montgomery will discuss different methods of voting and how effectively these methods meet standards of fairness.  In particular, what Arrow’s Theorem means for the idea of the “will of the people” in a democratic election.  And, since there are always questions about the electoral college in election years, he will spend a few minutes discussing how the electoral college process impacts the fairness of US elections.

*except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time...

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2019

Title: “Removing Carbon from the Atmosphere: Carbon Sequestration in Kittitas Valley Soils.”

Presenter:  Dr. Carey Gazis, CWU Department of Geological Sciences

Carbon is being added to the atmosphere by humans through the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and cement production.  In this research, we are examining the carbon budget of soils in the Kittitas Valley in order to quantify their current carbon content and fluxes and assess their potential for removing carbon from the atmosphere.

 

Title: “Exercise as a Lifelong Polypill.”

Presenter:  Leo J. D'Acquisto, Professor, Integrative Human Physiology, Department of Health Sciences, CWU

Regular physical activity is a foundation for the prevention, management and treatment of illnesses associated with poor lifestyle habits.  The focus of this presentation will be on the connection among human structure function, physical activity habits, and cardiorespiratory fitness over a lifetime.

 

Title: “Tropical Biodiversity Genomics”

Presenter:  Adam Leaché, Professor, Department of Biology, Curator of Genetic Resources & Herpetology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture University of Washington, Seattle

Understanding the processes that promote population and species diversification is important for describing the composition of biodiversity, interpreting how ecosystems and biomes develop over time, and guiding decisions on how to preserve threatened biotas. The tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa contain spectacular species richness and endemism, yet the factors responsible for generating this diversity are understudied.

 

Title: “Born on the Columbia Plateau: Tiičáminsh Uytpamá Natítayt (aka Kennewick Man) in Time and Space.”

Presenters:  Lourdes Henebry-DeLeon and Steve Hackenberger, CWU Department of Anthropology

 

Title: “From Washington to Mexico: Reptilian Responses to a Changing, Warming Planet.” 

Presenter: Dr. Dan Beck, CWU Department of Biological Sciences
 

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2018

Title: “Playing Around: The Significance of Social Play in Primates”

Presenter:  Dr. Jessica Mayhew, CWU Dept. of Anthropology

 

Title: “Carbon Chemistry and River Corridor Hydro-Biogeochemistry:  Towards Global Understanding and Predictive Modeling.”

Presenter:  James C. Stegen, Earth & Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific NW National Laboratory [PNNL], Richland, WA.

 

Screening of I-90 Wildlife Project Documentary Film, “Cascade Crossroads”.

Cascade Crossroads is a 30-minute documentary film chronicling the amazing story unfolding on Interstate 90 just east of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington’s Cascade mountains, where the intersection of a vital east-west transportation corridor and a north-south wildlife corridor resulted in historic conservation, collaboration, and innovation that led to the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project under construction today.  Commissioned by the I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition, the film aims to not only share this unique story but also inspire action in other landscapes facing similar challenges between wildlife and roads. 

A trailer for the film is available at https://vimeo.com/166867310 

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2017

Title: “Investigating Life in a Tropical Dry Forest in Jalisco, Mexico:
SOBRE Mexico Scholars Present Results of their 2017 Summer Research.”

Climate models predict tropical storms will grow stronger as global temperatures rise. The SOBRE Mexico team investigated the response of a tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem to Patricia, a category 5 hurricane that struck coastal Jalisco, Mexico in October 2015. In addition, the team investigated parasite/host interactions in the tropical dry forest after the storm.

 

Title: “A Basal Deinonychosaur from James Ross Island, Antarctica and the Biostratigraphy of the Latest Cretaceous, Antarctic Dinosaurs.”

Presenter: Dr. Judd Case, Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University

 

Title: “Patterns, Sources, and Impacts of Variations and Trends in the Timing of Seasonal Transitions Over the Coterminous U.S.”

Presenter: Dr. Julio Betancourt, Paleoecologist, USGS

Day-of-year [DOY] metrics can define spring onset in the CONUS. These DOY metrics exhibit secular trends consistent with both natural variability and greenhouse warming. In the atmosphere, spring onset variations also appear linked to the Pacific North American (PNA) pattern and the Northern Annular Mode (NAM). By contrast, last spring frost, first fall frost, and the duration of the growing season in CONUS poorly tracks common climatic indices, and instead is modulated by the polar vortex.

 

Title: “The Creation of a Marine Park:  Twenty Years of Research on the Intertidal Mudflats of NW Australia.”

Presenter: Bob Hickey, Professor, CWU Department of Geography

Come learn about the science behind the development of marine parks in Roebuck Bay and Eighty Mile Beach, Australia, one of the few places on Earth where soft bottom intertidal mudflats support vast numbers of migratory birds.

 

Title: “From Bones to Behavior: Using Signs of Injury and Illness to Understand the Lives of Extinct Mammals.”

Presenter: Meaghan Wetherell, Associate Director of Institutional Effectiveness, CWU and Adjunct Lecturer CWU Department of Geology

This presentation will discuss how evidence of illness and injury can be used to piece together a picture of herd structure, lifespan, and defense mechanisms for a group of extinct mammals called oreodonts. In particular, we will cover the abundance of bite marks, infections, bone bruises, and fractures found on the cheekbones of one genus of oreodont, and how such injuries could relate to herd behavior.

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2016

Title: "Geoarchaeology of Destruction and Geo-architecture of Creation: Digging Out Roman Stones to Build Medieval Cathedrals."

Presenter: Dr. Stefano Lugli, Geologist at University of Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy.

The Modena Cathedral with its bell tower are inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as prestigious examples of Medieval art. The external walls of these monuments are covered by 21 different ornamental stones coming from the destruction of the ancient Roman town, which is now buried below more than 4 m of alluvial sediments. We will explore the fascinating geoarcheology of the Roman ruins dating back to more than 2000 years ago and the medieval despoliation and construction techniques, which created an unprecedented example of spectacular geoarchitecture.

Hosted by the CWU Department of Geological Sciences

 

Title: “Lichens: Marvelous, Myriad & Misunderstood.”

 

Presenter: Jack S. Massie (Seasonal Botanist / Lichenologist for Cle Elum Ranger District and retired research and biological science teacher)

 

Title: “Fracking Vaca Muerta: Socio-Economic Implications of Shale Gas Extraction in Northern Patagonia.”

Presenter: Elvin Delgado, CWU Department of Geography

 

Title: “Wolverines:  The Ultimate Alpine Survivor Recolonizes the North Cascades.”

Presenter: John Rohrer, U.S. Forest Service, Methow Ranger District Range and Wildlife Program Manager

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2015    

Title: “The Wenas Creek Mammoth: Excavation & Current Research.”

Presenter: Dr. Pat Lubinski, (CWU Department of Anthropology and Museum Studies)

CWU excavated the Wenas Creek paleontological and archaeological site near Selah from 2005-2010, with some laboratory analysis now completed and more underway.  The 17,000-year-old site includes remains of mammoth and bison, and two possible (controversial) human artifacts. 

 

Dr. Darci Snowden (CWU Department of Physics) will speak on the solar system and evolution.

 

Title: “Earthquakes: Will Everything West of I-5 Really Be Toast?”

Presenter: Mr. Nick Zentner Lecturer, CWU Geological Sciences, will talk about local geology.

 

Title: "Mathematical Modeling:  Overpopulation, Zombies and Evolution."

Presenter: Dr. Jean Marie Linhart, Department of Mathematics, CWU

 

Title: "Human Dimensions of Colony Collapse Disorder and Its Impact on Honeybees." 

Presenter: Dr. Tim Lawrence, Entomology Department, Washington State University

 

Title: "The Ebola Virus and the Current Epidemic."

Presenter: Dr. Holly Pinkart, Department of Biological Sciences, CWU

 

Title: "From Snakes in Washington to Lizards in Mexico: A 20-Year Journey of Discovery with CWU Students."

Presenter: Dr. Dan Beck, Department of Biological Sciences, CWU

 

Title: "Physical Models of Biological Machines: From Molecular Motors to Migratory Cells."

Presenter: Dr. Erin M. Craig, Department of Physics, CWU

 

Title: "Tsunami Geology:  Combining Sand, Shovels, and Computers to Understand Past Events." 

Presenter: Dr. Breanyn MacInnes, Department of Geological Sciences, CWU

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2014

Title: “A Campus-Community Partnership: Student Opportunities in Habitat Restoration.”
Presenter: Melissa Reitz, (CWU Biological Sciences Alum) and Colleagues, Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group

 

Title: “The Power of Muscle: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding Skeletal Muscle Plasticity.” 

Presenter: Scott Trappe, PhD, Ball State University, and Jared Dickinson, PhD, Arizona State University
Hosted by Dept. of Nutrition, Exercise, & Health Sciences

 

Title: “Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Fusion.”
Presenter: Derek Ricketson, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California Davis
 

Title: “Monitoring Native Deer, Elk and Moose Populations in Washington: Methods and Sampling Strategies.”
Presenter: Scott McCorquodale, PhD, Deer and Elk Specialist & Acting Regional Wildlife Program Manager, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife 

 

Title: “Psyllids and Microbes, Friends or Foes?”
Presenter: Rodney Cooper, PhD, Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory, Wapato

 

Title: “A Structural Biology Approach Enables the Development of Antimicrobials Targeting Bacterial Immunophilins.”
Presenter: Spencer Moen (BS,CWU) Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID)

 

Title: “Human Responses to the Last Glacial Maximum in the Transbaikal (Southern Siberia).”
Presenter: Ian Buvit, PhD, Director of McNair Scholars Program, CWU

 

Title: “Mean and Lowly Things: Snakes, Science and Survival in the Congo.”

Presenter: Kate Jackson, Department of Biology, Whitman College

 

Title: “Medical Miracles and Moral Dilemmas.”

Presenter: Corwin P. King, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

 

Title: “The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in US Adults: 2003-2010.”

Presenter: Dr. David Gee, Professor and Program Director of CWU Food Science and Nutrition

 

Title: “Uncovering the Life Histories of Cephalopods Using Stable Isotopes.”

Presenter: Kirt L. Onthank, Department of Biology, Walla Walla University

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2013

Title: "Ensuring Quality of Viral Vectors."

Presenter: Dr. Kelly Zinn, Quality Specialist, Juno Therapeutics

The biopharmaceutical company, Juno Therapeutics, is developing biological immunotherapies, including those for leukemia and lymphoma, that use chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology.  Viral vectors are used to deliver CAR genes to patients' T cells so they can recognize and fight cancer.  This talk will discuss considerations with respect to FDA requirements and other implications of this dynamic material.

 

Title: "Optimization of Sports Equipment Based on Human Subjects Experiments and Multi-Body System Modeling."

Presenter: Dr. Karen Roemer, CWU Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Sciences

 

Title: "1200 Miles in a Canoe: Canada's Mackenzie River and the American Arctic."

Presenter: Dr. Tom Cottrell, CWU Biological Sciences

 

Title: "Osteopathic Principles in Women's Health."

Presenter: Anita Showalter, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

 

Title: "The Gut, Gatekeeper to Nutrient Availability in High Energy-Demand Endurance Events."

Presenter: Dr. Vince Nethery, CWU Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Sciences

 

Title: "Bang! Boom. Puff? The Science of Quiet Supersonic Aircraft."

Presenter: Dr. Andy Piascek, CWU Department of Physics