Tiny Flies, Big Impacts
Nicole Green, Assistant Professor of Biology
Come learn about one of the oldest and greatest model organisms, Drosophila melanogaster! Fruit flies have been used by scientists for over 100 years to uncover biological secrets, including how genes are passed from parent to child, how the immune system works, and how our muscles grow and age. With 75% of the same disease-causing genes, fruit flies are being used to inform scientists and clinicians about how to improve human health and develop better therapies. In this class, you will use microscopes to observe the life cycle of fruit flies, learn how scientists use glowing fluorescent molecules to see the structures and behaviors of cells and get some advice on how to keep your kitchen fruit fly-free!
Understanding Saccharomyces cerevisiae’s (yeast) Past and Futurea
Collin O’Leary, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Discover the story of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as yeast. For thousands of years, humans have used yeast to produce bread and ferment wines and beers. However, only in the last two centuries have scientists begun to understand the complexities of this organism.
Despite being a simple, single-celled, eukaryotic organism, yeast shares similarities with human cells, offering valuable insight for basic research and potential applications in human health. Join us for a short seminar exploring yeast's practical and historical aspects, from its traditional uses to its modern significance in scientific research.
Engineering Our Future
Danielle Grimes, Assistant Professor of Engineering and Physics
A look into the ongoing and past engineering projects at Cornell and how they can impact our future. We will also show-off our fabrication lab that students are able to use throughout their Cornell years.
Star Wars: The Data Awakens
Tyler George, Assistant Professor of Statistics
Join us for an exciting 45-minute interactive data science workshop where you form teams to unlock the secrets of Star Wars using data! Together, we’ll dive into the galaxy of numbers, analyzing Star Wars-themed data through code and fun graphs. Whether you're a data Padawan or a seasoned data Jedi, everyone will get hands-on experience discovering fascinating facts about the Star Wars universe—like which character has the most lines or how planets stack up in size and population!
Exploring Pond Life
Isaac Winkler, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
Frogs and fish are fun, but most life in a pond is small. We will go on a micro-safari to see up close the insects, zooplankton, diatoms, and single-celled ciliates that call our local ponds home. You can make your own mini pond in a plastic bottle and watch the pygmy backswimmers, water fleas and seed shrimp swim around. We will also learn why freshwater biodiversity is important and why it is threatened by our farms and cities.
Deciphering the Code: Genetics of Psychiatric Disease
Sophie Gillett, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
The human brain is a highly complex and intricate organ. The brain is considered one of the major features that separates humans from other species, but what happens when the brain malfunctions? Psychiatric diseases, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, occur when something goes wrong in the brain. These diseases are highly complex, meaning that they have both genetic and environmental risk factors. Because the human brain is a difficult organ to access, scientists often use model systems to study brain-related diseases. In this mini-class, we will discuss how scientists study genetics and psychiatric disease. We will get hands-on experience with DNA isolation techniques and take a microscopic look at human neuronal cell lines, providing exposure to some basic techniques used in the field of psychiatric genetics.
The Geological Context for Modern Climate Change
Rhawn Denniston, William Harmon Norton Professor of Geology
Data from thermometers and rain gauges reveal that our climate is changing. But how unusual are these types of climate swings? Geology holds the answers. We will investigate how ice cores, stalagmites, and ocean sediments track climate variations from thousands and even millions of years ago, providing a broad context for our current climate crisis.
How Machines Learn
Leon Tabak, Professor of Computer Science
A runner plans to run a marathon for the first time. How can a computer program help this runner choose a pace that will give the runner the best possible experience? We will see the great potential and some of the limitations of machine learning.
