January 21
From there to here, from here to there, funny microbes are everywhere
Anna-Louise Reysenbach, Portland State University

Hydrothermal vents at mid-ocean ridges are extremely hostile environments, yet support a rich array of life. This is made possible by diverse microbial organisms that harness the chemical energy of the vents and initiate a food web.

January 28
How and why do frogs locate and choose mates by sound?
Carl Gerhardt, Curators' Professor of Biological Sciences

Male tree frogs call at night. Females use these calls to recognize the male's species, to assess his quality, and to find him. How and why she does so will be the topic of this talk.

February 4
Space: A personal perspective from low Earth orbit
Linda Godwin, Professor of Physics and Astronomy

In this talk, a former astronaut will share what it was like to be part of a tremendous team that launched 135 shuttle missions, her personal experiences, and her opinion on the future of human spaceflight in the U.S. and other countries in the world.

February 11
Cold Fusion: Myth or reality?
Robert V. Duncan, Vice Chancellor of Research and Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Cold fusion was once denounced as being either "foolishness or fraud," but now some of the top labs in the world have replicated these results. What is cold fusion? What should we do to understand its origins and thereby determine if it may help answer our future energy needs?

February 18
Molecular cinema: Cups, balls, and nanostructures
John Adams, Professor, Department of Chemistry

Molecules are always in motion, but how can we tell what is going on if we can't see them? Learn what the modeling of these motions can tell us about the structures and properties of nanoscale materials.

February 25
Once around the orbit
Harland Tompkins, Consultant, Chandler, AZ

The transition of an earth-centered universe to a sun-centered solar system is a landmark in scientific thinking. We will explore the personalities of the scientists, the discoveries, and the observatory that played a part in this fundamental paradigm shift in the history of science.

March 3
Tissue regeneration: Fact or science fiction?
Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado, Professor, Stowers Institute

Is it possible to regenerate human limbs and other tissues in the lab? Major breakthroughs in understanding tissue regeneration come from a planarian named Schmidtea. Come learn about this special flat worm and the science of tissue regeneration.

March 10
Conservation when seas are rising
Dylan Kesler, Assistant Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife

Climate change will cause many Pacific islands to disappear beneath rising seas during the next century. Redistributing the regions' threatened birds is a monumental task. This talk will discuss programs, challenges, and ethical dilemmas involved in translocating birds of Pacific Oceania.

March 17
The secret life of food
Shirley Corriher, Author

The more you know about how food works, the more control you have over what happens. This talk will give you the know-how to get food to come out like you want.

April 7
Professor of Biological Sciences
Kathleen Newton, When the kids are better than the parents: Hybrid vigor in plants

Humans have capitalized on the phenomenon of hybrid vigor -- a cross-breeding response in which a more robust offspring is the result -- to create everything from high yield corn varieties and endless tomatoes to mules and designer dogs. How does hybrid vigor work?

April 14
How the human hand shapes the brain
Scott Frey, Miller Family Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, Director, Brain Imaging Center

What impact does losing a hand have on brain organization? How does functional organization change when an amputee is cured through transplantation? In this talk, we will look at how advanced brain imaging is answering these questions.

April 21
Composting and the food cycle
Tim Reinbott, Superintendent, Bradford Research Farm

Composting is based on the science of managing microbes. It is also the backbone of MU's new "Zero Carbon Footprint Vegetable and Compost Production System," the nation's first green-energy, closed-loop system. Tour of Bradford Farm follows talk.

April 28
Linking citizen science and civic ecology
Marianne Krasny, Marianne Krasny, Professor & Chair, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University

Across the U.S., young people and adults are working together to restore and care for different habitats. Some of the most exciting civic ecology practices are happening in cities...including in Columbia, MO.