SPRING 2013

Feb. 22, 2013 - 12:30pm - MBH 220

Neuroscience Seminar:

Dr. Kevin Holloway, Psychology Department, Vassar College

Hormonal and Opioid Mediation of Learned Sexual Behavior

Mar. 8, 2013 - 12:30pm - MBH 220

Neuroscience Seminar

Dr. Mark Spritzer
Department of Biology, Middlebury College

“Impact of social interactions and hormones on spatial memory and adult neurogenesis.”

Research in the Spritzer laboratory involves using rats as a model to test how hormones interact with the brain to influence learning and memory.  A series of experiments testing the potential role of hippocampal neurogenesis in social memory formation will be described.  Additionally, this talk will summarize experiments testing the effects of testosterone replacement on rats’

Mar. 14, 2013 - 4:30 pm - MBH 216
Refreshments
General Audience lecture

Biology Class of '88 Speaker:   Dr. Jamshid Ghajar, Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery, at Weill Cornell Medical College,  and president of the Brain Trauma Foundation

"From concussion to coma: advances in science and clinical care"

The Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) is the only organization in the world that develops and implements best practice guidelines for severe TBI, which in practice has led to a 50% decrease in severe TBI deaths. The lecture will focus on the practical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of concussion and coma.

Mar. 15, 2013 -  12:30 pm - MBH 216
Lunch available at 12:15pm
Science talk

"Eye tracking synchronization as a metric of attention"

The brain takes time to select and process information, yet we seem to be operating in real time. How do we do this? In this lecture I focus on a key step in solving this puzzle – how we select information, just in time, for processing. This step is the core of attention and the scientific means to quantify this ability using eye tracking synchronization will be presented, as well as its potential use in assessing concussion.

Sponsored by the Biology Class of '88 Lecture Fund

Apr. 11, 2013 | 4:30 pm | MBH 216
Refreshments
General Audience lecture

2013 Saul Lectures:  Dr. Patricia Hunt, School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University

“Plastics, bisphenol A (BPA), and research credibility: When a scientist collides with industry and the media”

When a mistake in the animal facility resulted in the accidental exposure of her mice to the estrogenic chemical bisphenol A (BPA), Dr. Hunt’s research career took an unexpected turn.  During the past 15 years she has conducted studies of the reproductive effects of BPA exposure.  Because humans are exposed daily to this chemical and there is growing public concern about BPA, her findings have placed her in the media spotlight and in front of state legislators and federal agencies.  She will detail her journey and her struggle to maintain her scientific integrity in the face of industry attacks on her research and her own growing concern about bisphenol A and similar chemicals.

AND:

April 12, 2013 t 12:30 pm t MBH 216
Lunch available at 12:15pm
Science talk

“The vulnerable human egg: Are women the weaker sex?“ 

When it comes to reproduction, humans are a vulnerable species.  An estimated 5-10% of clinically recognized pregnancies are chromosomally abnormal and result in the loss of the pregnancy or the birth of a baby with congenital birth defects.  The reason for the high error rate remains unknown, but the frequency of errors is strongly associated with advancing maternal age.   Indeed, by the time a woman is in her 40’s it’s estimated that approximately 50% of the eggs she ovulates are chromosomally abnormal.  Dr. Hunt will review the process of making an egg and the factors that contribute to the high rate of genetic abnormalities in our species.

Sponsored by the George B. Saul II Lecture Fund

SPRING THESIS PRESENTATIONS:

All talks begin at 12:30pm, MBH 220
lunch available at 12:15pm

May 6:  Lou Cornacchione (MBBC) and
Clark Hatheway (MBBC)

May 8:  Samouel Beguin (ESBI)
and
Amanda Reis (NSCI)

May 10:  Gillian Lui (ESBI)

May 13:  Benjamin Wagner (NSCI) and
Christopher Batson (NSCI)

FALL 2012

Event:

Sept. 21, 2012

12:30pm, MBH 220

Dr. Gary Wessel
Brown University 
"Making eggs the old fashioned way: Multipotency and germline determination"

Oct. 5, 2012

12:30pm, MBH 220

 Dr. Catherine Combelles
Department of Biology,
Middlebury College
"All Things Eggs"

Nov. 9, 2012

12:30pm, MBH 216

Dr. Richard Legro
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health Sciences,  Penn State University College of Medicine
"Alfred Hitchcock and the Art of a Clinical Trial"

 Dec. 5, 2012
12:30pm, MBH 220

(lunch at 12:15pm)

BIOLOGY THESIS PRESENTATIONS:

Jessie Williamson:  "Influence of gap width and perceived risk of predation on passerine behavior in a Northern hardwood forest"
and  Austin Ritter:  "Effect of eutrophication on benthic microalgae production"