Biology

Specifics of the lecture will be added when available, please check back or check the Biology department events page.

Using genomics to reveal the mechanisms of resilience: Studies of global change adaptation and sea star wasting disease.

In this talk, I will discuss how we integrate genomic approaches with the ecology and evolution of interesting, ecologically foundational marine organisms to understand if and how they respond to stressors such as ocean warming, ocean acidification, and pathogens. We use field sampling, common garden studies, and experimental evolution to shed light on the mechanisms of resilience in a rapidly changing world. 

This will be a wide-ranging talk exploring the insights and challenges of practicing applied science and utilizing decision theory to aid natural resource management. I’ll begin with an overview of my career, an explanation of structured decision making, and the flavors of applied science I practice. From there, based on audience interest, I will provide greater detail on some selected applications and case studies of interest.

Hold the Salt: Salinity Influences Structure and Function of Streams Across North America

Most inland waters are defined by their low salinity relative to the oceans. However, both geological and anthropogenic processes can lead to freshwater salinization. This talk will summarize work done by Eric Moody and his research students at Middlebury College using ecological stoichiometry as a framework to study the causes and consequences of freshwater salinization in streams and rivers across North America.

Biology Seminar, Saul Lecture - Dr. Vincent Lynch, University of Buffalo

Cancer, aging, Peto’s paradox

Evolutionary theory predicts that large animals, because they have more cells than smaller ones should have higher cancer prevalence than the small ones; similarly long-lived animals, which have a long time to acquire cancer causing mutations should have higher cancer prevalence than short lived ones but do not. In fact the cancer prevalence in mammals averages 50-10%. What mechanisms underlie this apparent disconnect between theory and observation?

Biology Seminar, Saul Lecture: Dr. Vincent Lynch, University of Buffalo

The quest for, and impossibility of, immortality.

A public lecture, sponsored by George B Saul II lecture fund and the Biology Department.

Why do we get sick, old, and die?

Theoretically there is no reason organisms cannot live forever. However, except for maybe one animal, every thing that has ever lived, and will live, will get old, sick, and die.  But if immortality is possible, why hasn’t it evolved?

Join the Biology SAC to hear professors speak about their educational and career experiences. Feel free to come with your questions! 

 Level Up! Measuring Science Interest XP Gain at Comic Cons

A common requirement of granting agencies is showing that the work reaches wide audiences and has an impact upon them. However, showing that reach and impact can be difficult. In this seminar Dr. Lundgren will discuss her work with Cosplay for Science, where STEM professionals share their “nerdy” interests and expertise with people in the unconventional learning space of comic conventions.

From Single Cells to Satellites: Genomics-informed virus-microbe ecology across scales

Julia Brown, Senior Research Scientist, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences