2008 Fall Science Strand
2008 Fall Term

Science Strand

Geology of Western Oregon

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 9:30
Steve Matthes, a research chemist at the U.S. Bureau of Mines and National Energy Technology Laboratory, will explore the fascinating geologic history of Western Oregon with maps and photos of its geologic features. This geology has been shaped over the last 55 million years by the forces of plate tectonics. The familiar landforms of Western Oregon: Western Cascades, High Cascades, Coast Range, Columbia River channel, and the Willamette Valley have all been the result of eruptions, uplift, and deposition caused by the collision of the oceanic plate (Juan de Fuca) with the continental (North American) plate.

Steve has allowed ALL to publish the PowerPoint slides from his presentation. Because of the size of the original file, the show has been broken into three parts: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Host: Ron Coffey

Batteries for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 9:30
Harold Haskins, a retired Ford engineer, will review promising battery technologies for future electric and hybrid vehicles. Vehicle manufacturers are now developing plug-in hybrid vehicles to improve air quality, reduce our dependency on imported oil, and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Vehicle requirements and concepts, battery design fundamentals, and insights into two leading technologies - nickel metal hydride and lithium ion - will be presented. Barriers to their use will also be discussed.
Host: Denis Jarvis

Exploring Your Human Genome

Tuesday, Oct. 21 & 28, 9:30
Kari van Zee, Program Coordinator for Science Education Partnerships at OSU, will conduct these two class/lab workshops in room 138 of Crop Science Building. First day: after introduction to DNA, you will isolate human genomic DNA from your own cheek cells and then use PCR to explore a small target region. Second day: after discussion of DNA sequencing and genomics, gel electrophoresis will be used to examine and compare the DNA sequences produced in the PCR reactions. You will use standard lab procedures but no experience is required. Limit: first 24 to register for both days. Car pooling will be organized. This is a repeat of the Spring 2008 Workshop because it was so over subscribed.

For more information, go to the Science Education Partnerships web site. On the left-side navigation bar, click on "2008 Summer Workshops and Resources for Teachers". Then click on "Exploring your Genome" to see a variety of resources, including a DNA fact sheet, the Powerpoint presentation, and a course description.

Host: Denis Jarvis

ADHD: A Disorder of Dysregulated and Inconsistent Attention

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 9:30
Robert Verhoogen, a general pediatrician who now only consults on attention and learning disorders affecting children, teens, and adults, will present less commonly discussed concepts and misconceptions about attention problems that may possibly affect self, family members, or friends. He will discuss what is meant by and involved in paying attention, remaining attentive, different "forms" of attention, attention/intention, executive functioning, and attention/retention.
Host: Ron Coffey

Applications of Minimally Invasive Surgery -- Laparoscopy

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 9:30 AM
Scott Barlow, Physician Assistant-C, MPAS, Good Samaritan Hospital will describe how the technique of laparoscopic surgery is currently being used on a variety of organs in the body and he will bring some hands-on items to help illustrate its use. In comparison to conventional invasive surgery, the small incision from laparoscopy results in reduced hospital stays, fewer wound infections, less pain and a faster recovery time.
Host: Don Rounds

Amber as a Research Tool

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 9:30 AM
George Poinar, courtesy professor of Entomology at OSU, will review his 31-year career, working with fossil forms embedded in amber. He will describe what amber is and how it is formed. He has discovered that generic and family lineages of fossils could be followed, how they could provide indirect evidence of other organisms, and how he has used amber for biogeographic studies, among many other observations. He has extracted DNA from 100 million-year-old amber-embedded insects, to identify the insect it came from. He will also review some of the major difficulties he encountered while searching for amber, amber jewelry, and sculpture and will also discuss the preservative properties of resin and amber forgeries.
Host: Don Rounds

Why Bridges Fall Down

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 9:30 AM
Chris Higgins, OSU Assistant Professor of Structural Engineering, will describe the performance of the highway bridges upon which we all depend. Many bridges have served us well for many years, while others have collapsed with disasterous results. Chris will discuss the programs at OSU that are aimed at keeping us safe as we drive along the highways of Oregon.
Host: Len Maki

NuScale Nuclear Power Plant

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 9:30 AM

Jose Reyes, Head of the OSU Nuclear Engineering Department, also serves as the Chief Technical Officer of NuScale Power, Inc. NuScale is a Corvallis company that plans to commercialize a small (45 MW) nuclear power plant. Jose Reyes will describe the design of this small, safe, economic and environmentally sound source of electricity. He will also describe the work being done to get the design certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission so that it can be marketed and sold throughout the world.

Dr. Reyes has allowed ALL to publish the PowerPoint slides from his presentation.

Host: Len Maki