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Science Central’s Lunch with an IPFW Scientist is an educational and fun series of lunch sessions each month from October through May featuring professors from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. These programs take place at Science Central. This series is designed to provide professors the opportunity to present their topics in a fun and memorable way, planting in both the young and most seasoned participant a budding interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Family members ages 8 and up get up-close and personal with each scientist and learn how various scientific processes work. Following the presentation and hands-on activities, participants enjoy lunch with the featured scientist.
The program is for families with young people ages 8 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult during session.
(Price includes lunch) |
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October 8 Have you ever wondered how fireflies can light up the night sky or what makes the glow in a glow stick? Both can produce light, not using electricity, but as a by-product of a chemical reaction. Investigate the chemical reactions that can generate light and perform some chemical reactions of your own that will generate light of different colors with Michael Columbia, Associate Professor of Chemistry. |
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November 12 What can cause mutant bog monsters, nuclear rain, the energy supply for a time-travel machine and superhuman abilities? Nuclear energy, right? Explore some interesting facts about nuclear energy and the fictions we so often hear. Discover how half life works through a fun activity that tests just how fast a radioactive isotope can decay with Mark Masters, Chair and Professor of Physics. |
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December 10 Have you ever wondered where insects go in the winter? Explore where and how insects over-winter and the different ways they deal with cold temperatures. Then look for over-wintering insects in samples of seeds, fruits, sticks, logs and soil with Jordan Marshall, Assistant Professor of Biology. |
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Reefs Through Time January 14 We will talk about modern and fossil reefs. We will discuss the different plants and animals that build reefs or that live around them. We will also talk about how reefs change with changing environmental conditions. We will deduce the role different organisms play in reef ecology by examining (hands on) their remains, both fossil and modern hard parts. Presented by Benjamin F Dattilo, Ph.D., assistant professor of geology |
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February 11 When sending a message -- on a CD recording, over the internet or from a satellite in space -- all kinds of things can go wrong. Explore two possible problems: how to make sure that only the recipient can read the message and how to protect against the message getting garbled along the way. Learn how math can be used to solve these problems with Matthew Walsh, Associate Professor of Mathematics. |
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March 10 Considering that most of our infrastructure facilities were built about 50 years ago and they are now in need of major maintenance, the field of civil engineering is growing fast. Learn about the major areas of civil engineering and how to make strong and durable concrete. Test different concrete mixes to choose the best mix, then make your own concrete and smash a very strong concrete specimen using a digitally-controlled testing machine with Mohammad Alhassan, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering. |
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April 14 There is more to radiography than just broken bones. Radiographers also take x-rays in surgery and take images of every anatomical part. Examine x-ray images and try to name the bone or type of x-ray. Inspect actual bones and some other items that radiographers use on a daily basis with Amanda Brown, Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiography.
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May 12 One of the important advances in technology that has allowed people to live longer than ever before is the improvement of drinking water and wastewater treatment. The ancient Romans documented treating wastewater as early as the 6th century BC, but until the 1900s the main “treatment” method was dilution of solution. Think about that as you participate in a demonstration of the water treatment process with Dong Chen, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering. |
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To register, use the Lunch with an
IPFW Scientist
Registration Form. |
Lunch
with an IPFW Scientist
Let There Be Light - The Chemistry of
Glow Sticks & Fireflies 
Should We Be Afraid?
Where Do Bugs Go in Winter?
The Mathematics of Codes
A Firm Foundation - How to Make Good
Concrete 
Name That Bone - The Science of
Radiography 
Drinking Water & Wastewater Treatment
- Yesterday and Today