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Science Central proudly hosts Lunch with a
Scientist, a series of lunch sessions from October through May featuring
professors from Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.
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. Following the presentation and hands-on
activities, participants enjoy lunch with the featured scientist. (Price includes lunch) |
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Saturday, October 9, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. In the Spring of 2010, two bald eagles spent a few weeks in Fort Wayne, raising hopes that the National Bird will breed in the area again soon. You will learn about why and when they became extinct in the state of Indiana, about their reintroduction in southern Indiana, and about their subsequent spread to the north. You will experience for yourself what happens if a bald eagle sits on an egg with a shell that’s too thin (that’s what happened as a consequence of DDT poisoning), reconstruct routes on which the bald eagle spread through northern Indiana using maps of the state as it looks to eagles, and other hands-on activities with Winfried Peters, Assistant Professor of Biology. |
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Saturday, November 13, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. Learn about the history and chemistry behind early photographic processes, then use cyanotypy (blueprint photography) to develop a photograph of your own with Michael Columbia, Associate Professor of Chemistry. |
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Saturday, December 11, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. Discover some examples of interesting geometric shapes and their applications in science by using soap films and soap bubbles. You will participate in hands-on explorations of bubbles to learn about geometric principles of shapes, curves, surfaces and area with Adam Coffman, Associate Professor of Mathematics. |
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Saturday, January 8, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. Join us for a demonstration of the stunning power and breadth of musical applications in the Digital Audio Workstation. This will include brief examples of cutting edge audio processing, such as correcting the rhythm of an audio recording, then adding state of the art orchestral samples to create a large orchestra piece. You will use a keyboard to play virtual instruments in the DAW, comparing classical and popular music styles. Then you will collaborate to create a short piece from scratch and edit it into a professional sounding song with Chris Rutkowski, Clinical Assistant Professor of Music Composition and Technology. |
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Saturday, February 12th, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. How do people and animals know which way to go when trying to get from one place to another in the environment? We will look at how people and animals solve this basic problem, with a focus on different strategies that people use for navigation. There will be an introduction to the concept of the “cognitive map” and an activity to demonstrate our own cognitive maps. We also will see if we can think of a navigation system to keep people from getting lost with Carol Lawton, Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department. |
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Saturday, March 12th, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. The chemistry laboratory and kitchen have a lot in common. Both contain substances that are combined and reacted in various vessels, whether the baking dish or the beaker. In fact, a lot of chemistry actually takes place when kitchen ingredients are combined and/or heated. Casein is the name of a protein in milk, and is broken down by digestive processes into amino acids, which the body uses to build other proteins, such as muscle. By changing the chemistry of casein, we can change its properties and function. We will turn the casein protein in milk into glue in this presentation with Karen Ericson, Assistant Professor of Chemistry (Research) and Director, Vitamin B6 Laboratory. |
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Electric Cars: No Fossil Fuels Required Saturday, April 16th, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. Electric cars create less pollution than gasoline powered cars, so they are an environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. Learn all about electric cars including batteries, electric motors, solar cells and fuel cells. You will have the opportunity to hook up your own electric motor and solar cell while discovering all the varieties of technologies making up an electric vehicle with Gary Steffen, Associate Professor and Chair of the Computer and Electrical Engineering Technology & Information Systems and Technology Departments |
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Saturday, May 14th, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. 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 B.C., 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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*later times may apply as needed.
To register, use the Lunch with an
IPFW Scientist
Registration Form. |
Lunch
with an IPFW Scientist
Bald
Eagles in Fort Wayne
The
Chemistry of Alternative Photography
Making
Music Magic with Computers
Minds,
Maps and Mazes
Connecting
Chemistry to Your Kitchen ... Making Glue from Milk
Drinking
Water and Wastewater Treatment - Yesterday and Today