Lunch with a Scientist


Lunch with an IPFW Scientist is a series of lunch sessions every 2nd Saturday of the month from October through May featuring professors from IPFW. This series is designed for professors to present their topics in a fun and memorable way, planting in both the young and most seasoned participant a budding interest in science. Family members ages 8 and up get up-close and personal with each scientist and learn more about their specialty. Following the presentation and hands-on activities, everyone enjoys lunch with the featured scientist.
2007-2008 Dates Oct. 13, 2007 Up, Up and Away! Indoor Model Airplanes Presented by David Erbach, Professor of Computer Science Jumpstart your career as a Science Olympian with David Erbach, Professor of Computer Science. Indoor models are a good way to learn about aerodynamics or how air moves around an object in the atmosphere. Lightweight models fly so slowly that it is easy to see aerodynamic effects which are masked in large models and man-carrying aircraft and are so inexpensive that anyone can try. All that is required is patience, craftsmanship, and some knowledge of aerodynamics. Nov. 10, 2007 Hunting Indiana's Ice Age Big Game Presented by James Farlow, Professor of Geology Learn about large animals like Fred, the Buesching Mastodon and many others that roamed Indiana during and immediately after the last Ice Age with James Farlow. Participants in this session will discover what northern Indiana was like at about 10,000 B.C. Dec. 8, 2007 CSI Fort Wayne Presented by Karen Berka Bruewer, Limited Term Lecturer, Division of Public and Environmental Affairs Investigate the fascinating field of forensic science! Karen Berka Bruewer will demonstrate how science can help police identify criminals through DNA, fingerprints and much more. If you like to solve mysteries and love science, then a career in forensic science is for you! Jan. 12, 2008 Engineers to Be: Let's Design a Bridge Presented by Suleiman Ashur, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Build your own bridge in this exciting session with Suleiman Ashur. Learn about different types of highway bridges, steps to design a bridge, and elements involved in designing bridges. Attendees will use simple software to design a bridge to meet predefined criterion. A contest will be held and a winner will be announced for the best built bridge! Feb. 9, 2008 The Biggest Turtle You Never Eat Presented by Frank Paladino, Jack W. Schrey Distinguished Professor of Biology Explore how sea turtles and crocodiles in Costa Rica migrate and much more through the use of satellites to track and understand marine animals in the ocean with Frank Paladino. March 8, 2008 It's not Magic, It's Chemistry!! Presented by Art Friedel, Professor of Chemistry Abracadabra! Hocus pocus! Shazam!! Magicians’ tricks aren’t magic at all--they’re chemistry!! Participants will do experiments that appear to be magical, but are really science.Examine what is happening from a chemist’s point of view with Art Friedel. April 12, 2008 Chemistry and the Artist Palette Presented by Michael Columbia, Associate Professor of Chemistry Discover how artists such as Leonardo da Vinic and Pablo Picasso were chemists too! This session will showcase materials used by artists to bring color to their works of art and how chemistry accounts for those colors at the molecular level with Michael Columbia. May 10, 2008 Flowers, More than Just a Pretty Face Presented by Michael Bosella, Assistant Professor of Biology Celebrate the return of Spring and Mothers Day (May 11th) by learning more about flowers with Michael Bosella. Aside from their aesthetic appeal to humans, flowers play a crucial role in the life cycle of plants. Flower models and dissections will be used to provide an overview of the basic structure and biology of the flowers. The different types of adaptations that flowers have developed to attract pollinators will also be discussed. Come and learn about the work of flowers.
	Cost: $15 per person/per session, $8 for Science Central members. Families with young people ages 8 and up are welcome. 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. For Reservations Call (260) 424-2400, ext 451. Or, download the PDF Registration Form.