There are only three days left until I leave! Flights and everything have been set and to say that I'm excited would be an understatement. I'm going to be spending the upcoming days to familiarize myself with the topics just to be sure that I have some background knowledge.
Here is an article that was posted on the LSU website that gives a bit more info on what I'll be doing.
http://appl003.lsu.edu/unv002.nsf/9faf000d8eb58d4986256abe00720a51/63cefc81b5beba2f86257674004e271d?OpenDocument
The goal is to get more schools involved with this and maybe open up opportunities for other students. I encourage other students, particularly those interested in science, to talk to their science departments about watching the lectures as other schools across the nation will be. I'd be more than willing to serve as a school contact if necessary.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Here are the 2009 Lecturers
Sometimes it pays to look in unlikely places to uncover fundamental principles of biology!
Researchers Bonnie Bassler of Princeton University and Baldomero Olivera of the University of Utah are this year's lecturers and they will be sharing their insights with us live during HHMI's 2009 Holiday Lectures on Science.
The theme of this year’s lectures is “Exploring Biodiversity: The Search for New Medicines.” Presentations by both will highlight the importance of studying and learning from the diversity of organisms found in nature.
Here's a little information about what they study:
Bassler, who is an HHMI investigator at Princeton, will explain how bacteria talk to each other. One type of communication—called quorum sensing—allows simple asocial creatures to coordinate complex activities, including working together to attack their host. Bassler first discovered this bacterial chatter by studying bioluminescent bacteria that live symbiotically inside squid.
Curiosity drove Olivera, an HHMI professor, to study venomous cone snails. These ocean-dwelling snails sting and inject potent venom to kill fish, worms, and even people—if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Each of the 700 cone snail species makes a unique venom that targets the victim’s nervous system and causes sedation, shock, or paralysis.
Researchers Bonnie Bassler of Princeton University and Baldomero Olivera of the University of Utah are this year's lecturers and they will be sharing their insights with us live during HHMI's 2009 Holiday Lectures on Science.
The theme of this year’s lectures is “Exploring Biodiversity: The Search for New Medicines.” Presentations by both will highlight the importance of studying and learning from the diversity of organisms found in nature.
Here's a little information about what they study:
Bassler, who is an HHMI investigator at Princeton, will explain how bacteria talk to each other. One type of communication—called quorum sensing—allows simple asocial creatures to coordinate complex activities, including working together to attack their host. Bassler first discovered this bacterial chatter by studying bioluminescent bacteria that live symbiotically inside squid.
Curiosity drove Olivera, an HHMI professor, to study venomous cone snails. These ocean-dwelling snails sting and inject potent venom to kill fish, worms, and even people—if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Each of the 700 cone snail species makes a unique venom that targets the victim’s nervous system and causes sedation, shock, or paralysis.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
2009 Holiday Lecture - Exploring Biodiversity
I will be attending the 2009 Holiday Lecture Series at Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
The 2009 Holiday Lecture is titled Exploring Biodiversity: The Search for New Medicines. Hopefully we can get a lot of classes in the state of Louisiana to participate in the lecture series via live Web casts which will be watched by 1300 – 1600 viewers worldwide.
The four lecture series will be aired each of the two days from 9:00 am – 10:00 am and from 10:30 am – 11:30 am Central Time.
The 2009 Holiday Lecture is titled Exploring Biodiversity: The Search for New Medicines. Hopefully we can get a lot of classes in the state of Louisiana to participate in the lecture series via live Web casts which will be watched by 1300 – 1600 viewers worldwide.
The four lecture series will be aired each of the two days from 9:00 am – 10:00 am and from 10:30 am – 11:30 am Central Time.
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