“The Amphibian Extinction Crisis:
What You Can Do About It“
SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE with the WOW
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
World of Wonders Science Museum
2 North Sacramento Street, Lodi
FREE TO ATTEND
Wine/beer cash bar and food truck on site
Join your host Nick Gray, Education Director at the WOW, for an evening learning experience in Lodi! Nearly one-third of the world’s amphibian species are on the verge of extinction, and up to 200 species have completely disappeared since 1979. Why is this happening, and what can we do about it? At this month’s SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE, SAVE THE FROGS! Ecologist Michael Starkey will answer these questions by explaining what is causing the amphibian extinction crisis.
As always, SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE has a cash bar for beer and wine purchases and a food truck for dinner and snacks, so you won’t go thirsty or hungry throughout the evening!
Contact the museum for directions and more information at 209.368.0969 or nick[at]wowsciencemuseum[dot]org.
“Unraveling the Mysteries of Chromosome Inheritance”
Davis Science Café
Wednesday, May 10th, 2017
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
G Street WunderBar
228 G St, Davis, California 95616
FREE TO ATTEND
Complimentary soft drinks courtesy UCD Department of Math and Physical Sciences
Each month, Professor Jared Shaw with the UC Davis Department of Chemistry hosts the Davis Science Café, featuring scientists who are studying some of today’s cutting edge topics. This month’s guest is Professor Sean Burgess from the UC Davis Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology who studies chromosomes and DNA repair. Invite a friend, and get here early to grab a seat at G. Street Wunderbar. Let’s drink to science!
Contact Professor Jared Shaw more information, at jtshaw@ucdavis.edu or www.facebook.com/groups/davissciencecafe.
“Wild Romance: Animal Behavior in Mating”
Sacramento Science Distilled
Wednesday, May 17th, 2017
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Streets Pub and Grub
1804 J St. Sacramento
21+ event, FREE TO ATTEND
Join us for Sac Science Distilled- You’ll hear short, idea-centered talks from local experts in the sciences. After the talk, we’ll have a lively discussion that brings science into context for everyday life.
Our speakers this month will be Dr. Sara Freeman (California National Primate Research Center) and Dr. Sean Fogarty (UC Davis Animal Behavior).
From Sara: Studying the brains and behavior of monogamous animals can give insights into the biological systems that allow us to form selective social attachments. Research has identified two hormone systems that are necessary for monogamous pair-bonding: oxytocin and vasopressin. Because these molecules are capable of promoting social behavior in animals, they are now being used as experimental therapies for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, a condition that is characterized by deficits in social function. Check out these videos on Sara’s research and the lab’s research for more information.
From Sean: We generally view the process of evolution through the lens of natural selection. Individuals that survive to adulthood are more likely to pass on their genes: survival of the fittest. But evolution also has a sexier side. Sexual selection, competition within a sex for access to quality mates, pushes many organisms to extreme lengths. Peacocks grow elaborate tails, elephant seals defend enormous harems, and some spiders jump into the jaws of death in order to father more offspring. I’ll talk about the lengths that animals, including humans, go to for sex and discuss some of my own research on sexual selection in water striders where some males get a little too excited and mess up mating for everyone else.
Capital Science Communicators 