SCIENCE EXPLORATION DAY 2007

Keynote Presentation
Small Group Presentations
Large Group Presentations

Keynote Presentation

THE REAL SCIENCE BEHIND CSI: APPLIED FORENSIC SCIENCE

Dr. Ted Yeshion
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Departments of Criminal Justice and Forensic Chemistry

An overview of a typical crime laboratory and the responsibilities for each of the sections of the lab will be provided. Discussions will include a definition of forensic science, how different scientific disciplines integrate to assist investigators in resolving inquiries of a legal nature, and examples of crime scene reconstruction. The role of the forensic scientist as an expert witness will also be discussed.

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SMALL GROUP PRESENTATIONS

1. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND EARTHQUAKE SILMULATION TOUR
(Tom Albrechcinski, SEESL/UB-NEES Site Operations Manager, Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo)

The Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) laboratory, at the University at Buffalo, is a part of the Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Laboratory (SEESL) within the Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE). The laboratory is capable of conducting testing of full or large-scale structures using dynamic or static loading. This is enabled by the availability of two shake (earthquake simulation) tables; large-scale dynamic and static servo-controlled actuators; and a 40-ton capacity crane. Participants will hear a presentation describing this very unique facility and observe an example of the nature of seismic testing using a "Mini-Shake Table" prior to the tour of the laboratory.

2. ASTRONOMY TOUR
(Astronomy Teaching Assistants, UB)

Students will tour the University at Buffalo's Fronczak telescopes and learn about observational astronomy.

3. SCIENCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE
(Dr. Donald Birdd, Professor, Science Education, Buffalo State College)

"Touch, Play and Think" about some of the science in your everyday world. All too often we go about our lives not thinking about the principles of science that impact what we do and how we perceive the world. Learn more about how science plays this role in your life, even though you might not even think of it.

4. CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER
(AnneMarie W. Block, Ph.D., FACMG, Director, Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory, Roswell Park Cancer Institute)

This presentation will be an introduction to the field of cancer Cytogenetics. The genomes of cancer cells are very unstable, often characterized by gains/losses of whole chromosomes and rearrangements between chromosomes. This specialized area of chromosome analysis examines the genetic changes that occur in the cells of cancer patients. Students will receive instruction in this cutting-edge field of genetics. The relevance of these findings to patient diagnosis and prognosis will be discussed. Students will be shown techniques used in the laboratory and will be given the opportunity to cut-out an actual karyotype.

5. TOUR OF CHEMISTRY RESEARCH LABORATORIES
(Dr. Frank V. Bright, Professor and Department Chair and Dr. James F. Garvey, Professor, Department of Chemistry)

Interested in chemistry? This session includes tours of two research laboratories under the direction of Professors Frank V. Bright and James F. Garvey. In exploring these state-of-the art laboratories, students will learn about ongoing research activities, laser-based instruments, applications of chemistry research, funding sources, and the central role that student scholars play in university research.

6. CSI: CRITTER SIGN INVESTIGATION
(Kristin Buechi, Lauren Makeyenko, and Ginger Wszalek, Environmental Educators, NYS DEC Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve)

Learn to read the clues that animals leave behind and solve the nature mysteries in your own backyard. Hands-on investigations will include real biofacts from native mammals, birds, and insects.

7. CERAMICS: WE ARE NOT JUST TOILET TRAINED
(Dr. Alexis Clare and Amanda Kinney, NY State College of Ceramics at Alfred University)

OK, so you know your toilet is made from ceramics and you know that the cups and plates in your cupboards are made from ceramics, but did you know that the soldiers fighting in Iraq are wearing ceramics to protect them against gunfire? Or that if you have to inject yourself with an Epi-pen that it is a super strong glass vial that protects the medicine within? Or that ceramic components are responsible for ultrafine movements in your cameras and watches? A bit different from the good old sturdy pedestal sink wouldn't you say? Ceramics are some of the oldest materials in existence and yet they are the new "it" material. Come and hear more about the "ringer" of the material world.

8. EXOTIC INVADERS OF THE GREAT LAKES
(Helen Domske, Associate Director, Great Lakes Program University at Buffalo, New York Sea Grant)

Jumping Asian carp? Beach fouling bivalves? "Ruffe" times for fish communities. Vampires of the Great Lakes? This program will offer a look at zebra mussels, the ruffe, and other exotic species that have invaded the Great Lakes. Learn about blood-sucking lamprey that feast on trout and other fishes, and what is being done to control these "vampires" of the Great Lakes.

9. VIRTUAL REALITY IN ENGINEERING DESIGN
(Dr. Kenneth English, Deputy Director, NYS Center for Engineering Design & Industrial Innovation, University at Buffalo)

Tour the NYS Center for Engineering Design & Industrial Innovation (NYSCEDII) for an overview of the state-of-the-art in visualization and virtual reality. Also see some academic and industrial applications the center has been involved in over the past year. The center uses state-of-the-art graphics technology to immerse users in virtual worlds. View a three-dimensional model of a saber-toothed tiger skull, watch the motion of a child seat in a car accident, and move 100-foot tall pressure vessels around to design a chemical plant.

10. CENTER FOR COMPUTATIONAL RESEARCH
(Dr. Tom Furlani, Associate Director, Center for Computational Research, University at Buffalo)

The University at Buffalo's Center for Computational Research (CCR) is one of the leading academic supercomputing and visualization centers in the U.S. The Center's machines have a peak performance of 13 Tflops (trillion operations per sec), and can do in one day what a high-end PC would take more than 6 years to accomplish. CCR's computing and visualization infrastructure supports research in a wide variety of areas, including chemistry, biology, physics, mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, bioinformatics, media, finance, art, architecture, medicine, animation, and management. Dr. Furlani will give a PowerPoint presentation that discusses the Center, its capability, and the research it supports at UB.

11. ASTRONOMY: PORTABLE STARLAB PLANETARIUM
(Arthur Gielow, Planetarium Director, Buffalo State College)

Finding your way around the night sky via a portable planetarium, participants will observe projections of constellations, stars and galaxies. Learn more about the nature of the universe.

12. WOULD YOU DRINK "THAT"?? THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OF DRINKING WATER
(Dr. James N. Jensen, Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo)

Have you ever wondered where tap water and bottled water come from? Tour the drinking water research facilities at UB to see demonstrations of the science behind drinking water treatment. Find out why prescription drugs may actually show up in drinking water.

13. GO WITH THE FLOW...
(Dr. Igor Jankovic, Professor, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo)

Groundwater is all around you, but because you cannot see it you may not realize how important it is. Learn about the basic principles of groundwater...where to find it and how it flows. Students will learn why groundwater rivers do not exist and how scientific tools can be used to answer many practical groundwater questions. An innovative software demonstration will allow students to follow groundwater flows at a microscopic scale.

14. PHYSICS TOUR _ "COSMIC RAYS"
(Dr. Avto Kharchilava, Physics Dept., University at Buffalo)

Particles that bombard the Earth from anywhere beyond its atmosphere are known as cosmic rays. The origin of these particles, some of them with extremely high energy, is not fully understood yet. This lab tour will show you a "detector" of these particles and various ways to study them. In particular, how cosmic rays can help physicists to understand properties of "elementary particles" that are building blocks of matter.

15. PHARMACY TOUR: PRESCRIPTION FOR SUCCESS
(Cindy Konovitz, Assistant Dean, Louise Cooper, Instructor and Project Support Specialist, and Patricia Cotter-Grace, Director of Professional Practice Laboratory Operations, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo)

Tour and learn about "Medication Experts" in action. The tour will begin in our Pharmacy Museum and Turn-of-the Century Apothecary, where you will see how pharmacy was practiced during the 1800s and early-to-mid 1900s. "Cigarettes for asthma," a prescription for alcoholic beverages (used during the Prohibition).

16. TOUR: DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(Dr. Gerald B. Koudelka, Professor & Department Chair of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo)

The Department of Biological Sciences is a primary focus for instruction, research, and service in the basic biological sciences. The department provides rigorous training at the undergraduate and graduate levels and research in pursuit of new knowledge. Tour the Biological Sciences laboratories to learn more about cutting-edge research being conducted at UB.

17. NASA EARTH SCIENCE MISSIONS
(Dr. Sonya Lawrence, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

Interact with a NASA scientist and learn about National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Earth Science missions. NASA Scientists look for the answers some basic questions: What's out there in space? How do we get there? What will we find? What can we learn there, or learn just by trying to get there, that will make life better here on Earth? The session will be highlighted with equipment used in the NASA space program.

18. VIDEOCONFERENCE - HUMANS TO MARS
(David A. Mazza, NASA Scientist, Facilitator: Dr. Clarann Josef, Director of Science for the Buffalo Public Schools)

This videoconferencing event is an overview of NASA's current and future plans to send humans to the planet Mars. Earth-Mars transit space propulsion systems (nuclear thermal and nuclear electric), space environment concerns, how people would live on the Martian surface, and initial colonization plans will be discussed. Current status of the ongoing robotic mission (Global Surveyor) and the role of the NASA Glenn Research Center during this effort will be explained during this session.

19. INVESTIGATING "PARANORMAL" MYSTERIES
(Dr. Joe Nickell, Paranormal Investigator, Skeptical Inquirer Magazine)

Slide presentation featuring a revealing and entertaining look at such mysterious phenomena as the ghost at Mackenzie House and cases of alleged "spontaneous human combustion" - all from the speaker's own case files and all examined from the scientific point of view.

20. FIGHTING A BATTLE: WHAT'S A WIN AND WHAT'S A LOSS?
(Dr. Surajit Sen, Professor of Physics, University at Buffalo in collaboration with Linda Shanahan, PhD candidate)

Professor Sen will show how one can simulate the start, progression and outcome of a battle and point out that it may be possible to understand diverse processes such as colonization and occupation of a territory, short term victory and long term loss in a battle, and why some diseases proceed rapidly, some slowly and some can't even be felt, in real life.

21. SEEING IN 3-D: CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(Dr. Wade Sigurdson, Director, Confocal Microscope Facility, School of Medicine, University at Buffalo)

Identification of new proteins and gene products and visualizing their spatial relationships with known cellular structures has become one of the most powerful methods in understanding cellular function. Learn about the confocal microscope and related technologies the have been central in this effort. Microscope image formation and the principles behind the use of the confocal microscope will be presented along with examples of instrument capabilities showing how three-dimensional views of the cell are generated.

22. FROM MOLECULES TO MINDS: FRONTIERS OF IGNORANCE
(Dr. Satpal Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo)

We think that we occupy a special place among the wonders of Nature. What makes us so special? Is it because we have the ability to think? If today's best computers are not as good as humans, are they as good as flies, or bacteria, or viruses? Are we really superior to chimpanzees, or monkeys, or even flies? If we are, is it because we have consciousness and the lowly animals do not? Do chimpanzees have consciousness? Do flies? What about bacteria? Are we superior because we have the ability (the free will) to do what we please to? Can we really do what we want to, or are we puppets in the hands of some unseen force(s)? Such questions lead us into endless intrigue and mystery, and reveal our profound ignorance on the nature of our beings. Bring your own intriguing questions to the discussion.

23. PHYSICS AND ARTS EXHIBIT TOUR

(Professor Doreen Wackeroth and Assistants, Physics Department University at Buffalo)
Students will be taken on a tour of the Physics and Arts Exhibit at the UB Physics department. The students will use hands-on exhibits to learn about the rotation of the earth, the light emission from stars, AC power generation, fundamental optics and particle physics.

24. ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORIES TOUR
(Dr. James J. Whalen, Professor of Electrical Engineering, University at Buffalo, plus colleagues: Dr. Anderson, Dr. Zirnheld, Dr. Sarjeant and students)

The electrical engineering program emphasizes photonics, communications and signals, digital electronics, micro-electronics, and materials. The tour will focus on demonstrations within Electrical Engineering Laboratories including the Microwave Lab, the Microelectronics Lab, the High Power Electronics Lab, and the Laser/Photonics Lab.

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LARGE GROUP PRESENTATIONS

BENEATH THE SEAS
(Helen Domske, Associate Director, Great Lakes Program, New York Sea Grant)

Take an imaginary journey beneath the sea to learn about the incredible creatures that live in the world's oceans. From the great whales to the colorful fishes of the coral reef, learn about some of these unique creatures and the changes that humans are causing in these watery environments.

"BEYOND THE TWILIGHT ZONE: FLESH-INVADING FLIES"
(Dr. Wayne Gall, Regional Entomologist, NYS Department of Health, Buffalo)

This presentation will focus on a bizarre but fascinating phenomenon in medical entomology called myiasis. Myiasis is the invasion of a living vertebrate animal by fly larvae. Using real case studies from his work as Regional Entomologist with the New York State Department of Health in Buffalo, Dr. Gall will outline the biology and medical significance of flies involved in human myiasis, including the human bot fly, rodent and rabbit bot flies, the sheep nose bot fly, etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY IN OUR COMMUNITY: THE ROLE OF STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY COOPERATION
(Dr. Joseph Gardella, Jr., Professor of Chemistry and Faculty Fellow, UB Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth)

A collaboration of UB students, community members, government and industry have worked to answer questions about pollution in local environments. A review of efforts in three Buffalo neighborhoods will be given, including Hickory Woods and Seneca Babcock, along with successes in citizen design of cleanups on East Ferry. A review of the Niagara County community of Lewiston Porter project will also be given. In all of these projects, the ability of the community to understand and participate in the planning, execution and interpretation of scientific results improves the way we deal with environmental issues. Students, community members, government and industry participants all benefit from the college/university collaborations.

SNOW DAYS - WEATHER FORECASTING ADVANCES
(Don Paul, Chief Meteorologist, WIVB-TV, Ch. 4)

How do meteorologists know when and where it will snow? Greater refinement in extended range global models now enable meteorologists to make weather forecasts which were not possible 10-15 years ago. Learn about the capabilities and limitations of these models from an expert who uses these important tools.

BIGFOOT: APPLYING SCIENCE TO THE MYSTERY
(Benjamin Radford, Managing Editor, Skeptical Inquirer Magazine)

The mystery of Bigfoot has been explored for decades without resolution. Yet the question of Bigfoot's existence is less a matter of belief than one of science. Discussion includes the search for the mysterious creatures, theories about them, and the reasons that most scientists doubt that Bigfoot exists.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
(Beverly Roe, Professor, Erie Community College, South Campus)

A clinical presentation using actual case photos of the most common sexually transmitted diseases such as Gonorrhea and Herpes, as well as some of the less common sexually transmitted diseases such as Chancroid and Lymphogranuloma venereum.

EARTH: IN HOT WATER
(Philip J. Stokes, Research Assistant, Dept. of Geology, UB)

Recent global warming has occurred at a faster rate than most scientists expected. Rising seas, changing weather patterns, melting glaciers, and extinction of species are some of the observable effects of climate change. This dynamic presentation will cover the implications of global warming.