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Science Literacy Week 2014

“The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it.” Robert M. Sapolsky

Digging Dinosaurs: Fact and Fiction in Jurassic Park

David C. Evans

Curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology
Department of Natural History (Palaeobiology)
Royal Ontario Museum

Assistant Professor
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Toronto

Date: Monday September 22, 2014
Time: 5 - 6 pm
Place: Gerstein Library (9 King's College Circle)

Eventbrite - Digging Dinosaurs: Fact and Fiction in Jurassic Park

 Dinosaurs

Misconceptions About the Big Bang

The Big Bang Theory is one of the crowning achievements of modern science. The basic premise--that the universe began expanding about 14 billion years ago from a very hot, dense state--has been independently verified many times over. And yet there is widespread confusion and uncertainty about what the theory actually says--and what it doesn't. Did the universe begin as some kind of atom? If it's expanding, what's it expanding into? Does it have an outside? Are there other universes? And why did it start? In this talk, I'll clarify what we do and don't know about the Big Bang.

Michael Reid

Coordinator of Public Outreach and Education
Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics

Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics
University of Toronto

Date: Tuesday September 23, 2014
Time: 5 - 6 pm
Place: Gerstein Library (9 King's College Circle)

Eventbrite - Misconceptions About the Big Bang

 Universe expansion

Explaining the complex lives of parasites

Despite centuries of research into infectious diseases, there are no satisfying answers to important ecological and evolutionary questions, such as: Which factors have shaped the evolution of parasite traits that determine harm caused to hosts and infectiousness? How and why do interactions between parasites and hosts differ across parasite species, i.e., why are some diseases severe and others less so? How might drugs or vaccines affect parasite traits and their interactions with hosts? Global disease statistics highlight the importance of answering these questions: infectious diseases currently account for 1 in 6 deaths worldwide, and 1 in 2 deaths in developing regions (WHO). Further, in Canada we are confronted with an ever-increasing threat from drug resistant bacteria (e.g., MRSA), which are a consequence of ecological interactions and evolutionary responses. Developing a better understanding of parasite evolutionary ecology is therefore critical to designing effective treatment and control strategies. My research seeks to fill this gap by asking how the ecology of parasites shapes the evolution of traits and behaviours that underlie infectiousness and disease severity. 

Nicole Mideo

Assistant Professor

Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Toronto

Date: Wednesday September 24, 2014
Time: 5 - 6 pm
Place: Gerstein Library (9 King's College Circle)

Eventbrite - Explaining the complex lives of parasites

Announcement

Friday lecture has been cancelled.

For other events this week, visit Show & Tell Events