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2007/2008
Bring University level research
to your classroom! Get your students interested
in higher education and scientific research. Duquesne
University faculty visit local schools to address
large or small groups on a variety of topics.
This is a great way to expand on a topic you are
currently discussing or introduce something new
and different to your curriculum. A short description
of each talk is available in this booklet and
on the web site. All visits are free of charge
to high schools. To arrange a visit, please contact
the faculty member directly. Phone and email information
are available in each listing.
This program includes topics
in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology,
and physics. If you have questions regarding the
Visiting Scientist Program, please contact Philip Clarke at (412) 396-4172 or clarkep1736@duq.edu.
For more information on a particular
presentation, click the faculty member's name.
Dr.
Mary Alleman
Assistant Professor
Biological Sciences
Contact Information:
(412) 396-1660
alleman@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
35 mm and overhead projectors
Topic for Presentation:
Genome Evolution in Plants.
What turns genes on.
The genome is the total complement
of DNA in an organism. Genomes in higher organisms
are sometimes huge. The evolution of large genomes
(animals or plants) from compact genomes (fungi
or bacteria) represents both excess and luxury.
Excess because there appears to be much more DNA
beyond what is needed for growth and development.
But large genomes could be thought of as luxury
too. Large genome size has allowed for new genetic
phenomena in a wide variety of organisms. These
novel genetic phenomena are termed epigenetic
phenomena and involve properties of genome stability
and regulation. My research involves the use of
the r1 locus in the complex genome plant maize
as a tool to study aspects of epigenetics and
genome evolution.
Dr.
Partha Basu
Assistant Professor
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Contact Information:
(412) 396-6345
basu@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
Overhead and 35 mm slide projector
Topic for Presentation:
Chemistry in a Pressure Cooker:
Extremophiles
Novel life forms,Archaea, have
been found under extreme conditions such as high
pressure (400 atm pressure) and temperature (>100
C). Under these very unusual conditions, these
organisms harvest unique enzymes. We are interested
in learning about some fundamental questions.
How do they survive such extreme conditions? How
do these enzymes function? What special characteristics
do these enzymes have? How are they different
from their Eucaryotic counterpart?
Dr.
K. Thomas R. Davies
Professor and Chairman
Physics
Contact Information:
(412) 396-5973
davies@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
overhead projector
Topic for Presentation:
CHAOS: The Third Great Revolution
in Physics of the Twentieth Century
We present an introduction to
nonlinear dynamics and chaos. This will include
discussions of the relationship of fractals to
chaos, of the importance of chaos in many diverse
fields (particularly medicine and astronomy),
of chaos and determinism, and of chaos as the
"anticalculus" revolution. We will also discuss
the differences between regular and chaotic behavior
and various ways that one can classify dynamical
systems. We shall show that chaos can arise from
very simple systems; yet, chaos also exhibits
quite complicated and often beautiful structures.
Also, sensitivity to initial conditions ("stretching")
and nonlinearity ("folding") give rise to chaotic
behavior; if these operations are repeated over
and over again, a fractal results. Fractals are
objects that exhibit self similarity and have
fractional dimensions and jagged boundaries.
Dr.
Simonetta Frittelli
Assistant Professor
Physics
Contact Information:
(412) 396-6351
frittelli@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
overhead projector, slide projector
Topic for Presentation:
Supernova
Sometimes a star suddenly blows
itself up in an explosion as bright as a billion
regular stars. Supernova explosions are counted
among the most spectacular events of the physical
world. Why do they happen? Are they common occurrences
in the Milky Way galaxy? What happens after the
explosion? With the help of slides representing
photographic observations of supernova explosions
and remnants we will convey a closely accurate
picture of the magnitude of these events. We will
also examine actual Hubble Space Telescope shots
of the renowned Supernova 1987. This talk is non-technical
and any explanations which may be included are
qualitative.
Dark Matter
The most puzzling mystery faced
by astronomers today is the verified existence
of enormous quantities of non-luminous matter
surrounding the visible stars in known galaxies.
The mysterious dark material makes up for at least
90% of the content of the Universe and holds the
key to the ongoing evolution of the Universe towards
either the Big Crunch or the Big Chill. How can
astronomers by sure of the existence of the invisible
matter? Why can't they tell what the nature of
the dark matter is? We may possibly introduce
the notion of the expanding Universe and the role
of its content of matter in controlling its final
fate, according to the interests of the audience.
This talk is non-technical and up to date with
the current established view of the dark matter
problem.
Dr.
Simonetta Frittelli
Assistant Professor
Physics
Contact Information:
(412) 396-6351
frittelli@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
overhead projector, slide projector
Topic for Presentation:
Gravitational Lensing
High concentrations of matter
have the power to deviate light from its rectilinear
trajectory and are able to produce "ghosts," multiple
images of a star, much in the same way as simple
optical systems do. Einstein himself theorized
that multiple imaging could take place, but was
skeptical about the likelihood of actually observing
it. Gravitational lensing was observed for the
first time in 1979, andsince then a variety of
images have been obtained which verify its occurrence.
We will examine astonishing Hubble Space Telescope
shots of gravitational lensing and lightly comment
on the potential relevance of this effect to current
cosmological issues. This talk is non-technical
and mostly informative in nature
Gravitational Waves
The misterious ripples of gravity
that pervade the space for billions of miles,
traveling at the speed of light. Outrageous idea
of Einstein's against the traditional notions
of gravitation, unconfirmed for decades until
the 1970's when the first glimpse of the true
nature of gravity was obtained. Can't close our
eyes now. The search for the direct detection
of gravity waves is on. See what scientists are
doing about it, locally, nation-wide and across
the world!
Dr.
Mitchell E. Johnson
Assistant Professor
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Contact Information:
(412) 396-5278
johnsonm@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
Overhead or LCD projector
Topic for Presentation:
Searching for New Hormones
We use lasers to search for
new hormones. We are mainly interested in a particular
family of fat molecules, the fatty acid amides,
which seem to be important in regulating a number
of body processes. When these processes go awry,
the result may be sleep disorder, depression,
anxiety, and cancer. We use chemical reactions
to tag the molecules with a compound that emits
light when illuminated with a laser beam. This
allows us to "see" the hormone molecules. At the
moment, we are refining this system, which I will
describe, so we can use it to search various body
parts for the presence of the fat hormones.
Dr.
H. M. Skip Kingston
Professor
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Contact Information:
(412) 396-5564 or 5359
kingston@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
Computer projector
Topic for Presentation:
Microwave-Enhanced Chemical
an EPA Standard for Environmental Analysis
This presentation discusses
two familiar subjects, environmental analysis
and microwave heating in a rather unusual connection.
It describes how this combination is now a new
US Environmental Protection Agency standard that
has developed in this decade for environmental
analysis. This new chemical analysis approach
is used for trace and toxic metals determination
in natural and industrial water, soil, sediments
and commercial products. A common device similar
to the microwave oven in your home will be better
understood as will it's more exotic chemical laboratory
applications.
Dr.
Jeffry D. Madura
Associate Professor
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Contact Information:
(412) 396-4129
madura@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
LCD or overhead projector
Topic for Presentation:
Antifreeze Proteins
Description of proteins, hydrogen
bonding, ice, water, and interfaces. This talk
provides a microscopic viewpoint of a macroscopic
phenomenom of freezing.
Chemistry around Us
This can be a simple show-n-tell
of different ways chemistry is part of our life.
Lots of Animations from various CD's
Dr.
Barbara M. Manner
Associate Professor
Physics
Contact Information:
(412) 396-6106 or 6351
manner@duq3.cc.duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
overhead projector, slide projector
Topic for Presentation:
Environmental Geology
Landslides, earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, and coastal erosion are geologic processes
that have been occurring since the Earth began,
4.6 billion years ago. These processes have been
labeled as hazards and have focused the attention
of the public and professionals when they impact
on humans. Other aspects of environmental geology
such as ground water, extraction of resources,
and alternative sources of energy are of importance
and interest to the groups mentioned above. Using
lectures and slides, the presenter will discuss
the geology of these processes and how they are
impacting humans.
Geology of the National Parks
The National Park system of
the United States is one of our greatest assets.
Whether you enjoy the geysers of Yellowstone,
the volcanic eruptions of Hawaiian volcanoes,
the waterfalls of Yosemite, the majesty of the
Grand Canyon, the vegetation of Shenandoah, or
the speleothems of Carlsbad Caverns, each of these
also presents a lesson in geology. Using slides
taken during visits to each of these, the presenter
will share her experiences in the National Park
system as a whole or will focus on one or more
parks of your choice. (She has spent a great deal
of time exploring the Grand Canyon, Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park, and the Cuyahoga Valley National
Recreation Area.)
Dr.
Joseph McCormick
Assistant Professor
Biological Sciences
Contact Information:
(412) 396-4775
mccormick@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
35 mm projector, overhead projector
Topic for Presentation:
How do Cells Divide?
Bacteria are all around us.
Most bacteria that people are familiar with are
single-celled organisms. The typical bacterial
cell grows to be approximately twice the original
size and then is divided into two daughter cells
of equal size. This process is known as binary
fission. My presentation will address questions
related to this fundamental biological process.
Several key questions are: How does the cell build
the machinery to accomplish the task of dividing
into two? How does the cell time the event such
that it has done all the other things (i.e., replication
and segregation of DNA) that need to be done before
dividing? Finally, how does the cell know where
the middle is? My presentation will describe the
molecular genetic approaches and methodologies
that my laboratory employs to study this fascinating
problem.
Dr.
Kyle W. Selcer
Associate Professor
Biological Sciences
Contact Information:
(412) 396-5967
selcer@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
35 mm slide projector
Topic for Presentation:
Steroid Hormones and Human Health
Steroids are much in the news
today, especially with regard to their use and
abuse in sports. However, many people do not realize
the importance of steroid hormones to the body's
normal physiology. Steroid hormones are involved
in regulation of a number of physiological processes,
including water and salt balance, energy metabolism,
the body's response to stress, development of
secondary sexual characteristics, and reproduction.
This talk will focus on the role of steroids in
human physiology. Dr. Selcer will review the structure,
synthesis and mechanism of action of steroids,
and he will discuss the major classes of hormones
and their function. Further, Dr. Selcer will give
examples of medical problems associated with hyper-
or hypo-secretion of steroid hormones.
Dr.
John F. Stolz
Associate Professor and Interim
Chairperson
Biological Sciences
Contact Information:
(412) 396-6333
stolz@duq.edu
Audiovisual Equipment Needed:
35 mm slide projector, VCR
Topic for Presentation:
Amazing microbes
Bacteria have been living on
Earth for over three and a half billion years.
Although some cause disease in humans, the majority
are beneficial and help keep the planet habitable.
Bacteria not only survive but thrive in the deep
ocean, at the polar ice caps, and in boiling waters.
This presention will provide a brief history of
microbial life on Earth, an introduction to the
great diversity of microorganisms, and their ecological
roles. A video of magnetotactic bacteria (microbes
that can sense the Earth's magnetic field), and
the diverse microbial community found in the termite
gut is also presented.
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