Nucleus Newsletter

Winter '24 | Week 7

Scientists sometimes seem to study strange phenomena that at first glance may not seem to have an obvious application. These seemingly oddball studies are crucial to foster new discoveries that move science forward, and are often the source of transformative ideas that change society in unpredictable ways. Yet, these projects are often taken out of context and attacked by those with a political agenda. In this lecture, Dr. Brennan will draw from her experience of being politically attacked for her work on duck genitalia and discuss the distinction between basic and applied science, science funding and the importance of basic science to advance society. Attendance counts as Biology seminar credit. Catered reception will follow the talk!

The biology of female genitalia has often been overlooked in science, hampering our understanding of the causes and consequences of genital coevolution. By examining female and male genitalia, Dr. Brennan’s lab has uncovered several examples of genital coevolution in vertebrates. Cake will be served!

In our fifth comps presentation session Makena Layton will give a talk titled, “The Gut Microbiome, Leaky Gut and Autoimmunity.” All are encouraged to come support the ‘24 comps class and learn about what they learned about on their comps journey! Cookies will be served and attendance counts for seminar credit.

In our sixth comps presentation session Tyler Beasley will give a talk titled, “The Role of Perinatal Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Immune Activation on Neural Development and Behavior.” All are encouraged to come support the ‘24 comps class and learn about what they learned about on their comps journey! Cookies will be served and attendance counts for seminar credit.

Despite being a standard practice across disciplines, office hours remain vastly underutilized, particularly by students with the highest potential to benefit from them. This discussion is anchored in a comprehensive study conducted in STEM courses, involving over 1200 students, shedding light on the real impact and the lessons learned from their participation. We will explore the inherent barriers that deter student engagement during office hours and present strategic solutions aimed at overcoming these challenges. Attendance counts as Biology seminar credit. Cookies will be served!

In our seventh comps presentation session Anna Greenlee will give a talk titled, “Future consequences of woody encroachment in U.S. grasslands.” All are encouraged to come support the ‘24 comps class and learn about what they learned about on their comps journey! Cookies will be served and attendance counts for seminar credit.