Science Wednesdays (OLLI)

The objective of science is to gain an understanding of nature.  This enables us to develop tools that apply Nature’s Laws to improve our daily lives. Science Wednesdays is a series of lectures dealing with a broad range of sciences, including physics, biology, health, and medicine.

Oct. 14: NASA Space Plant Biology: Growing Veggies in Space in Preparation for Interplanetary Missions with Ed Rosenthal
Ed Rosenthal and his wife Betty founded Florikan in1982. With the research assistance of NASA Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program, Ed is the inventor of Florikan Controlled Release (CRF) Fertilizer, as well as of Staged Nutrient Release (SNR), which in 2004 received the National Most Innovative New Product Award from the National Society of Professional Engineers in America (NSPE). After several years of rigorous research, Florikan CRF was selected by the Space Plant Biology Office at NASA Kennedy Space Center as the controlled-release fertilizer product to grow vegetables on the International Space Station for our astronauts. In 2017, for his efforts in helping NASA successfully grow veggies in space, Ed Rosenthal was nominated by NASA and inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame.

Oct. 21:  When Hits to the Head Don’t Heal: The Science and Human Tragedy of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy with Alan Grindal
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy refers to progressive cognitive, behavioral, and neurological changes that occur following repetitive head trauma. This disorder, first described among boxers in the 1920s, is observed primarily in contact sports but may also be seen in military blast exposure and domestic violence. This class will review the pathology, clinical symptoms, and consequences of this tragic disorder.

Oct. 28: Transformational Oyster Habitat Restoration in Southwest Florida with Damon Moore and Abbey Kuhn
This talk will focus on the history and decline of oyster reefs in the Manatee River and Sarasota Bay. The speakers will share how they are implementing cost-effective, large-scale restoration efforts to rebuild these critical habitats.

Nov. 4:  The Climate Adaptation Center Living Laboratory for Climate Adaptation with Bob Bunting
The Climate Adaptation Center is embarking on a critical new program to make the Sarasota Bay Shoreline from Spanish Point in the South to the University of South Florida in the North a 10-mile-long innovation corridor for Climate Adaptation. Sea level rise, a shocking trend in rising hurricane activity, and billions in shoreline real estate and infrastructure are a loud call for action. A combination of mesonet work sensors, AI dashboards, and local models, and a testbed for new products and services will be the main components of the living laboratory.