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. 29: The Brain’s Mediation of Cognitive Control in Health and Disease with John Bruno
Cognitive control is a set of mental operations (attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) that optimize a person’s decision making. Impairments in cognitive control contribute to symptoms following aging and several psychiatric disorders (Alzheimer’s; Parkinson’s; and Schizophrenia). This session will identify critical distributed neural networks in humans and in animal models as targets for better understanding the etiology of these symptoms and the search for more efficacious treatments.

Nov. 5: Vaccines: How They Work and How They Are Made with Wendy Gabel
We are all familiar with vaccines — from the ones we got during our childhood to the flu vaccine we are encouraged to get every year. But how do they work? And what are the recent advancements and discoveries? In this session, we will explore the immune response to infection, the history of vaccines, the common flu vaccine, and the newest biotechnology approaches to discovering and making new vaccines.

Nov. 12: Spacetime and Gravity with Bill Copeland
Stepwise advancements by several scientists led Einstein to develop the 1905 Special Theory of Relativity. Two crucial concepts were coordinate independence and the equivalence principle. In 1907, beginning with a simple thought experiment involving an observer in free fall, Einstein embarked on what would be an eight-year search for a relativistic theory of gravity. In November of 1915, the Einstein field equations formed the core of the General Theory of Relativity.

Nov. 19:  Bogus Astronomy with Kenneth Bechis
Is it true that “In space no one can hear you scream?” Do Hollywood movies accurately portray spaceship battles, laser cannons, and explosions? Are space aliens invading Earth really ill-advised? How well do Earthbound media and the general population understand astronomical concepts? Did Stanley Kubrick help NASA fake the moon landings? And does it matter that our Sun travels yearly through 14 constellations, not just the 12 familiar zones? Let's explore these and more in bogus astronomy!