The Fun Obsession of Observing and Photographing Insects

Speakers: Betsy Betros, recently retired from Johnson County Department of Health and Environment

Date: May 14, 2013

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

Betsy has had a life-long love of nature and fell in love with insects early in life which ultimately led to a degree in Entomology from Colorado State University. She worked over 35 years in the environmental regulatory field and recently retired. In 2008, she published her first book, “A Photographic Field Guide to the Butterflies of the Kansas City Region.” Betsy will be discussing various aspects of the fun of chasing bugs with a camera and then writing a book on butterflies.

Weather permitting, we will adjourn outside at 8:00 to a backlite screen with a chance to observe and photograph insects. Bring your camera, smart phone, and/or magnifying glass. Betsy will bring copies of her book should you wish to relieve her of one.

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com

Your KCFS board members are working hard to serve as an information resource for the teachers of Kansas. Listed below are presentations board members are making at the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science (KATS) Professional Development Conference, April 19-21.

Additionally, KCFS has purchased 3 Magic School Bus experiment subscriptions which will provide three experiment kits each month which will be donated to teachers across the state.

Be assured, your dues and donations are making a difference for the children of Kansas.

Kansas Citizens for Science
KATS Kamp Presentations
April, 2013

Introducing Climate Change as part of NGSS
Saturday, 4:40 pm-5:30 pm, FlintHills Prairie, Charlotte McDonald
Elementary/Middle School

Incorporating NGSS Engineering Practices into the Secondary Classroom
Saturday, 4:40 pm-5:30 pm, Heritage Seminar B, Harry McDonald
Middle School/High School

Reading stories from the rocks
Sunday, 8:30 am-9:20 am, Heritage Seminar B, Keith Miller
Elementary, Middle School, High School

Introducing Climate Change as part of NGSS
Sunday, 9:30 am-10:20 am, Heritage Conference C, Charlotte McDonald
Elementary/Middle School

Reading stories from the rocks
Sunday, 9:30 am-10:20 am, Heritage Seminar B, Keith Miller
Elementary/Middle School/High School

The State of Science Education in Kansas
Sunday, 10:30 am-11:20 am, Heritage Conference B, Harry McDonald
K-20

Accelerating Universe

Speaker: Bharat Ratra, cosmologist in the KSU physics department

Date: April 9, 2013

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

Dark energy is the leading candidate for the mechanism that is responsible for causing the accelerating expansion of the universe. (The observational discovery of the accelerating cosmological expansion was recently honored by the award of a Nobel Prize.) Dr. Ratra will describe the data which persuade cosmologists that (as yet undetected) dark energy and dark matter are by far the main components of the energy budget of the universe at the present time.

Dr. Ratra’s area of research is Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. He develops models for the large-scale matter and radiation distributions in the universe, testing these models by comparing their predictions to observational data, including the uneven distribution of the cosmic microwave background radiation, and the mass correlation function.

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com

Comets Big and Small

Speaker: Fred Bruenjes, Fred is an electrical engineer by day and amateur astronomer by night.

Date: March 19, 2013

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

Fred Bruenjes will present a talk about comets, their makeup, how they alter history, and how we can observe them. He will share the story of how he found his own comet (read about it here), and how we can observe the bright comets coming this year.

Following the talk and the skies cooperating, we will move upstairs to the roof and look at the currently visible comet, Comet Pan-Starrs.

Fred’s interest in astronomy was sparked when Halley’s Comet returned in 1986. As an accomplished astrophotographer, Fred’s images have been published by Astronomy Magazine, Sky & Telescope, Disney, APOD, Reuters, and many others. He founded Moonglow Technologies, an electronics firm dedicated to developing cutting edge astronomical products for the professional and amateur community. In 2009 Fred began a systematic search for comets in the northern hemisphere in his spare time in cooperation with the Stargarden Foundation. In 2012 he discovered comet C/2012 C2 (BRUENJES).

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com

Ice Sheets, Remote Sensing and Living and Working in Antarctica

Speaker: Brandon Gillette, working on PhD from KU in environmental geography

Date: February 12, 2013

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

Brandon Gillette has worked at the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) since 2010, a center dedicated to understanding the current and future role of ice sheets in a changing climate. Through his work in education outreach, he has traveled to Antarctica 3 times. Here he will discuss some of the current CReSIS research, as well as some of the challenges and surprises that arise from living and working in this extreme environment.

Bio: Brandon received his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education from the University of Kansas. He spent 5 years in the classroom teaching a variety of earth/space sciences. He has led student trips from Florida to Wyoming, and Texas to Washington DC. He is currently a PhD student at KU in environmental geography.

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com

Mostly Miscellaneous Matters of the Moment

Speakers: All of us

Date: January 15, 2013

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

In December Harry McDonald mentioned he might not be able to organize something for this month. Well, he hasn’t, but the room is reserved and he is back in town. Let’s gather as usual and just discuss anything of interest to anyone. We normally have individuals from a variety of backgrounds, so we should not lack for topics or someone to comment no matter what the question. Harry will come armed with things he finds interesting, but promises not to dominate the discussion when others want to share/question. We always say the science cafe is meant to be a discussion. This format will allow it to be just that. So wether you have ideas to share, questions to ask, or you just want to listen, see you Tuesday.

The Next Generation Science Standards public draft is now open for comments and Harry will introduce that website for sure.

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com

Patient Protection Affordable Care Act: The interaction of politics and healthcare delivery in the U.S (Obamacare).

Speaker: Delores Furtado, PhD., Professor Emerita, Department of Microbiology, University of Kansas School of Medicine

Date: December 4, 2012

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

A brief look at what drove President Obama to create this legislation, what in the Act has already been implemented, the beneficiaries of implementation and changes yet to be realized. The big contest will be between state governments and the federal government. Some requirements will be regarded as an erosion of power of individuals and of groups. The arguments may distract us but we must keep the goal in mind, that is, to control the annual increases in the cost of health care be it increases in the cost of insurance premiums and in the cost of provider services. Will we, as a society, tolerate political gridlock OR will we, as a society, put the needs of the people including our own personal benefits ahead of politics? Understanding the opportunities the ACA brings will help each of us take an informed position with regard to health care reform.

Dr. Furtado was a Faculty member in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine for over 30 years. She is currently Professor Emerita. Subsequent to retirement she was elected Johnson County Commissioner and then to the Kansas House of Representatives to represent District 19 (within Overland Park). She continues to serve on a number of Boards that have a health policy or a tie to providing health services to the most vulnerable.

Her undergraduate education (BS) from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and then at the University of Michigan for her MS and Ph.D. degrees in Microbiology.

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com

Kansas Citizens for Science Annual Membership Meeting

What: Annual Membership Meeting

Date: Sunday, November 18, 2012

Time: 2:00 pm

Where: Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 SW 10th Ave

All members are invited to join us for our annual membership meeting. Light refreshments will be served. The election of officers and board members will be held. We will review the accomplishments of KCFS for the year and discuss our future plans.

Microbes That Live In Extreme Conditions – the Extremophiles

Speaker: Kelley Tuel

Date: November 13, 2012

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

In the last 20 years, science has developed a new classification group call the Archaea. These organisms live in some of the most inhospitable conditions on Earth. Kelley will introduce what causes these organisms to be grouped together. Genetics and conditions of early organisms will be discussed. Kelley’s emphasis is on a group that survives in extremely salty conditions and this group will be emphasized.

Kelley Tuel is a M.S. Degree candidate in biology at Emporia State University. Her thesis is on the molecular genetics and high school laboratory application of Halobacterium sp. NRC-1, an extreme salt-loving microbe. The laboratory in which she has done her research at ESU isolated a previously undescribed mutant that has a novel gene that can move around. They named this mutant KBT-1 (Kansas Biology Teacher). Kelley is a former high school biology/AP biology teacher here in the metro and is planning to return to teaching when she graduates in May.

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com

An Evening of Science Video Clips

Speakers: The video clips.

Date: October 9, 2012

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

Trying something new this month. A variety of short, science video clips have been selected. We will watch each clip and then discuss what we saw. Clips will include famous scientists giving advice to the President, Richard Feynman explaining how things work, how every atom in your body comes from a star, Earth-rise on the moon, emerging trends in organic chemistry, emerging trends in paleoanthropology, human lifespan -vs- per capita income (very clever), and more as time allows.

No lead speaker, so we will discuss amongst ourselves in the true spirit of the science café. Join us for this evening of science conversation.

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com