The Modesto Junior College Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Division is again offering a Science Colloquium series for the spring semester. The free mini-seminars are offered on a wide variety of timely topics under the theme of “Science That Matters.” The short, informal presentations are held on Tuesdays, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in Science 208 on East Campus. All sessions are open to the public and admission is free.

The speakers and topics for the spring semester are:

 February 1 Noah Hughes, MJC Professor of Earth Science: "Heartbeat of the Earth: What El Nino Is...Really"

Feb. 8   Debra Bolter, MJC Professor of Anthropology: "Ardipithecus ramidus, Australopithecus sebida, and Neanderthal genes: Do new fossils and ancient DNA change our ideas about human evolution?"

Feb. 15   Darwin Day Speaker, Mark Grobner, California State University, Stanislaus: “How Could Darwin Know So Little Yet Be So Right?

Feb. 22   Richard Anderson, MJC Professor Emeritus of Biology: “Why the Confusion About Climate Change?”

March 1   Dennis Albers, Columbia College Professor of Physics: “Why Won't Rocket Propulsion Systems Seen In The Cinema Ever Work For Human-Lifetime Journeys To The Stars?”

Mar. 8   David Baggett, MJC Professor of Agriculture, "Sustainable Agriculture"

Mar. 15   Richard Ravalli, MJC Adjunct Professor of History: "Too Cute For Their Own Good – How sea otter aesthetics have both helped and hurt conservation efforts”

Mar. 22   Tim Fisher, Great Valley Center: “Conveniently, It’s More Than Just Climate Change”

Mar. 29   Cecelia Hudelson-Putnam, MJC Professor of Geography: “Using Geography to Study Possible Cancer Clusters in the Central Valley”

April 5   Richard Serros, MJC Professor of Art: "The Science and Creativity of Leonardo Da Vinci”

April 12   Susan Bowman, Bureau of Land Management: “Plesiosaurs in California”

April 19   Nancy Fisher, Stanislaus County Public Health Department: “Emergency Preparedness and Response – You and the Public Health System.”

For more information contact the Science, Mathematics and Engineering Division at 575-6173.