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Sept. 5, 2003
SCIENCE TODAY LECTURE SERIES AT SUNY OSWEGO
TO PUT DIFFERENT TOPICS UNDER MICROSCOPE
OSWEGO -- Science Today, a new SUNY Oswego science
lecture series that presents topics from experts in a range of
disciplines, will begin Wednesday, Sept. 10, with a discussion of
astrochemistry by Professor Gianfranco Vidali of Syracuse University's
physics department.
Vidali's lecture, titled "Astrochemistry: Making Molecules
in Interstellar Space," will begin a weekly series of admission-free
lectures at 4 p.m. Wednesdays in Room 303 of Park Hall.
The new lecture series is an interdisciplinary
effort geared to provide biology, chemistry, computer science, earth
sciences, mathematics and biology majors a broad view of fields related
to their area of study. The program is also expected to show potential
careers and paths of research in the natural sciences, said physics
Professor Dale Zych, who coordinates the series.
For the opening lecture, Vidali will discuss
research on the interstellar medium (ISM), where stars are born, and
how celestial matter interacts to create new heavenly bodies.
"Understanding how molecules are formed on grains of
stardust in the ISM is the topic of research of my group," he said. "I
will give some examples of how research in the laboratory can give a
glimpse on the interesting physical and chemical phenomena taking place
in interstellar space."
A new member of SUNY Oswego's campus community will
continue the series next week. Dr. Kestas Bendinskas, associate
professor of chemistry, will discuss biochemistry in the general
chemistry laboratory and the potential for detecting GHB, better known
as the "date-rape drug."
Other presentations are coming together, with more
yet to be confirmed, featuring a mix of visiting speakers and on-campus
experts. On Oct. 1, Professor Philip Borer of Syracuse University's
chemistry department will discuss a new HIV drug test. Professor Vaughn
Langman of the physiology department of Louisiana State University at
Shreveport is slated to talk about temperature regulation in large
mammals on Oct. 15.
Science Today is part of a larger push by a campus
planning committee that stresses interdisciplinary
cooperation. In addition to the lecture series, subcommittees are
actively addressing such issues as curriculum development, research
development and funding support, biology Professor Al Lackey said.
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