Spring 2015 Library Lecture Series
Ventura Public Library
651 E. Main St.
Ventura, CA 93001
Upcoming Lectures:
Wednesday, February 4
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Blake Gillespie, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Folding Them In: Using Science to Teach Science
Science pedagogy is in a kind of golden age. Virtual libraries and curated web-content place the highest quality information at students' fingertips, accelerating student learning. Molecular modeling software and other data analysis applications place the tools of real scientific discovery directly into students' hands. Teachers can draw on decades of research to find the best possible set of methods to support student learning, both inside and outside the classroom. Research experiences that can transform indifferent students into scientists are readily available. Even with all these tools, however, science teaching mostly follows the poor practices of the last century or more, and turns off many potential young scientists. Dr. Gillespie, Professor of Chemistry, explores the barriers to student interest and success, and discusses his approach to bringing students into the fold, preparing them for careers in science, and for improving all students' science literacy.
Wednesday, March 4
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Phil Hampton, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
Through the Looking Glass: a Chemist's Perspective on Lewis Carroll
At the time Lewis Carroll (Charles Ludwidge Dodson) wrote, “Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There,” a sequel to Alice in Wonderland, very little was known about atoms and how they bonded together to form molecules. Carroll, a mathematician, created a magical world in a book that integrated themes of symmetry and a chess game. This talk led by Dr. Phil Hampton, Professor of Chemistry, will explore the chemistry behind Looking Glass House from the perspective of "handed molecules" and how the handedness of molecules relates to the thalidomide tragedy of the late 50's that resulted in birth defects in children. A hands-on activity with gum drops and 3D visualization of molecules will be included in this presentation that covers chirality, chiral drugs, and 3D molecular structure.
Wednesday, April 22
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Michelle Dean, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Special Education
Gender Differences in the Social Behaviors of Girls and Boys with Autism
Dr. Michelle Dean, Professor of Special Education, will present research that examines the social experiences of school children with high functioning autism, focusing on how gender relates to their relationships and social behaviors.