Discovery Center of Idaho

Science Cafe has finished another season and will restart in September

Previous Science Café is May 21, 2013 at 7:00pm

Topic: Corrosion: life cycle and environmental degradation of materials

Speaker: Mike Hurley, Research Assistant Professor, BSU

Overview: Mankind has spent considerable effort extracting various elements from the earth to create the stuff that enables society as we know it. All engineered materials then are affected by the environment in which they are used, eventually reverting back to their original state. My research is focused mainly on the effects of the environment on metals (and vice versa), with the goal of ensuring safety and reliability by fighting corrosion or incorporating the effects of corrosion into design, though a better understanding of degradation process(es).

Additional Information: Introduction to corrosion and corrosion science.

Location: Boiler Room of Bardenay, 610 Grove Street, Boise.

Cost: Free

Discovery Center Sponsors "Science Café":

The Discovery Center of Idaho has joined a movement that is dedicated to the informal dissemination and discussion of current research. This movement is called "Science Cafe,". The forum is an open discussion to be attended by all interested persons. Topics are set before hand, the discussion is moderated and the open sharing of ideas begins. More detail follows, but if you would still like more information please use the form below or contact our Education Director, Woody Sobey, at (208)343-9895.

What To Expect At a Science Café:

A Science Café's casual meeting place, plain language, and inclusive conversation create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for people with any level of science background.

Each meeting is organized around an interesting topic of conversation. A researcher gives a brief presentation and then the conversation is opened to questions. No previous knowledge of the subject is expected or required, only an desire to learn.

What To Expect As a Presenter:

Science Cafés are supposed to be informal. They have a feel similar to being out for drinks with friends or neighbors who know that you're a researcher but don't really know much about what you're researching and would like to find out more. The usual format for a Science Café is a 5-15 minute overview of the research. This is not meant to get deep into any particular aspect of the research but simply to give enough background information for people to begin asking insightful questions and guiding the direction of the talk. Through their questions, the talk will usually cover most of the deeper aspects of the research and occasionally brings up new potential research topics. With the overview and the dialog, the whole event lasts about one hour. It is supposed to be informal (and, yes, minimal). If you have a few small visual aids (such as a model) that you think would add significantly to the discussion, those are fine to bring. Charts, graphs and powerpoint should not be used. If you're unsure about something, contact us using the form below and we can discuss it.

Previous topics include:

Lab on a Chip: Are we there yet?: Many examples of analysis techniques require that you take a sample (such as soil, water or blood), ship it to the laboratory and wait for your result. Yet on Star Trek, they can just scan with the tricorder and get a result. How close are we to being able to develop a tricorder?
Role of Gravity on Bone Cell Remodeling and Homeostasis: Boise State research students presented a synopsis of the bone remodeling process with particular emphasis on how it is affected by changes in the mechanical environment, such as gravity. They discussed gaps in the current model of how diverse and potentially conflicting mechanical inputs are integrated by bone cells, and their approach to investigating the role of calcium signaling during a reduced gravity research flight at Johnson Space Center.
Ethanol as a Bio-Fuel: We discussed the economics and the controversial issues associated with 1st generation (corn based) ethanol. Some of these factors not only lead to the recent halt of expanded ethanol production in Idaho but caused several plant closures in the state and northwest region. We also covered how mandates set by Renewable Fuel Standards have placed a growing emphasis on developing 2nd generation (cellulose based) ethanol.
Why Are Idaho's Amphibians at Risk?: Did you know there are 6 frog, 3 toad, and 4 salamander species in Idaho? Have you ever seen one? Have you ever wondered if Idaho's amphibians are facing some of the same threats causing amphibian declines worldwide? We discussed the major causes of amphibian declines globally and locally, and examined risks to Idaho's amphibians including disease, invasive species, habitat loss, and climate change.