A series of informal yet directed undergraduate encounters with faculty who have demonstrated polymathic approaches to scholarship and teaching.
Spring 2012 discussions will explore the wonder, mystery, and vast, inviting strangeness of scientific pursuits.
Held on selected Wednesdays throughout Spring 2012 in Doheny Memorial Library (DML) Room 241, 5:00pm – 6:30pm, unless noted otherwise.
How does the cosmos—whether one or multiple—hold itself together? Here’s one theory, strings, the unifying of the universe via a sub-atomic grid that some scientists see as the binding force of the cosmos. A USC physicist will suggest how this might be happening and the multiple disciplines...
While genes determine whether a fertilized egg will become a mouse or a man, there is a level of biological randomness that causes identical twins to differ even before birth. This levels of randomness helps understand the limited success of the human genome projects in finding gene differences...
How does the cosmos—whether one or multiple—hold itself together? Here’s one theory, strings, the unifying of the universe via a sub-atomic grid that some scientists see as the binding force of the cosmos. A USC physicist will continue his conversation with students how this might be...
We are not alone on this planet. Bugs are everywhere, butterflies and viruses alike. What are bugs trying to teach us regarding mutation and survival? Will we ever win the battle against deadly viruses? Or will bugs prove our undoing?
USC sits atop earthquake country—one stop on the Ring of Fire encircling the Pacific. No wonder USC is the headquarters of enquiry across dozens of disciplines into the whys, wherefores, and—most important of all—the predictability of a whole lot of shakin’ going on.
Stem cells are the protean building blocks of biological life, triggered into multiple formats by genetic chemistry. Hence they offer breathtaking possibilities for regenerative medicine. How far along are we in understanding these design mechanisms?
Why get up in the morning anyway? USC Professor Florence Clark has some answers. Professor Clark helped pioneer the field of occupational science – how and why, although deceptively simple, everyday activities are actually extraordinarily complex, giving life purpose and meaning, impacting...
