Science Lecture Series Set For Science Teachers

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Western New York Science and Technology Forum is holding its 30th annual lecture series for teachers of all grades and subjects on most Wednesday evenings through January.

Unless otherwise indicated, the talks will be held from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Room 215 of the Natural Sciences Complex on the University at Buffalo North (Amherst) Campus. The cost of the series is $25.

The goal of the program, said George H. Nancollas, D.Sc., SUNY Distinguished Professor in the UB Department of Chemistry who started the lecture series in 1969, is to expose teachers to the most exciting developments in science so that they, in turn, can encourage their students to become interested in science.

Co-directors of the series are Stephen Free, Ph.D., UB professor of biology, and Charles Mitchell, Ph.D., UB professor of geology.

According to Nancollas, the series has grown every year, with more than 80 teachers now participating from districts throughout Western New York. The teachers help choose speakers and evaluate the series each year.

Teachers who attend lectures also have the opportunity to call on additional resources, such as requesting assistance from scientists in presenting concepts to classes and science clubs, and borrowing scientific equipment to provide students with more hands-on experience.

Participants also are eligible for in-service credit from their local school districts.

• Sept. 9: "Sky Spies," Charles V. Ebert, Ph.D., SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in the UB Department of Geography

• Sept. 16: Visit to Hawk Creek, East Aurora at 4:30 p.m., Lauretta Jones, Hawk Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

• Sept. 23: Visit to Praxair, Inc. Tonawanda, at 5:30 p.m., "Exciting Developments at Praxair: the Science of Super Cold, Cryogenic Demonstrations and Many Other Applications of Industrial Gases," Tom Dugan, Praxair (includes dinner)

• Sept. 30: Visit to Chemical Waste Management, Chemical Services Model City, New York, "State of the Art Hazardous Waste Facility," Becky Zayatz

• Oct. 7: "Applications of Materials Characterization in Environmental and Materials Problems," Paul Chopra, Chopra Lee, Inc.

• Oct. 14: "Cloning of Animals," Charles Fourtner, Ph.D., UB professor of biology

• Oct. 21: "Rocketman," William P. Suitor, formerly of Bell Aerospace

• Oct. 28: "Drug Resistant Bacteria," Charles Ballow, Pharm.D., UB associate professor of pharmacy practice and director of anti-infectives research with the Millard Fillmore Health System

• Nov. 4: "A Great Lakes Update," Helen Domske, associate director, UB's Great Lakes Program, New York Sea Grant

• Nov. 11: "Research Activities at Calspan's Flight Research Group," Lewis Knotts, Calspan Corp., Flight Research Group

• Nov. 18: "Current Developments in the Treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnea," Christina M. LaJoie, Great Lakes Orthodontics

• Dec. 2: "The Peace Bridge -- Plans for the Future," Bruno B. Freschi, dean, UB School of Architecture and Planning

• Dec. 9: "Infectious Diseases," Beverly Roe, Ph.D., professor and chair of the biology department at Erie Community College

• Dec. 16: "Chromosomes and Cancer," Anne Marie Block, executive director, Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory, Roswell Park Cancer Institute

• Jan. 6: "The Penn Dixie Site as a Teaching Resource in Natural History," Jerrold C. Bastedo, president, Hamburg Natural History Society and Ecology and Environment, Inc.

• Jan. 13: "Groundwater and Pollution in Fractured Rock," Matt Becker, Ph.D., UB assistant professor of geology

For more information, contact Barbara Raff at 645-6800 ext. 2020.