Click on the links below to access video, pictures, and presentations from each event.

June 16th, 2008
What: A Solution to the Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Perspective of a Nutrition Scientist
Who: Dr. Christopher Gardner, Stanford University
The Deets:
Blueberries. Fish. Soy. Broccoli. Whole Wheat Bread. The Mediterranean Diet. Vegetarian Diets. The Paleolithic Diet. The Atkins Diet. Big Macs. Whoppers. Supersized fries. Krispy Kreme Donuts. Organic. Local. Sustainable.

People have been eating food for as long as….well, for as long as there have been people. Scientists have been studying foods and their impact on health for a long time too, although not as long as there have been people. The variety of foods and food-like substances available for consumption has increased more in the last 50 years than in the last 50 million years. It is frustrating that nutrition scientists and related health professionals aren’t more helpful with clear advice and guidance as to how to navigate among all these choices.

It can’t be all that hard to study it, can it? After all, it’s just food. Christopher Gardner, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University, with a PhD in Nutrition Science from UC Berkeley, has been studying foods and their relationships to human health by conducting NIH-funded nutrition trials for the past decade. He doesn’t have all the answers. In fact, he doesn’t even have all the questions. But he is prepared to share the insights of his last 10 years studying nutrition and health.

Watch Christopher share his insights with the team at ABC 7 News.

May 19th, 2008
What: This is Your Brain on Drugs: Psychoactives & Your Brain
Who: Professor David Presti, UC Berkeley, Fire & Earth Founders of Erowid.org
The Deets: Psychoactives…the name itself conjures up hundreds of images: hippies at Woodstock, those “well acted” anti-drug PSAs, even Colombian drug cartels. One thing is for sure, human history and psychoactive use are intertwined.

The term psychoactive covers a wide range of compounds…ranging from caffeine & alcohol to heroin & meth. Within that range, there again exists a wide range of use…historical use, cultural use, recreational use, and abuse.

But what do psychoactives reveal about our brain and its neural mechanisms? the connection between our mind & body? our spirituality?

These questions & more will be answered by our panel this month. Dr. David Presti is Professor of Neurobiology at UC Berkeley. Fire & Earth are founders of the member supported site Erowid, delivering access to information about psychoactives.

For once, we’re going to have an honest discussion of psychoactives. Starting with the science, moving into historical/cultural use, and finally discussing the social impact today.

April 21st, 2008
What:Nanotechnology in Medicine: Little Devices for a Big Future
Who: Professor Tejal Desai, Director UCSF’s Laboratory of Therapeutic Micro and Nanotechnology
The Deets:
Imagine a small machine capable of maneuvering through the body’s intricate immune systems to deliver a drug to a particular cell. Now imagine that machine is 1/10,000 the size of a human hair.

That’s the idea behind nanomedicine. Using a combination of biology and engineering on the nanoscale to deliver novel solutions to emerging medical issues.

Dr. Desai thrives on the interface of biology and engineering. The research could lead to targeted drug delivery, even tissue engineering. This could have dramatic implications for a wide range of “new” diseases, from MS & Alzheimers to Type II diabetes. Take a virtual tour of the nanomedicine world using Nanomission.

Dr. Desai will also discuss her advocacy of women in science, specifically discussing her own experience in a traditionally male dominated field.

You can listen to Tejal discuss Nanomedicine in her Exploratorium small talk or UCSF Science Cafe Podcast.

March 2008
What:Amphibians, How Pesticides Impact Them, and Why Humans Should Be Concerned
Who: Professor Tyrone Hayes, Professor of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley
The Deets:
Just this week, front page news of aerial spraying of pesticides has infected the Bay Area. The question of pesticide impact has risen again. This month, we will focus on a very special pesticide, atrazine.

Atrazine is a potent endocrine disrupter that chemically castrates and feminizes exposed male amphibians. Further, atrazine exposure results in neural damage, hyperactivity, and leads to possible retarded growth and development.

Pesticides like atrazine are persistent contaminants, though more pronounced in amphibians, the effects occur in all vertebrate classes (fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals) examined. These observations demonstrate the critical impact that pesticides have on environmental health. Many of these mechanisms are being revealed only now in the scientific literature. Many agencies (US EPA) are ill-equipped to deal with this emergent science and translate it efficiently into health-protective policies.

Given the importance of this science and relevance to public health, there is a strong need to translate this information and provide public access to this knowledge.

February 08
Who: Dr. Richard Swanson, CTO & Co-founder SunPower
What: Science of Solar Power
The Deets:
Since the development of the first solar cell in 1954, solar power usage has grown steadily. In recent years, that growth has exploded with solar becoming a viable alternative to residential users along with businesses. Don’t believe in the explosion? Everyone from GE to wineries to your neighbors are using solar.

Join Dr. Richard Swanson, co-founder of SunPower Corp and former Professor of Engineering at Stanford, as he discusses the technology behind solar power, the economics, and how solar will fit into a national energy policy. To get a preview of the discussion, check out Richard’s podcast on the solar marketplace.

December
Who: Dr. Gilbert Chu MD PhD, Professor of Medicine & Biochemistry, Stanford University
What: Do drug companies help or hurt patients?
The Deets:
Over the past 20 years, the use of prescribed medication has skyrocketed with many marketed directly to the public. In this new age, can we trust that drug companies have our best interests at heart?

Stanford’s Dr. Gilbert Chu will discuss the drug development/marketing process, specifically the case study of Merck & Vioxx. The FDA estimates 40,000 deaths associated to Vioxx. We will discuss the enormous potential for helping humanity with good drugs, the biology of Vioxx and heart attacks, and the analysis of clinical trials for Vioxx. Understanding what went wrong can lead to policy changes by industry, academia, and government that protect the welfare of patients.

November
Who: Dr. Philippe Goldin, Department of Psychology, Stanford University
What: Mindfulness & the Brain:
the Neuroscience of Meditation
The Deets: Once reserved for Tibetan monks, meditation has become popular especially here in the Bay Area. This practice of bringing one’s attention to the present has been said to provide tremendous well-being and emotional balance. Scientists have also begun to bring their attention to meditation for its affects in “re-wiring” the brain. This area of research has been named “Mindfulness”. From the positive results of Mindfulness study, many therapists have begun to use meditation as a treatment for patients with mild anxiety and depressive tendencies.

Dr. Philippe Goldin will discuss his findings in the field of Mindfulness such as how meditation affects neurological systems (and he has the pictures to prove it!). He even believes that someday a simple exam can identify the types of brains that will respond well to such treatment.

Get a sneak peek on the discussion by listening to this NPR story.

September
Who: Melissa Capria, SF Climate Action Coordinator
What: “Microclimate change: Global Warming and the Bay Area”
The Deets:
By now, most have us have either seen “An Inconvenient Truth”, read a story on Global Warming, or heard Jon Stewart ridiculing our lack of environmental policy. But what is going on locally in regards to climate change?

San Francisco has stepped up to address the issue in many ways ranging from:
   - Developing ordinances dictating energy efficiency in homes
   -Committing to a goal of zero waste
   -Promoting transportation alternatives
   -Exploring a wide variety of renewable energy possibilities

Melissa Capria, the first climate action coordinator for the city and county of San Francisco, will talk about the city’s aggressive greenhouse gas reduction target and the role that individuals play in addressing climate change.

This event will be heavily discussion oriented. Please come prepared with your ideas on our community making the transition to a carbon constrained future!

August
Who: John Dracup, UC Berkeley
What: “Water, Water, Everywhere? California Water Management”
The Deets: Water…the source of life in the universe. At the same time, water is taken for granted here in the Bay Area. We will discuss water resources in California including water supply, security, and the battle between agricultural and residential use. Professor John Dracup from UC Berkeley will discuss California water management. It is a complicated issue…an intersection of historical, legal, policy, science, and engineering aspects.

We will explore the available water resources in California. What is the current demand? Will California be able to keep up with demand over the next few years? Are we prepared for prolonged drought conditions? Are there plans to make any more water available (i.e. build more reservoirs)?

Second, we will discuss the state of the water management system. Many systems for cities are not technologically up to date (more than 50 years old). What is needed to bring these systems up to date? What is the impact if we do not? Where does basic water conservation fit in? Come join the discussion on the battle over water in California.

July
Who: Timothy Burroughs, Berkeley Climate Action Coordinator, Beekeeper
What: “Sweetness and Light: Bees in the 21st Century”
The Deets: Honeybees are crucial to our agricultural industry, pollinating up to one third of our food crops. In the past few years, bees have been disappearing in large numbers without many answers. Why are the bees disappearing? How will it affect our food supply? How will the role of bees and beekeepers evolve in the 21st Century? Timothy will highlight the amazing efficiency and organization with which bees sustain themselves and our local flora while answering these questions.

June
What: “Fertility: Do I have a problem?”
Who: Lynn Westphal, Chief of Stanford Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Center
Marcelle Cedars, Director UCSF Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
The Deets: What does it mean when I hit 35? Should I be concerned about birth defects? What should/shouldn’t I be eating? Is infertility genetic? How about alternative treatments from herbs to acupuncture?

That’s just a sliver of the questions many potential parents face today. Dr. Lynn Westphal will discuss her research in egg freezing and egg donation. Dr. Marcelle Cedars will discuss her research in ovarian aging. And if we’re nice, they’ll even debunk some of the fertility myths out there.

May
What: “The Biofuel Revolution: Are We There Yet?”
Who: Dan Kammen, Professor in the Energy Resources Group, UC Berkeley
The Deets: Well are we? Biofuels are all the rage both with environmentalists and big oil corporations, with little old ethanol the star. In the last few weeks, the govt has granted millions to promote biofuel production. What are the benefits of moving towards more biofuel use? Is it just going to increase green house emissions? Is it just a vehicle for big oil companies to add to their record profits? Get a sneak preview of the discussion, check out Dan on Science Friday. There is a lot of research being done locally on the issue.

April
Down to a Science Inaugural Event!
What:“Shakin’ in My Boots: The Hayward Fault”
Who: Jack Boatwright, USGS
The Deets: Ask any American about a fault, they’ll mention a number of things, but eventually the San Andreas Fault will come up. San Andreas may be the rock star, but the lead guitarist is the Hayward Fault. While the San Andreas meanders off the coast of San Francisco, millions of people and thousands of homes lie above the Hayward fault. New data may suggest the Hayward fault is capable of a larger earthquake than expected. Jack Boatwright, seismologist at the USGS, will discuss the effects of the next earthquake on the Hayward.