Café Scientifique
Café Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. We are committed to promoting public engagement with science and to making science accountable. Science cafés involve a lively conversation with a scientist about current science topics. They are open to everyone, and take place in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. Bigelow Laboratory's presentations focus on marine research topics of interest to students of all ages.
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
- Café Scientifique: The Invisible Jungle of Marine Microbes (Ramunas Stepanauskas, Bigelow Laboratory)
- 6:00 PM -7:00 PM
- Boothbay Opera House
Dr. Ramunas Stepanauskas, a Senior Research Scientist at Bigelow Laboratory, is the speaker for this summer’s fourth Café Scientifique gathering on Tuesday, July 29, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Opera House on Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. The evening's subject is "The Invisible Jungle of Marine Microbes."
Looking at crystal-clear ocean water, it can be hard to imagine each drop containing thousands of tiny microorganisms that form the basis of marine ecosystems. In fact, the ocean water column is one of the oldest, most diverse, and least understood ecosystems on Earth, which has been shaping biological evolution, global element cycles, and Earth’s climate for the last 2.5 billion years. Marine microbial diversity also harbors a largely untapped source of new pharmaceuticals and bioenergy products. To unveil the secrets of marine microbes, most of which do not grow in laboratory "cultures," Bigelow scientists are leading the development of novel research technologies, which allow researchers to read microbial genetic codes from individual microbial cells.
Stepanauskas joined Bigelow Laboratory in July 2005 to continue his work in microbial ecology and genomics. A native of Lithuania, he received his doctorate from Lund University in Sweden and later worked for the University of Georgia. His research background includes microbial effects on the coastal eutrophication, drinking water quality, the spread of antibiotic resistance, and development of novel technologies for microbial research.
The Laboratory's Café Scientifique gatherings are open to the public free of charge, and a cash bar is available.
Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
- Café Scientifique: Phage Therapy: Could “Friendly Viruses” Keep Lobsters Healthy? (Susie Wharam, Bigelow Laboratory)
- 6:00 PM -7:00 PM
- Boothbay Opera House
All lectures are on Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Boothbay Opera House. 86 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, Maine. (207) 633-6855. Open to the public free of charge. For more information, contact: Fran Scannell, (207) 633-9618