LLNL delivers another super season of Saturday science lectures

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s popular lecture series, "Science on Saturday," returns Jan. 30 and runs through Feb 27.

This year’s talks cover a wide range of topical subjects – conquering antibiotic resistance; using adaptive optics for out-of-this-world images; storing carbon dioxide in the earth; changing climate and the carbon cycle; and harnessing fusion energy.

Lectures will be held in the Bankhead Theater located at 2400 First Street in Livermore. Two presentations are offered at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Each lecture highlights cutting-edge Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) science presented by leading Lab researchers joined by master high school science teachers.

Kicking off the series of five consecutive Saturday sessions is "Fighting Super Bugs: Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance," presented by LLNL scientist Paul Jackson and teacher Frankie Tate. This lecture will present a brief history of antibiotic use and discuss the medical and public policy factors that are, in part, responsible for increased antibiotic resistance in pathogenic microbes.

Here is the complete schedule:

Jan. 30: "Fighting Super Bugs: Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance," by LLNL scientist Paul Jackson and teacher Frankie Tate.

Feb. 6: "Distant Worlds: Making Images of Other Solar Systems," by LLNL scientists Bruce Macintosh and Lisa Poyneer and teacher Tom Shefler.

Feb. 13: "Put It Back When You Are Done: Storing Carbon Dioxide in the Earth, not the Atmosphere," by LLNL scientist Roger Aines and teacher Ken Wedel.

Feb. 20: "Understanding Climate Change: Seeing the Carbon Through the Trees," by LLNL scientist Karis McFarlane and teacher Dean Reese.

Feb. 27: "Harnessing Fusion Energy: The Power of Light," by LLNL scientist Ed Moses and teacher Sylvia Moses.

The series of free lectures and demonstrations is targeted at middle and high school students. The lectures are sponsored by LLNL’s Science Education Program. Seating is on a first-come basis. There is no pre-registration.

More information about Science on Saturday is available online , or from Richard Farnsworth at (925) 422-5059.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory that develops science and engineering technology and provides innovative solutions to our nation’s most important challenges. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.