Discover the NEXT Big Thing in Science & Technology!
Posted on April 5th, 2006
The Peoria NEXT Colloquia - 2005/2006 Series
Peoria NEXT is pleased to introduce the third annual Peoria NEXT Science Colloquia. Featuring thought provoking and exciting presentations from leading scientists, physicians, and engineers who are shaping the future through groundbreaking research and innovation in Central Illinois.
The Colloquia is designed to appeal to a wide audience ranging from high school and college students to professionals and the general public.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Peoria Public Library
107 NE Monroe, Peoria, Illinois
Light Refreshments Are Provided.
Help us promote the Colloquia!
CLICK HERE to download a flier you can distribute to students and colleagues.
For more information contact Rebecca Bollin at 309.495.5955 or e-mail rbollin@edc.h-p.org..
Spring 2006 Schedule
- April 21, 2006
From Benchtop to Market: Can Academics Stumble into Reality
Bob Bolla, PhD
Bradley University
How has the Bayh Dole Act changed the focus on academic research?
For centuries, academic researchers have made their results available for the public good through publication in professional journals and by sharing materials with colleagues. Beginning in the mid 1970's Federal Agencies began to allow universities to patent inventions developed through the use to tax payer dollars with the government retaining rights to practice the patents and in 1980 the Bayh-Dole Act extended this right to all federally funded projects.
This taken along with decreased state funding of higher education has changed the mode by which academic research is made available for the public good.
Has this improved or impaired how academic research has contributed or is contributing to the new era in biotechnology, agricultural technology and engineering?
- February 17, 2006
Beautiful Thinking: The Intersection of Art and Smart Computers
Tony Grichnik, PhD
Caterpillar Inc.
From the pattern recognition system that tries to prevent fraudulent charges on your credit card to the expert system that knows just how long to pop a bag of microwave popcorn, advances in artificial intelligence have become almost commonplace. Artistic endeavors - like painting, music and sculpture - would seem outside the cold, calculating machine's grasp. Recent work combining biological models with human emotions have produced surprising artistic results and are rapidly blurring the lines between machine and man. Could true machine creativity be right around the corner?
Tony Grichnik is a specialist in artificial intelligence for Caterpillar Inc. and part of the Technology Commercialization department at their Technical Center. His presentation will focus on examples of artificial intelligence that cross the boundary from cold, calculating machines to ones that respond to the ways humans think and feel.
- March 17, 2006
Microbial Stress Tolerance As Revealed by Functional Genomics
Lewis Liu, PhD
National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research
One major constrains of biomass conversion to ethanol is inhibitors generated by using economic dilute acid hydrolysis during biomass pretreatment. Such inhibitors repress yeast growth and interfering subsequent fermentation. Detoxification of the inhibitors increases cost and additional waste products. Using functional genomics, we study global transcriptome dynamics of ethanologenic yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, under the inhibitor stress challenged conditions. This will help us to understand mechanisms of stress tolerance and as well as functional genes and regulatory elements involved in the stress tolerance. Then, more robust strains can be designed and developed for low cost bioethanol production. Another example of microbial stress tolerance explored by genomics is beneficial bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5, a plant disease biological control agent. It mainly involves in desiccation tolerance for improved formulation of the biocontrol agent. This presentation will provide introduction and overview of studies on microbial stress tolerance using genomics.
Fall 2005 Schedule
- September 16, 2005
Nuclear Power: Old Facts & New Perceptions
John Engdahl, PhD
Bradley University
The fact that nuclear power plays a significant role in electrical power generation in the US and the world is well known. The perception of nuclear power, in terms of risks versus benefits, seems to be changing in light of world issues such as global warming and energy costs and supply. This revealing presentation will introduce timely conversation on nuclear reactors, nuclear safety and the history of nuclear power. You won’t want to miss this stimulating discussion on the future for nuclear energy and the tradeoffs between differing risks and benefits among different energy sources.
- October 21, 2005
Bringing R2D2 into the classroom: Human Patient Simulators in Healthcare Education
Gwen Lombard, PhD
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Dr. Gwen Lombard will speak about the first lifelike human patient simulator in the University of Illinois system on October 21, 2005 at the Peoria Next Colloquia in the Peoria Public Library at 3:30.
These human patient simulators exhale carbon dioxide, blink their eyes, and have heartbeats just like real patients.
Lombard’s presentation will cover key questions like what the human simulator is, why it should be used, and why it is effective in improving patient’s care. The simulation center is open for use in the community.
- November 18, 2005
New Carbohydrates for Use As Prebiotics and Food Ingredients
Greg Cote, PhD
National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research
One of the hottest new topics in food and nutrition research is prebiotics. Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates containing nutrients that actually nourish the healthy bacteria living in your digestive system. These “friendly” bacteria appear to perform many important functions such as protecting us from food-borne illnesses, protecting us from developing allergies, regulating hormone balance and enhancing immunity.
Dr. Cote is a research chemist with the USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR Ag Lab) in Peoria. His presentation will focus on the expanding uses and U.S. market for prebiotics and related carbohydrates and the scope of carbohydrate research at NCAUR.
For more information on this installment CLICK HERE.
