Mizzou's popular Saturday Morning Science events aren't your typical science lectures. Expect to be entertained, see demonstrations, learn a lot – and best of all – you'll want to come back for more.
Saturday Morning Science is free and open to the public. No science background is required, and all ages are welcome.
All events are held on campus at 10 a.m. in Room 171, Bond Life Sciences Center.
Cancellations due to inclement weather will be posted here and on our Facebook page.
From Missouri to the Tibetan Plateau: How the Plates Deform in Plate Tectonics
Speaker: Eric Sandvol, Curators' Distinguished Professor, Geological Sciences
Plate tectonics is the paradigmatic theory that explains the evolution of the Earth over millions of years. This theory involves the motion of rigid tectonic plates across the surface of the Earth with little to no internal deformation. However, this in only a rough approximation. We actually DO see evidence of internal deformation, including in the Missouri Bootheel where we have large earthquakes in the interior of the North American plate. Another example of this in the Tibetan plateau where the deforming plate appears to be very weak and over geologic time flows like honey. Dr. Sandvol will explore how and why we know how tectonic plates behave and how scientists can image the structure of the plates themselves.
A Physicist’s Perspective on DNA
Speaker: Maria Mills, Assistant Professor of Physics
Everyone knows DNA is the blueprint for life, but DNA is not just a carrier of information. It is a complex structure with unique properties that shape many biological processes. This talk will explore the ways physics has helped us understand how DNA works, from the experiments that first determined the double-helical nature of DNA to the physical properties of DNA itself.
Check back here for more information soon.
April 5 — Susie Dai, Professor, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Topic: Fungi, microplastic and contaminant remediation; carbon waste conversion or similar focus in recognition of Earth Day
May (date to be determined) — Chi-Ren Shyu, Director, Institute for Data Science and Informatics; Paul K. and Dianne Shumaker Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Topic: AI and Information Systems
Parking
Parking on the Mizzou campus can be challenging, so here is some guidance to make things easier. There is no parking next to the Bond Life Sciences Center; however, there are parking areas within 1-2 blocks (easy walking distance).*
To find Saturday Morning Science parking, click MU Campus Map (or google Mizzou Campus Map) and type "Bond Life Sciences Center" in the "find a building" field. We recommend the following parking locations (indicated in PINK on the image below):
- Parking lot behind the MU Student Center.
- Metered parking along Hitt Street (please note that these are city meters that may require payment).
- Virginia Avenue Parking Garage (has the most parking spots; not pictured below).
*There are a limited number of parking spaces behind the Bond Life Sciences Center and Physics Building as well as in the WC5 parking area for people with disabilities. These areas are indicated in GREEN on the image below.
Questions?
Please contact us for more information about Saturday Morning Science.