Faculty Outreach Presentations
Faculty from the Department of Biological Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are available to visit local schools and other community groups and talk about interesting biological topics, the research that they are doing, or opportunities for study and research at SIUE. The presentations are designed to be understood by the non-scientist and can be tailored to fit the time available. Interaction and questions are welcomed. A list of presentations is shown below. If you are interested in inviting a faculty member to give a talk at your school or other organization, please click on their name for contact information.
Mammals of Illinois
This presentation will introduce your group to the remarkable diversity of mammals in Illinois through photographs and taxidermy specimens from our vertebrate museum.
Birds of Illinois
This presentation will introduce your group to the remarkable diversity of birds in Illinois, through photographs and taxidermy specimens from our vertebrate museum.
Bugs are Awesome!
This talk highlights the biological, medical, agricultural, economic, and social importance of insects.
Honey bees: They’re super sweet!
Explores the close relationship honey bees have with humans and the current challenges to honey bee health.
Where do bugs go in the winter?
Did you ever wonder how insects survive winter conditions? Learn how certain bugs avoid freezing at extremely low temperature while some can even survive being frozen solid. Also, learn how climate change (warmer winter temperatures) may be more detrimental to insect winter survival than low temperatures.
What do scientists actually do?
Everyone consumes information provided by scientists, but few people are familiar with the process of science. This talk examines how research scientists are trained and how science is done. (Can be combined with other talks.)
What Plants Are Doing When We're Not Looking
Lecture will discuss how movements (such as phototropism and gravitropism) and flexible developmental patterns allow plants to be successful even though they are stuck in one place.
Science and Ethics of Biotechnology: Feeding Seven Billion Hungry People Without Destroying the Earth
Lecture will cover the basics of agricultural biotechnology, some potential applications, and the ethical debate surrounding their use.
Good bacteria, bad bacteria
Not all bacteria make us sick! Many of the bacteria in nature have beneficial or neutral impacts on the organisms around them. The bacteria in and on our bodies help keep us healthy!
Using clues from microbes to control disease
This talk discusses what vaccines are, how they are developed, and how they work with our immune systems to protect us from infection and disease.
How did organisms “breathe” before oxygen?
Before the oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere the planet was already teeming with microbial life. This take will discuss how anaerobic organisms get energy, why oxygen is toxic if unrestrained, and how organisms evolved to use oxygen.
