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Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

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Science in the News

Science in the News (SITN) is a Graduate Student Group at the Harvard Graduate School of the Arts and Sciences. Its mission is to bridge the communication gap between scientists and non-scientists. SITN accomplishes this by providing free seminars, lessons, social events, and written material on varying science topics for the general public. SITN provides science PhD students the chance to hone their communication skills by hosting these events and by giving feedback on their presentations and articles.

http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/

  • Leonora Bittleston: Investigating Symbiosis in Carnivorous Pitcher Plants

    Wed, Jun 4, 2014
    The idea of a plant eating an animal is very strange. Scientists were ridiculed when they originally suggested plants could be carnivorous. But now we know that carnivory has actually evolved multiple times in plants, in a pattern called convergent evolution. Bittleston's lecture discussed how pitcher plants are perfect examples of this, as their particular form has evolved three separate times in different parts of the world. Some creatures are food for pitcher plants, yet others can't survive without them. Bittleston talked about the communities of insects and bacteria that live happily inside pitcher plants' deadly pools of water. At the end of the lecture, Bittleston discussed new technology and theory used to study the communities within pitcher plants.
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    Partner:
    Science in the News

  • Chris Garris: In the Loop with Poop

    Wed, May 7, 2014
    Did you know that the average human gut is home to over 100 trillion microorganisms? These numbers are not from a diseased state, but rather are representative of a normal, healthy human gut. Clearly, this suggests that the vast majority of microorganisms living within us are not pathogenic. Animal studies of germ-free or selective gut colonization by microbes provide growing evidence of healthful, symbiotic microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. However, harmful perturbation of the gut microbial ecosystem, collectively termed 'dysbiosis', is associated with many disease states. Further studies of gut microbial communities in both healthy and diseased conditions will inform how modulation of the intestinal flora can be used therapeutically. Want to learn more? Get in the loop with poop with PhD student Chris Garris!
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    Science in the News
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    Laura Klein: More Than Food - Exploring Human Milk As Medicine

    Wed, Apr 23, 2014
    Many of us are familiar with milk as a food in our supermarket aisles, whether as a beverage that pairs well with cookies, or as the starting ingredient for cheese and yogurt. But milk is also part of what makes us mammals, a class of animals that produces milk as the first food for our young. Our lecture will begin with a discussion of the "recipe" for milk and investigate why the recipe may vary among species. We will also take a closer look at how different parts of milk support the growing infant. Next, we will dive deeper into how milk supports an infant's immune system. Finally, we will conclude by discussing current and future applications of milk as medicine.
    Forum Network
    Food and Wellness
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    Science in the News