Pigments in Antiquities, the Weather, & More

SMC’s Spring Distinguished Scientists Lecture Series Begins March 6

Identifying pigments to conserve antiquities and new details about the weather are just two of the topics of Santa Monica College’s Spring 2014 Distinguished Scientists Lecture Series, beginning March 6.

All talks – designed for lay audiences – are FREE and are held at 11:15 a.m. in Science Lecture Hall 140 on SMC’s main campus at 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Seating is on a first-arrival basis.

The Spring 2014 line-up of lectures is:

• March 6: Dr. Giacomo Chiari: “The Blues: A Scientific Analysis of Pigments Found in Antiquities.” Chief Scientist at The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and an expert in earthen architecture and the treatments for decorated surfaces will discuss his research on identifying the compounds and geographic distribution of pigments in antiquities in order to develop treatment and conservation methods.

• March 11: Dr. David Rowitch: “A New Cellular Understanding of Cerebral Palsy.” UC San Francisco Professor of Pediatrics and Neurological Surgery, Chief of Neonatology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator will talk about how investigating normal pathways of brain development can offer new insight into human neurological diseases such as cerebral palsy.

• March 27: Dr. Amy Rowat: “Probing the Texture of Cells for Health and Disease.” Professor of Biology in the UCLA Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology will talk about her research on the structure and organization of the cell nucleus in order to understand the link between the mechanics and physiology of biological materials.

• April 10: Todd Hall: “Technical Advances in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences.” Senior Meteorologist at NOAA/National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard since 2006 and co-author of “The Weather Calculator” will discuss the changes in technology that are helping meteorologists expand their understanding of the weather and improve their forecasts.

The lecture series is sponsored by the SMC Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Sciences departments and the SMC Associates (www.smc.edu/associates), a private organization that funds speakers and special events on campus.

For more information, please call (310) 434-4303.