MacTalks - Chad Topaz

Listen to one of my favorite professors from Macalester talk about community and how the idea of community informs his research on biological swarms, why community is essential for scientific progress, and how developing community is crucial for teaching and learning. 

In the News: A link roundup

1) Dr. Kristi Curry Rogers, a biologist and geologist at Macalester College, shares her thoughts on evolution and it's role in the world today. 

2) Dr. Michael Fischbach, a chemist at UCSF, talks to the NYT about the research his lab is conducting on the microbiome, as well as the results of a study his group recently published in the journal Cell. 

Link to the NY Times article
Link to the study published in the journal Cell

Peter Walter, PhD (right) speaks with UCSF's vice-chancellor of Research Keith Yamamoto, PhD

3) Dr. Peter Walter (above right), a biochemist at UCSF, is the recipient of the 2014 Lasker Basic Medical Research Award. Dr. Walter is sharing this award with Kazutoshi Mori, PhD, a researcher at Kyoto University. 

The two scientists are being honored for their work on the Unfolded Protein Response or UPR, a cellular quality-control system which is believed to play a role in certain neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and cancer. This is Walter's second major award of the year--he and Mori also shared the Shaw Prize in May. 

Link to the Lasker Foundation announcement

Link to UCSF's celebration of the achievement

Paleontologist Kristi Curry Rogers

Kristi Curry Rogers, Associate Professor at Macalester College,

speaking on MPR in 2011 (Photo Credit: Tim Nelson)

Listen to Curry Rogers segment from Minnesota Public Radio as she discusses her on-going fossil research in Montana. (Originally aired 9-19-2013).

Try this link if the above audio doesn't work.