NSIS

"Starry Nights and Poetry Maps"

2010-05-05T12:26:00.001-03:00

Time:       Thursday. May 13th, 7:15 p.m.
Location:   Rm. 118, Sir James Dunn Building
Presenter: Chris Young
Title:      "Starry Nights and Poetry Maps"

Come explore the stars of Spring and Summer! Hard to find your way? Astronomers use a variety of methods to learn (and remember!) the stars and constellations. Come and learn a few shortcuts and become better acquainted with the Spring stars above us!

Minimum age 8 yrs. (The presentation is directed towards adults).

Admission is charged: $5 per adult; reductions for families with children (8 to 15 years)

Seating is limited. If you plan to attend please reserve seats by e-mailing planetarium@dal.ca with the number of adults and children. (Directions to the planetarium and fee information will be sent to you before the show.)

http://astronomynovascotia.ca/

2010 PROVINCIAL SCIENCE FAIR SHOWCASE

2010-05-05T12:24:00.002-03:00

May 7th and 8th at
St. Mary’s University, McNally Auditorium
Open to the Public
May 7: 3:00pm to 5:00pm
May 8: 11:00am to 1:00pm

Come and meet the minds behind the award-winning grade 7-12 science fair projects from across Nova Scotia: Robotics, Alternative Energy, Novel Inventions, Biological Studies, and much much more!
40 bright students from the South Shore to Cape Breton make up Team Nova Scotia, which will be representing the province at the 2010 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Peterborough – a prestigious event that attract over 450 of Canada’s top students annually.

http://www.sciencefairinfo.ns.ca/theblog/2010/05/05/2010-team-nova-scotia-showcase/

Halifax Planetarium: "Travels Through Space and Time"

2010-04-06T17:48:00.004-03:00

Time:       Thursday. April 15th, 7:15 p.m.
Location:   Rm. 118, Sir James Dunn Building
Presenter: Bridget Antze
Title:      "Travels Through Space and Time: Touring the Spring Sky"

The spring evening sky is rich in bright stars and a favourite of many. Join Bridget for the reprise of her popular show and see what to look for as the nights get warmer.

Minimum age 8 yrs. (The presentation is directed towards adults).

Admission is charged: $5 per adult; reductions for families with children (8 to 15 years)

http://astronomynovascotia.ca

Myers Memorial Stairwell Project

2010-03-13T20:34:00.004-04:00

To: Friends and Colleagues of Ram Myers,

The Myers Memorial Stairwell Project has now been completed, and we'd like to invite you to an opening celebration at the end of the month.

On Wednesday, March 31st at 12:30 pm please join us in the Biology lounge on the 5th floor of the Biology/Earth Sciences wing of the Life Sciences Centre at Dalhousie. (Turn right as you exit the elevators and the lounge is at the end of the main hallway on the left). There will be a couple of short speeches in honour of Ram and the Memorial, followed by some food and drink. Please join us if you can! Also, please forward this invitation to others who may be interested in attending the opening.

Best regards,
The Myers Lab

Information about the memorial: Ram's former students have created a memorial in his honour in the North stairwell of the Life Sciences Centre at Dalhousie University, consisting of the first page of all 160-plus primary literature articles that were authored or co-authored by Ram. The papers were spontaneously taped up in the stairwell in the days following his passing, and are now permanently mounted on individual plaques on the wall of the stairwell in chronological order between the second and the eighth floors.

Nova Scotian Institute of Science

2010-03-10T19:39:00.002-04:00

Next Regular Meeting of the NSIS
Monday, 5 April 2010

Time:	7:30 p.m.
Location:	Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
	1747 Summer St., Halifax

Speaker:	Steve Mockford
	Centre for Wildlife and Conservation Biology Department of Biology, Acadia University

Title:	Conservation Genetics and Blanding's turtle in Nova Scotia

ABSTRACT

The field of Conservation Genetics has a brief history. This history has been defined by rapid developments in DNA technology, advances in computer technology, and the development of new statistical techniques for analysis of the data that can now be generated. It has also been defined by increasing recognition of the role that genetics can play in helping to understand how species are distributed, the historical processes that underlie that distribution, and how this affects conservation and recovery. Within this brief historical context I will explore work done in Nova Scotia on the Conservation Genetics of Blanding's turtle and how it has contributed to the management and recovery of this charismatic reptile.

Genes, Genomics and Human Nature

2010-03-10T19:24:00.004-04:00

Dr. Evelyn Fox Keller (MIT)

7:00pm
Tuesday, March 30
Alumni Hall, King's College

Description: Discussion of the role of genes has been plagued by linguistic uncertainty since their origin. At first the word 'gene' was little more than a place marker, a name for the presumed unit of inheritance. What is a gene? A gene is a difference maker. Yet geneticists also assumed that genes are trait makers. To this day, conflation between genes and mutations, between trait makers and difference makers, remains endemic. The meaning of the term has transformed over the course of the century, not to mention proliferated. The status of genes as trait makers has come under severe challenge, as has the status of genes as difference makers. It is that very confusion between the
two, and the place of that confusion in our understanding of human nature, of what is natural and what is unnatural, that will be explored in this talk.

Evelyn Fox Keller, one the world's leading philosophers of science and a pioneer in feminist theory, is the author of many books, including "Reflections on Gender and Science", "Secrets of Life, Secrets of Death", and "The Century of the Gene".

Mind the Gap: The Neurosciences and their Determination to Explain the Human

2010-03-10T19:23:00.002-04:00

Dr. Cornelius Borck, Professor and Director, Institute for the History of Medicine and Science Studies, University of Luebek, Germany.

7:00pm
Thursday, March 18th
Alumni Hall, University of King's College

Description: Understanding the brain and the biological basis of mind, consciousness and behaviour is the ultimate challenge. The neurosciences, through increasing sophisticated technology, provide fascinating insights into human cognition, emotions and sociality. It this the imminent advent of a definitive undestanding of our mental apparatus, or the warning of a brave new world of manipulation, mind reading and thought control? Are we witness to a new chapter in human evolution?

Dr. Cornelius Borck is the former Canada Research Chair in Art History and Communication Studies, McGill.

Planetarium Show: Harry Potter Astronomy

2010-02-26T13:44:00.004-04:00

March Break @ Planetarium: "Harry Potter Astronomy"
Tue 16 Mar 2010

Special March Break Planetarium Show -- Harry Potter Astronomy

Tuesday, 16 March, 2:00 p.m.

This family show focuses on the astronomical objects that double as character names in the Harry Potter books, both the myths and the facts.

Rm. 118, Sir James Dunn Building, Dalhousie University

Presenter: Kathleen Moncrieff

Minimum age 8 yrs.

Admission is charged: $5 per adult; reductions for families with children (8 to 15 years)

Seating is limited. If you plan to attend please reserve seats by e-mailing planetarium@dal.ca with the number of adults and children. (Directions to the planetarium and fee information will be sent to you before the show.)

Please do not be late; unlike the cinema, you won't get in once the lights are down.
Are your children under 8 years old? Please ask the Discovery Centre about their new Digitarium!

http://astronomynovascotia.ca/

How High is the Sky?

2010-02-26T13:40:00.002-04:00

Keshen Goodman Library "How High is the Sky"
Wed 10 Mar 2010

How High is the Sky?

Wed 10 Mar: 7 p.m. Keshen Goodman Public Library

Presenter: Quinn Smith

Understanding the vast distances to the Sun and planets, other stars, distant galaxies, and the universe itself. Quinn Smith Measures the Universe with a piece of string, a candle, and a train whistle.

http://astronomynovascotia.ca/

Sable Island Update

2010-02-26T12:58:00.002-04:00

Sixth Annual Public Meeting

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

7:00 - 9:30 pm

Theatre Auditorium, McNally Building, Saint Mary's University Campus

Program:

Three illustrated talks will be presented by:

·         Ian McLaren, Professor Emeritus, Dalhousie University
·         Bill Freedman, Biology Department, Dalhousie University
·         Zoe Lucas, naturalist and Sable Island resident

The fourth and final presentation will be given by Mark Butler of the Ecology Action Centre, and Zoe Lucas. Mark and Zoe will review current issues and plans for the future of Sable Island, including the potential for either a National Park or a National Wildlife Area designation.

A Question and Answer Session, and Reception, will follow.

http://www.greenhorsesociety.com/Synergy/Sable_Island_Update_2010.htm

Environment, Sustainability and Society

2010-02-26T12:55:00.002-04:00

The Winter 2010 Dalhousie Environment, Sustainability and Society Thursday
Evening Lecture Series

Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
Potter Auditorium, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Ave.
All welcome

March 4, 2010
God/gods and Biodiversity: Are they related? Does it matter?
Anne-Marie Dalton
Department of Religious Studies, Saint Mary's University
All welcome

March 11, 2010
The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water
Maude Barlow
Council of Canadians, Ottawa, ON
Co-sponsored by the Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office & Green Week
Reception to follow

http://sustainability.dal.ca/index.php

BIO-Oceans Association’s “Winter Celebration”

2010-02-11T14:58:00.013-04:00

Date / Time: Sunday, 28 February, 2010 at 2 p.m.
(lecture at 2:00 pm ; refreshments will be served)

Location:

Main Auditorium

Bedford Institute of Oceanography

1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

FACING THE ATLANTIC: HOW THE MARINE SCIENCES BEGAN ON CANADA’S EAST COAST

Eric L. Mills

Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University

Nova Scotian Institute of Science

2010-01-21T13:44:00.002-04:00

Regular NSIS Meeting:

Date / Time:   Monday, 1 March 2010, 7:30pm
Location:        Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
Speaker:         Karine Le Bris
Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University
Title:              Greenhouse effect and ozone depletion-monitoring: trace gas-detection by spectroscopic techniques

Sixth Annual Sable Island Update (Ecology Action Centre - co-sponsored by NSIS)

2010-01-21T13:10:00.009-04:00

Date / Time: Wednesday, 3 March 2010, at 7:00 pm

Location: Theatre Auditorium, McNally Bldng
[changed from Scotiabank Conference Theatre]

Saint Mary's University Campus

More details at:
Sixth Annual Sable Island Update

Nova Scotian Institute of Science

2010-01-05T10:38:00.007-04:00

Regular NSIS Meeting:

Date / Time:	Monday, February 1, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.
Location:	Nova Scotia Museum of Science, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax
Speaker:	Patrick McGinn, IMB (NRC)
Title:	Perspectives and outlook for bioenergy: from fossil fuels to holy grails

Planetarium Presentation: The Christmas Star

2009-12-23T12:12:00.008-04:00

Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University

Planetarium Presentation - The Christmas Star

Santa comes but once a year, but our unique Christmas Star show has an encore presentation, for those who were just too busy shopping before Christmas.

Thursday, January 7th, 7:15 p.m. in the Halifax Planetarium, Room 118, Dunn Building, Dalhousie University. "The Christmas Star -- Fact or Fiction?" by Quinn Smith (Minimum age 8 yrs.) (The presentation is directed towards adults). Admission is charged: $5 per adult; reductions for families with children (8 to 15 years) Please e-mail planetarium@dal.ca with the number of adults and children.

See also http://astronomynovascotia.ca

Nova Scotian Institute of Science

2009-12-15T14:08:00.026-04:00

Regular NSIS Meeting:

Date / Time:	Monday, January 4, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.
Location:	Scotia Bank Conference Theatre, Sobey building, Saint Mary's University

Panel Discussion
Land protection in Nova Scotia - How do we get to 12%?