2025 is a banner year for ticks. 

With the Fordam Tick Index currently at a 9/10, we should all probably be much more concerned about bites from ticks than from sharks. 

But how much do you really know about these tiny monsters? 

Hear from two experts on ticks and the diseases they carry, including tips for protecting yourself in the outdoors this summer.

Doors open at 7:00PM. Event is 21+ with limited capacity - reserve your spot here. Free event.

Speakers:

Dr. Tokarz's primary interests are investigating ticks and tick-borne pathogens and understanding their impact on human disease. Dr. Tokarz performs annual tick collections to monitor the prevalence of tick-borne agents. He has developed and implemented molecular and serologic tests that improved diagnosis of patients with tick-borne diseases and has analyzed the microbiome of ticks and identified a wide range of new tick-associated agents, including over 30 new viruses.

In his talk, he will describe what ticks are, how they are different from other blood-sucking bugs, and how to prevent tick bites. He will describe the diseases they are responsible for and discuss controversies and misleading information common with tick-borne diseases.

Professor Fish is a Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Public Health, where he has been for the past 25 years. His research specialty is the ecology of tick and mosquito vectors of human disease and the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Zika virus, and malaria.

Dr. Fish will discuss the origin of Lyme disease in the U.S. and why it has become epidemic. He will explain the ecological processes involved in causing the spread of the deer tick vector of Lyme disease and its impact upon public health.

A guided walk through Central Park led by Will Harcourt-Smith, Sahid Robles Bello, and Kristen Olson.

We will meet at Engineer's Gate at 2 E 90th Street at 2PM.

Event is weather-dependent. An email will be sent to RSVPs if event is cancelled.

Free, all-ages event. RSVP required!

Despite being surrounded by one of the largest urban areas in the world, Central Park is one of the most famous spots for birdwatching, with over 200 species that live in or migrate through each year. Located along the Atlantic Flyway, Central Park has habitats for waterfowl, warblers, birds of prey, and of course pigeons. Join us for a science walk in the park and hear from scientists that study birds, their habitats and behaviors in a unique opportunity to explore the vibrant avian life that thrives in one of New York City’s most iconic green spaces. Encounter a variety of species that find sanctuary within the park’s greenery, uncover intriguing insights about their life cycles and ecosystems, and learn about the critical role of preservation efforts. Bring your own binoculars (we will have some loaner pairs available) as well as your curiosity, and don’t miss out on this enchanting exploration of feathers, flights, and the fine details that make our feathered friends so extraordinary!

As a wrap-up to this year’s taste of science festival, we’re bringing our most admired science communication friends together at QED to throw our annual SciComm Block Party! We'll have tables with demonstrations, interactive activities, and even some exotic creatures to meet. We invite you to celebrate with us and kick back with fellow NYC science advocates and unashamed nerds whose sense of wonder is alive and kicking. Cheers!

16+ (anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)

Activities will include:

-Touch a real (human or animal) brain

-Play synapse pong

-Put your city under the microscope

-Control a friend’s muscle movements

-Meet some charismatic arthropods

-Explore how your senses work

-Celebrate the Chandra telescope’s birthday

-Test your motor learning with mirror drawing…and maybe see if a beer makes it any harder!

…And more!

Participating organizations:

-BraiNY

-Mentoring in Neuroscience Discovery at Sinai (MiNDS)

-Astro on Tap

-Columbia Neuroscience Society

…And more!

Get ready for a night of science and storytelling inspired by HBO’s The Last of Us, where a fungal outbreak drives the plot—and the panic.

Our first speaker will explore the real-world microbes that can infect humans, and the growing risks they pose. Our second speaker will uncover the bizarre world of slime molds—single-celled organisms that move, solve puzzles, and defy expectations.

From terrifying spores to brainless brilliance, come explore the strange, spore-filled side of science that might just be stranger than fiction.

Doors open at 7:00PM. Event is 21+. Limited capacity - join the waiting list!

Speakers:

Humans inhale and ingest fungi every day on Earth. For the vast majority of us, these daily encounters are silent and innocuous. A small subset of fungi can cause life-threatening diseases in vulnerable populations, typically when the immune system sustains an injury. This talk focuses on the resilience of humans and their immune defenses against ubiquitous fungi. Tobias will explore how our immune defenses recognize and eliminate fungi when they pose an invasive threat.

Tobias Hohl is Chief of Infectious Disease Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a physician-scientist and who studies how fungi on Earth can cause life-threatening diseases in humans.

Elan Trybuch will explore slimemold lifecycle, classification, and their biodiversity in the five boroughs.

Elan is the current acting Secretary of the New York Mycological Society and a Myxomycete specialist, helping to identify species and document the biodiversity of Fungi and Myxomycetes in NYC. He currently lives in Redhook, Brooklyn with his partner and works at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as an Integration Engineering Manager.

Join us for an evening exploring the past, present, and future of city infrastructure through two unique lenses.

Our first speaker takes us on a journey through time, uncovering stories behind the MTA infrastructure. Learn how the vision of figures like Robert Moses and the archival documents of past decades continue to shape the infrastructure that millions rely on today.

Our second speaker will explore how built environments can prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.

Together, these talks offer a compelling look at how cities are built—and rebuilt—in the face of time and transformation.

Doors open at 7:00PM. Event is 21+. Limited capacity - reserve your spot here! $5

Speakers:

Go behind the scenes to learn about the history of MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Robert Moses, and how the documents of the past shape the present.

Nellie Hankins is the manager of the Special Archive at MTA Bridges and Tunnels, where she has worked for the last ten years. She has a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh

Andrew Kruczkiewicz is a Senior Researcher at Columbia University. A meteorologist by training, Andrew’s work focuses on the intersection of science, policy and practice related to forecasting extreme weather and climate events, warning systems and disaster risk reduction. Also within Columbia’s Climate School, Andrew is Co-Director of the Network on Disaster Resilience entitled, Sustainable and Resilient Living in an Era of Increasing Disasters Network. He is also Faculty Lecturer within the Climate School, in the Climate and Society graduate program. Andrew is Science Adviser at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and is a Principal Investigator within the NASA Earth Sciences Division.

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Hunger drives survival—from the decisions of immune cells to the cravings that shape our behavior. This event explores hunger at two scales: how innate immune cells decide what to "eat" as they patrol the body, and how obesity reshapes the brain’s response to hunger, altering food preferences and risk-taking. From microscopic instincts to human desire, join us for a conversation at the intersection of biology and behavior.

Doors open at 7:00PM. Event is 21+. Limited capacity - reserve your spot here! $5

Speakers:

How does your immune system fight off infections and prevent cancers from developing? A key component of how your immune system does this is through innate immune cells called professional phagocytes. These are the cells that eat and clear dead cells, microbes, infected cells, or cancer. We still don't understand fully how these cells pick the right thing to eat. Ben will discuss how professional phagocytic cells mechanosense their environment to decide what to eat and where to move.

Ben Winer is an immunologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who focuses on how immune cells mechanosense their surrounding environment to make decisions. He did his undergraduate work in chemistry and biophysics at William and Mary and got a PhD in infectious disease and molecular biology from Princeton University. 

Paul Kenny will describe new work from his lab showing that the development of obesity restructures behavioral responses to hunger. Weight gain also alters the relative value of different types of food while increasing ‘risk tolerance’ to obtain highly palatable food.

Paul serves as chair of the Nash Family Department of Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. He obtained a degree in biochemistry from Trinity College Dublin and his PhD in neuropharmacology from King’s College London. Paul's research is focused on the molecular and cellular neurobiology of drug addiction, obesity, and schizophrenia.

Join us for the Astronomy on Tap NYC’s 153rd event, and the next in our monthly series at Pete’s Candy Store! Astronomy on Tap is fun and informative, with professional scientists and educators, plus games, prizes, and a bit of learning while drinking.

This month is a special trio! 1 – We are kicking off the taste of science NY festival! 2 – We're celebrating our 12th anniversary! And also 3 – we honor the most glorious of holidays, April Fools!

Our speakers this month are:

•Mark Popinchalk, (he/him), AMNH, with a totally legit scientific criticism of one specific asshole star.

•Chris Carr (he/him), Columbia University, on star signs and stellar personalities.

Doors open at 6:45pm, event start at 7pm SHARP. Arrive early to get your seats, grab a drink, and settle in for science talks, trivia, prizes, and fun!

What on earth is going on in the economy? Curious if prices will keep climbing forever? Talk about inflation seems to be everywhere, but how many of us actually understand what it is, and what drives it? Join us for a talk from an economist to learn more about this earthly phenomenon, as well as a talk from an astrophysicist to learn about another kind of inflation that reaches well beyond earth: the early expansion of the universe in the second after the Big Bang. 

Doors open at 7:00PM. Event is 21+. Limited capacity - reserve your spot here!

Speakers:

How did the Universe begin? Despite decades of research, a complete model of the first fractions of a second has remained elusive. The leading theory is inflation: a colossal expansion of space that stretched the primordial quantum realm into the physical space we see today. Oliver will describe the evidence for inflation and how it can potentially be detected using modern observations of radiation and galaxy positions.

Oliver is a Junior Fellow of the Simons Society of Fellows and a Postdoctoral Researcher at Columbia University. In Fall 2025, he will start a new position as an Assistant Professor at Stanford University. When he's not trying out new restaurants and bars, Oliver primarily thinks about the origins of the Universe and how we can constrain them using data from ground- and space-based telescopes.

Comedian and Economist Luke Strathmann will explore what’s behind recent economic headlines about inflation and how metrics like wages, prices, cost of living, and consumer sentiment can tell different stories. Luke has been translating economic research for the public his entire career and will unveil secrets that economists have been hiding from us ever since God created money.

Luke is a comedian and writer and runs the communications team at Yale’s Department of Economics. He has spent his career bridging the gap between economic research and the public through storytelling, creativity, and humor. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker and McSweeney’s, and he performs comedy all over NYC (and hosts an economics-themed comedy show at Caveat).

Thursday, April 25th, 2024
7:30 - 9:30 PM
Doors @ 7

Roughly 70% of our planet’s surface area is covered by water. Our oceans are not just a pretty view to enjoy while we sip piña coladas, but they control global weather patterns and are home to over 200,000 animal species (roughly 90% of all animal life in the world!).

Climate change has had drastic effects on the physical and chemical properties of our oceans that experts predict will have untold consequences on life on Earth without urgent action.

Join us for two talks by scientists that investigate some of the different ways that climate change and emissions are changing our oceans as we know them, and how we can adapt.

Speakers:

David Holland, Ph.D.

Disappearing Ice in a Warming World

David Michael Holland is a Professor of Mathematics and Environmental Science at New York University (NYU). His research focuses on using mathematics to understand mechanisms by which significant sea-level change could arise from the great ice sheets, Greenland, and Antarctica, over the coming decades in an ever-warming world. He applies advanced applied mathematical techniques to data collected in remote environments. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles on polar environmental science. In 2000, he was awarded an NSF Career Award and was elected a fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2023, as well as a Fellow of The Explorer's Club.

Ice is quickly disappearing from our planet, raising sea levels. This past year has been the warmest on record. In the deep past, sea levels have risen rapidly. The same may happen going forward, rewriting the global coastline. I'll take you on my career-long journey to forecast sea levels by predicting the fate of the great ice sheets. Beyond adapting to a sea level rise, we also need to consider the potential for geoengineering the planet’s ice cover.

Bärbel Hönisch, Ph.D.

Carbon dioxide, climate, and the oceans

Dr. Hönisch grew up and studied in Germany, since 2007 she is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University. She is interested in the effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations on climate and the oceans, including past variations of seawater acidity. As she was originally trained as a marine biologist, her research includes culture experiments to calibrate marine calcifying organisms as stand-ins for past environmental conditions. She uses these calibrations to reconstruct seawater acidity and atmospheric CO2 variations through Earth history. Over the past 7 years she has led a consortium of experts to evaluate paleo-CO2 estimates over the past 65 million years.

KGB Red Room
7:30 - 9:30 PM
(doors @ 7)

Although we’ve learned a lot about how the brain works in the last 50 years, much of the inner workings of human intelligence and behavior remain a mystery. Technological advances in the last decade promise to expand our understanding of the brain and how it controls behavior. Join us for talks from two scientists about how new technologies are helping us to understand the brain and to intervene when things go awry.

Speakers:

Carlos Parra, PhD

At (almost) 51, what's new about MRI?

Carlos holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Memphis, developing his dissertation at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He focused on neuroimaging research of pediatric patients treated for catastrophic disease, developing novel statio-temporal models of tumor occurrence in retinoblastoma patients. In New York, he joined Memorial Sloan Kettering and the NYU Langone Ophthalmology Department where he conducted neuroimaging research in glaucoma patients. Carlos also has a background in electrical and electronics engineering. He is a photographer passionate about art history, particularly the Masters of the Dutch Golden Age.

To build the first MRI scanner in 1973, Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield relied on the contributions of five Nobel laureates. Since its inception, MRI has spurred the ingenuity of physicians, physicists, engineers, and medical researchers, continuously delivering sophisticated hardware and revolutionary techniques that offer new insights into the human body's structure, function, and metabolism. How does MRI work, what are its current applications, and what are the hottest new developments?

Helen Mayberg, MD

The Future is Now: Tuning Depression Circuits using Deep Brain Stimulation

Dr. Helen Mayberg is Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, and the Mount Sinai Professor in Neurotherapeutics at the Icahn School of Medicine, where she serves as Founding Director of the Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics. Known for her imaging studies of brain circuits in depression and her pioneering deep brain stimulation research, Dr. Mayberg, a neurologist, emphasizes a holistic approach to the treatment of depression working to define brain signatures that can match patients to their optimal treatment at all stages of illness. Dr. Mayberg, originally from Los Angeles, did her Neurology training in NY at Columbia. She was recruited back to the City in 2018.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an experimental treatment for intractable depression. Next-gen technologies now provide real-time tracking of neural activity from the implanted device and when combined with advances in neuroimaging, computer vision and machine learning strategies, enable neural and behavioral monitoring during ongoing DBS. Such studies work to link first-person experiences to changes in brain state and naturalistic behaviors, towards a comprehensive understanding of illness and recovery.

Tissues such as our skin and gut define the barrier between ourselves and the outside world. These niches are home to trillions of microbes and recent advances have begun to understand how these populations can impact nutrition, disease, allergy, development and much more. Our cells must be able to distinguish between helpful and harmful microbes to encourage this balance and prevent false-alarm inflammatory reactions.

Join us for talks by two scientists who study how the Immune System keeps tabs on the microbes that inhabit two of our largest barrier tissues – our skin and our gut – and what happens when the delicate balance is disrupted.

Speakers:

Karen Edelblum, PhD 

Intestinal Border Patrol: Keeping the Peace in the Gut

Dr. Karen Edelblum is an Associate Professor in Pathology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and has been studying Crohn’s disease for way longer than she would like to admit. However, she’s okay with this, because as a patient herself, she would like to cure the disease forever and then open a bakery that may sell poop-themed baked goods. Dr. Edelblum has a fancy science pedigree and is an expert in a VERY niche area of gastrointestinal biology, but most importantly, she delights placing herself in situations that involve explaining immunology to a highly engaged audience through interpretative dance.

One layer of cells forms a barrier that separates everything you eat and microbes in your gut from the rest of your body. A specialized type of immune cell functions as intestinal border patrol, constantly surveying the barrier and responding to various microbes, both good and bad. What happens to this immune surveillance when poop hits the proverbial fan in patients with inflammatory bowel disease? Can we step up the patrol and prevent gut barrier devastation? Join us to find out!

Nicholas Bessman, PhD

Who gets a place at the table? Nutrient competition and cooperation in the gut

Nick Bessman is an Assistant Professor and Chancellor Scholar at Rutgers University. After growing up in Iowa, he found his way to the East Coast in his pursuit of new ideas and cool data. He started his career studying the structures of human proteins that cause cancer, but 10 years ago he realized that the mysterious bacteria living in our gut are way more interesting than human cells. And he's been studying them ever since! The Bessman lab has recently focused on how dietary nutrients are shared between gut bacteria and their human hosts, and how this relationship impacts human health.

In recent years we have just begun to appreciate the importance of intestinal bacteria in human health. Every aspect of our health is impacted by the identity of these bacteria and the molecules they produce. So how do we keep these bacteria happy and healthy? Our research has focused on how dietary nutrients, which are critical for both human and bacterial health, are shared or hoarded in the gut, and how this impacts human health and disease.

To help us kick off our 10th anniversary festival, we’re bringing our most admired science communication friends together at Caveat to throw our second ever SciComm Block Party! We'll have tables with demonstrations, interactive activities, and even some exotic creatures to meet. We invite you to celebrate with us and kick back with fellow NYC science advocates and unashamed nerds whose sense of wonder is alive and kicking. Cheers!

Activities will include:

-Touch a real (human or animal) brain

-Play synapse pong

-Put your city under the microscope

-Control a friend’s muscle movements

-Meet some charismatic arthropods

-Explore how your senses work

-Celebrate the Chandra telescope’s birthday

-Test your motor learning with mirror drawing…and maybe see if a beer makes it any harder!

…And more!

Participating organizations:

-BraiNY

-Mentoring in Neuroscience Discovery at Sinai (MiNDS)

-Astro on Tap

-BioBus

-NY Entomological Society

-CUNY Advanced Science Research Center/Graduate Center

-March for Science

-Neuroscience Outreach Group @ NYU

…And more!

Despite being surrounded by one of the largest urban areas in the world, Central Park is one of the most famous spots for birdwatching, with over 200 species that live in or migrate through each year. Located along the Atlantic Flyway, Central Park has habitats for waterfowl, warblers, birds of prey, and of course pigeons. Join us for a science walk in the park and hear from scientists that study birds, their habitats and behaviors in a unique opportunity to explore the vibrant avian life that thrives in one of New York City's most iconic green spaces. Encounter a variety of species that find sanctuary within the park's greenery, uncover intriguing insights about their life cycles and ecosystems, and learn about the critical role of preservation efforts. Bring your own binoculars (we will have some loaner pairs available) as well as your curiosity, and don't miss out on this enchanting exploration of feathers, flights, and the fine details that make our feathered friends so extraordinary!

meet our field guides:

Will Harcourt-Smith

Will is a paleontologist specializing in human evolution based at both City University New York and the American Museum of Natural History. Will has been a passionate birder since he was a child, and got back into it about 8 years ago. He is excited to show you birding in Central Park - your window into nature!

Emily Edmonds-Langham

Emily is the Director of Education at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, NY. Prior to leading the team there, she worked for many years at the American Museum of Natural History, as well as serving as a seasonal educator at the New York Botanical Garden. She loves to get outside with birders of all ages and abilities.

Safiya Sabir

Safiya is an environmental educator in NYC. She uses public parks and waterways to reconnect people of all ages to nature. She also enjoys birding and cycling on her adventures. Safiya will guide attendees through the park to discover spring migrants passing through our urban habitat and include some tips for better birding.

Astro on Tap & taste of science NYC present: Silly Science

Celebrating April Fools Day and other silliness

Tues 4/16, 6:45pm doors, 7pm-8:15pm sharp

at Pete's Candy Store

Join us for the 140th Astronomy on Tap NYC event, and the next in our monthly series at Pete’s Candy Store!

Astronomy on Tap is fun and informative, with professional scientists and educators, plus games, prizes, and a bit of learning while drinking.

After all the eclipse craziness, it’s important to remember what April is really about. This month, we celebrate foolishness as we kick off the taste of science festival here in NY! Co-hosted by Brian Levine, aka MC Tycho Brewhaha, and Kaitlin Schmidt, aka Annie Drunk Cannon, we are welcoming the following two silly speakers:
•Mark Popinhalk (he/him), AMNH Astro, speaking about eclipses past and present and what might have seen them.
•Iman Behbehani (she/her), CUNY Grad Center, who will provide an in depth look into the comedic nature of the history of physics.

Doors open at 6:45pm, event start at 7pm SHARP. Arrive early to get your seats, grab a drink, and settle in for science talks, trivia, prizes, and fun!

Doors @ 7PM

Join taste of science NYC and Astronomy on Tap NYC for a fun and informative evening. We will preview the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse happening on April 8! While we won't get 100% totality here in NYC, the path of totality runs nearby; we'll explain all the details. PLUS – we’ll show you how to make your own DIY eclipse viewer, and everyone in attendance will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses (with more for sale!)

Speakers:

Betsy Hernandez

STEM Educator and Visiting Scientist, American Museum of Natural History

Talk Title: Total Eclipse of the Sun

Betsy is the STEM Educator at The Brotherhood Sister Sol's after-school program. She teaches coding, and uses Lego sets to teach robotics and engineering to kids ages 8 to 18. She is also a Visiting Scientist at the American Museum of Natural History, where her interest is black hole research.

In preparation for the April 2024 eclipse, come see what makes each kind of solar eclipse unique. Discover the amazing science that can only be achieved during a total solar eclipse and view a first-hand account of totality, when the Moon completely obscures the Sun. Learn why solar viewing safety is so important, so you are well prepared for this upcoming event and others in the future.

Matthew Stanley

Talk title: Einstein's Eclipse

Matt Stanley is a historian of science at NYU, where he tells stories about astronomy and physics. He is the author of Einstein's War: How Relativity Triumphed over the vicious nationalism of World War I.

Einstein bet everything on an eclipse - in 1919, he needed a team of British astronomers to test his theory of relativity and convince the world that his crazy ideas about space and time were actually true. In the wake of World War I, his ideas were both scientifically and politically radical, and it all came down to a few minutes of darkness and a few points of light on a photograph.

We share our city with many different species of urban wildlife, from pigeons to rats, mice to trash pandas.

What are they hiding?

Could they be carrying the virus that causes the next global pandemic?

Join us for talks from two virus hunters trying to keep us safe by understanding what lurks in the birds and rodents we see every day.

February 27, 2024

7:30 - 9:30 PM (Doors @ 7PM)

Ryan’s Daugher (350 E 85th St, UES)

Meet our speakers:

Simon Williams, Senior Research Scientist NYU Langone

Talk Title: Discovering pathogens in NYC house mice

Simon started his career in a clinical molecular diagnostics lab in Perth, Western Australia. After moving to Columbia University to focus on virus discovery and surveillance under renowned virus hunter, Prof. Ian Lipkin, Simon assisted projects on bats, ticks, and NYC rats. Soon, he led his own study looking at the microbial carriage of NYC house mice; a large project that formed the basis of his PhD, which also included his studies on the viromic carriage of mosquitos. Simon built an FDA-approved diagnostic PCR assay for COVID before moving to direct the R&D team at NYC’s Pandemic Response Lab. Simon recently joined the xenotransplant team at NYU to investigate infectious disease dynamics and build diagnostics.

In NYC, the common house mouse is relegated to second place for rodent awareness, far behind the dreaded rat. But mice are better situated to impact your health by sharing your home, or your local bakery. Despite their global presence and widespread use in scientific research, little is known about the microbes they carry. In this talk, I will cover the challenges of collecting mice in NYC, the technology for discovering microbes, and what this all means for the next time you trap a mouse at home!

Philip Meade, Postdoctoral Researcher at Mount Sinai and Primary Mentor Principal for New York City Virus Hunters

Talk title: Roses are Red, and Birds Have the Flu

Philip is a postdoctoral researcher in the Krammer lab at Mount Sinai. Philip is trained as a virologist, and studies the antibody response to infection and vaccination with influenza virus, focusing on protection against types of influenza that don't circulate in humans - yet.

Did you know that the flu is really an avian virus that humans also sometimes get?

Philip is the primary mentor for the New York City Virus Hunters program, in which high school students searching for avian influenza viruses. Their findings are vital to prepare for and prevent a possible future pandemic, and to identify viruses that may be harmful to humans and birds. Under careful mentorship, they learn laboratory and science communication skills, and help keep an eye on the avian influenza viruses in our backyard.

From ectoplasm to pumpkin spice stress-relief concoctions, slime is everywhere this time of year.

Join us for two talks from experts on the hidden intelligence of slime molds and the healing properties of snail slime...

We double dare you.

Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023

Time: 7:30-9:30pm (doors @ 7pm)

Venue: Ryan’s Daughter, 350 E 85 th St (between 1 st and 2 nd Ave), Manhattan

Speakers:

Simon Garnier

Associate Professor of Biology, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Talk Title: The Homer Simpson paradox, or how to be successful without a brain

Simon Garnier is the head of the Swarmlab, an interdisciplinary research lab that studies how stupid creatures can - sometimes - be smart in group, and why very smart beings will - often - form brainless crowds. His talk will focus recent research on a weird amorphous creature, the slime mold Physarum polycephalum, that is unveiling the secrets behind this basal form of cognition that may help understand the origins of biological intelligence.

Antonio Cerullo

PhD Candidate in Biochemistry at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center

Talk title: Comparative Animal Mucomics: Investigating Slime from Nature’s Most Exotic Creatures

Antonio Cerullo is one of the world’s leading experts on slime, and curated the world's largest library of animal mucus. Mucus is among the most diverse and important substances in nature. Despite being critical for the survival of all animals, little is known about its makeup or how it works. He will discuss his efforts to collect and compare mucus from animals across the world, including snails, hippopotami, and jellyfish with the goal of learning how diverse animals use mucus. This research has inspired new technologies with real-world applications.

Doors @ 5:00 PM

How does human behavior change across the lifespan?

How do our cognitive and psychosocial abilities change and how can these changes inform our understanding of disorders that develop at different life stages?

Join us for talks from two neuroscientists to learn about two behaviors influenced by different stages of life: social cooperation in adolescence, and anorexia in aging.

Meet our speakers:

Where do we come from? How did our species evolve? What can fossils tell us about the behavior of ancient humans and our relationships with other species? Join us for talks from experts on human origins and evolution to learn about what we can learn from fossils about early humans, their behavior, and how evolution shaped our species.

Doors open at 7:00 PM
Talks begin at 7:30 PM

Check out our speakers below:

Frances Forrest, PhD

Assistant Professor, Fairfield University

Talk Title: Digging Up Dinner: How Our Ancestors’s Eating Habits Shaped Human Evolution (and Our Love for Bacon)

Frances Forrest is a zooarchaeologist studying animal bones from early human archeological sites in Africa. She uses fauna to reconstruct ancient environments and learn about human dietary behavior during the Early Stone Age. In her talk, she will discuss her work in Kenya looking at the human fossil record and what it can tell us about evolution and human diets.

Shara Bailey, PhD

Professor of Anthopology, Center for the Study of Human Origins, New York University

Talk Title: Teeth Tell Tales

Shara Bailey is a biological anthropologist and Professor at New York University. She uses teeth to answer questions about human evolution: from the origin of modern humans and our relationship to Neanderthals to the question of who made the earliest Oldowan tools in East Africa 2.8 million years ago. She is currently working on describing and diagnosing 800,000-year-old hominin fossils that could represent the common ancestor of our species and Neanderthals. Her research has been featured on National Public Radio, The History Channel, National Geographic and PBS/Nova. Although teeth comprise a majority of the fossil record, most people do not appreciate their importance. Dr. Bailey will describe how the mountains and valleys on the surfaces of our teeth tell stories about our recent and distant past. She will discuss how teeth have been used to diagnose who made the earliest modern tool kits in Europe; identify the makers of some of the earliest stone tools in East Africa, and confirm hybridizing between ancient humans and our species.

Our modern world exposes us to a constant stream of chemicals and environmental pollutants. How do these exposures affect health and development?

Join us for talks from two researchers studying how the environment affects the development of the brain and our mental health.

Doors open at 7:00 PM
Talks begin at 7:30 PM

Check out our speakers:

Akhgar Ghassabian, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, New York University

Talk Title: Environmental influences on child brain development

Akhgar Ghassabian, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and an investigator at NYU Langone’s Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards. Dr. Ghassabian’s research focuses on identifying environmental exposures that contribute to the etiology of developmental disabilities and psychiatric problems in children. She is particularly interested in brain influences of endocrine disrupting chemicals and air pollution.The unique vulnerability of children to environmental hazards has been documented in many scientific studies. Exposure to environmental contaminants during early life can influence brain development, leading to behavioral problems and cognitive delays. Dr. Ghassabian will talk about her work using large observational studies in which researchers follow children and their families throughout the life course to establish harmful effects of environmental exposures on the brain.

Manish Arora, BDS, MPH, PhD

Professor, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Talk Title: The Time Machine in Your Teeth

Manish Arora is the Baerwald Professor and Vice Chairman of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He is also the founder and CEO of Linus Biotechnology, a precision medicine company. His research is focused on the study of the time dimension in human health and disease. For his work on children’s neurological conditions, including autism, he was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award by President Obama. In his talk, Dr. Arora will discuss how our environment shapes our health over our lifetimes. The biggest challenge in this field of environmental medicine has been unlocking how our body and our environment interact over time. Everything changes, so how do we measure that change? Arora will share his journey of discovery over two decades and provide insight into the life of an immigrant scientist working in a rapidly changing economic and political world.

Astronomy on Tap brings astronomers, astronomy educators, and other astronomy professionals and enthusiasts to the bar for fun and informative talks, interactive games, and prizes!  Join us as we drink in the universe. 

This month, just in time for an April Fool's reprisal, we present Silly Science!  And we don't want to give any more than that away.  Join us for FREE at Pete's Candy Store!!

Just in time to almost have forgotten April Fools, we’ll be looking at some serious and funny science. Presentations by:
–Levben Parsons, Rutgers U
–Mark Popinchalk, CUNY Grad Center
PLUS interactive games, prizes, and a whole barrel full of monkeys! (April Fools about one of those…)

Doors open at 6:45 PM
Event begins at 7:00 PM

Sleep

We spend a third of our lives asleep, and without it, we’d die faster than we would without food. Yet we still don’t know exactly why we sleep. We have learned a lot about what goes on during sleep, which is necessary for maintaining healthy brain functioning.

Join us in the city that never sleeps to learn from two researchers who study this elusive yet essential behavior.

February 15, 2023

7:30 PM- 9:30 PM
(Doors@ 7:00 PM)

Ryan’s Daughter
350 E 85th St, Manhattan

Meet our speakers:

Ilan Dinstein, PhD
Associate Professor, Ben Gurion University

Dr. Dinstein received his PhD from the Center for Neural Science at New York University and completed postdoctoral training in the Neurobiology Department at the Weizmann Institute and the Psychology Department at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on the neurobiology of autism with a particular emphasis on early development. He is the deputy director of the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research, which collects vital information from hundreds of children with autism and their families with the goal of improving autism diagnosis and treatment. The center brings together researchers and clinicians from a variety of universities and medical centers in Israel and manages a national database and biobank for autism research, including data on sleep.

Andrew Varga, MD
Associate Professor, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Dr. Varga completed an M.D. from New York Medical College, residency training in neurology at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and a sleep medicine fellowship at NYU. Dr. Varga has a longstanding interest in mechanisms of learning and memory, the role of sleep in cognition, and the effects of sleep disorders and sleep loss on cognitive function and risk for Alzheimer’s and related neurodegenerative diseases. His active research programs include investigating sleep disruption and augmentation on tau pathology in animal models, as well as studying aging and sleep apnea effects on spatial memory and changes to the brain using neuroimaging techniques in humans.

From Silicon Valley to Cell Biology: AI in Drug Design

presented by taste of science NYC!

April 25, 2022 7:00 - 9:00 PM (EST)

The interaction of computers, artificial intelligence, and biology is growing every day, with news of computer-brain interfaces, computer-aided drug design, and Google's AlphaFold for protein structure prediction.

Erika Alden DeBenedictis will discuss three innovations that are changing the world of biology: machine learning models that can predict properties of biological systems, robotic systems for conducting reproducible experiments, and new types of institutions that alter the incentives of scientists themselves. Kevin Gardner will describe his work on solving atomic-level pictures and mechanisms of proteins used by cells to sense and respond to changes in the environment around them. This work not only leads to better understanding of biology, but also establishes new biotech tools and therapies.

our speakers include:

Erika Alden DeBenedictis (she/her): The new era of computer-aided science

Erika is a former astronomer, recovering computer scientist, and current synthetic biologist. During her PhD at MIT Biological Engineering, she studied the origins of life, and developed robotic systems for engineering bacteria. Erika recently launched the 2022 Bioautomation Challenge, a grant program that gives researchers access to cloud laboratories in order to improve reproducibility, scalability, and shareability of life science research with programmable experiments.
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Kevin Gardner (he/him): Nature's switches = Inspiration for new biotech tools and disease-fighting drugs
Director of Structural Biology, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, and Einstein Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, City College of New York.

B.S. Biochemistry, UC Davis; Ph.D. Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale (w/Joe Coleman); postdoc Univ Toronto (w/Lewis Kay). Started independent group at UT Southwestern Med Center in Dallas, moved to CUNY in 2013. Started two companies (Peloton Therapeutics, Optologix) to help commercialize aspects of what will be discussed tonight.
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