My idea of what data science is.

We’re back with Science Fair, Bwog’s weekly curated list of interesting STEM-related talks, symposiums, and events happening on campus. For science and non-science majors alike, our list will bring you events that will satisfy your scientific curiosity for anything from astronomy to zoology, and everything in between.

For anyone, related-majors and non-majors alike:

  • Surviving the AIDS Epidemic into Older Ages: Families and Well-Being, Malawi 1998-2017 (Wednesday, March 28, 1pm, Hess Auditorium, 722 W. 168th St. at the Medical Center, RSVP at link)
    • “Across Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), a remarkable cohort is reaching middle and older ages: those who have survived the AIDS epidemic. Nobody could escape an epidemic that was devastating for both its health and social implications… What promoted survival and resilience in such a terrible context, and what influenced well-being among the survivors and their families?”
  • Book Talk and Signing: The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet (Thursday, March 29, 6-8pm, Kraft Center, Register at link)
    • “Henry Fountain, a former engineering reporter for the New York Times and currently an environmental reporter for the newspaper, will talk about his true science thriller. The Great Quake is a riveting narrative about the biggest earthquake in North American recorded history — the 1964 Alaska earthquake that demolished the city of Valdez and swept away the island village of Chenega — and the geologist who hunted for clues to explain how and why it took place.”
  • Free Suturing Workshop taught by Columbia dental students, hosted by Columbia Association for Pre-Dental Students (Thursday, March 29, 8-10pm, Lerner 476A)
    • “This event is open to all Columbia affiliated students! Suture materials will be provided. No RSVP necessary.”
  • BioBus on Morningside Campus (Friday, March 30, 10am-1pm, Low Plaza)
    • “Founded in 2008, BioBus works towards a future in which all people reach their full scientific potential. We cultivate this vision by creating accessible, immersive laboratory environments in which scientists join students for hands-on scientific exploration… BioBus programs open doors to science for minority, female, and low-income students in New York City, giving K – 12 students the chance to experience the excitement of discovery.”

Intended for more advanced students of the given subject (but still open to all interested students):

  • The Power of Small: Atomic Mutagenesis in a Post-Structural Era, Department of Biological Sciences Seminar by Chris Ahern (Monday, March 26, 12pm, 601 Fairchild)
    • “The Ahern laboratory has a long-standing interest in the pharmacology and function of the voltage-gated ion channels that support electrical signaling in muscle and nerve cells… Our use of genetic code expansion and the design, synthesis and encoding of unnatural amino acids to rescue ion channel genes harboring nonsense (stop) codons, has yielded several interesting recent discoveries.”
  • Data Science Day at Columbia University (Wednesday, March 28, 9am-5pm, Roone Arledge Auditorium at Lerner Hall, $20 registration for Columbia students)
    • “Join us for demos and lightning talks by Columbia researchers presenting their latest work in data science. The event provides a forum for innovators in academia, industry and government to connect.” Features speech by Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene

Bar graph via Public Domain Pictures