September 14, 2012
"A Few of My Favorite Rings: Catalysis Inspired by Cyclic Structures"
Dr. Vy Dong, University of California in Irvine
from 10:30am-12pm in SM313

Speaker Info: Dr. Vy Dong, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Vy Dong graduated magna cum laude from UCI where she majored in chemistry and completed an honor's project with Larry Overman. After graduation, she joined David MacMillan's group at UC Berkeley, and then moved with his group to Caltech to complete her doctoral studies.

The Dong Research Group at UC Irvine focuses on the invention of new tools for organic synthesis, including new reagents, catalysts, and strategies. Their approach to the diverse challenges they face share a common theme - to harness the power of transition metal catalysts and transform simple reagents into valuable products.

Lecture dedicated to Dr. James Wright, SOCCCD Board of Trustees member. Dr. Wright will be honored for his commitment to the Mathematics, Science, & Engineering Division at Saddleback College. He served as Dean of the division for 14 years, prior to which he was a Professor in the Chemistry Department.

October 19, 2012
"The Bicycle, Solar Cars, & Human Powered Aircraft: What a Way to Travel!"
Dr. Chester Kyle, California State University Long Beach
from 10:30am-12pm in SM313

Speaker info: Dr. Chester Kyle was an adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cal State Long Beach. He has both a M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering from UCLA. In 1974, he designed and built the first streamlined bicycle in the USA, which is now in the Davis Bicycle Museum. He was cofounder of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association in 1976. Kyle led bicycle design for the USA in the 1984 and 1996 Olympics. He has been a researcher and consultant on sports aerodynamics to companies such as Nike, Specialized and Bell. He has published over 100 popular and scientific articles on sport and was an editor for Cycling Science and Bicycling Magazine. Kyle designed the wheels, tires and brakes of the GM Solar Car, the Sunraycer, winner of the first World Solar Challenge and was a consultant on Paul MacCready’s human powered aircraft, the Gossamer Condor, winner of the Kremer Prize.

Lecture Abstract:
Chester (Chet) Kyle will speak about the bicycle, solar cars, and human powered aircrafts as a means of travel. The bicycle is a remarkably sophisticated machine, and yet it is relatively inexpensive, simple to work on and can be the basis for some fascinating yet surprisingly economic research. This lecture describes technical details of some of the cycling and sports related projects Chester Kyle has participated in since 1972.

Among the projects were: The development of high speed pedal powered bicycles that have exceeded 80mph on the level with no wind on 600 watts of human power. The design of aerodynamic time trial bicycles for hte 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The development of aerodynamic "Swift" suits for Nike which were used by Olympic gold medalists in running and speed skaiting and by the winner of the Tour de France. In these sports, wind tunnel testing has been a key element in improving equipment and atheltic performance.

November 2, 2012
"Dialysis Technology: Today, Tomorrow and ?"
Susan K. Hansen, MBA/CNN/CHT/CA BRN, C-tech Biomedical Inc. & AWAK Technology Inc.
from 10:30am-12pm in SM313

Speaker info: Susan Hansen is the Vice President of Clinical Affairs for C-Tech Biomedical located in Anaheim, California. Susan has more than 40 years of experience in nephrology, which she uses in all aspects of dialysis - cllinical, technical, academic, and business - to support unique technologies in the treatment of patients with renal failure.

Lecture Abstract: An education in chemistry is a key that can open many different doors to the future. One of those doors leads to the world of artificial organs. Fifty years ago, kidney failure was a death sentence; today it is a portal to dialysis and transplantation – and an extension, often for many decades, of active life. As with any relatively new technology, there is room for improvement. This presentation will provide an overview of current dialysis technology and offer a glimpse of future possibilities: an evolving field, full of opportunity.

Lecture dedicated to Dr. Curt McLendon in honor of his commitment to the Division of Mathematics, Science, & Engineering at Saddleback College. Dr. McLendon was a Professor in the Chemistry Department at Saddleback College for more than 30 years.

February 1, 2013
"Modulating Mitochondrial Function"
Dr. Karah Street, Ph.D., Saddleback College
from 10:30-12pm in SM313

Speaker info: Dr. Karah Street completed her Ph.D. in Cellular and Structural Biology at the University of Texas, Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) in November 2000. Dr. Street also received post-doctoral training at University of California at Irvine under the guidance of Dr. Frank LaFerla. During this time, Karah studied familial Parkinson's Disease mutations in the alpha-synuclein gene and their role in calcium dyshomeostasis. While at UCI, she also pursued her love of teaching while enhancing her professional development, and pedagogical research. Her current research interests include understanding the effectiveness reading comprehension skills have in content specific courses. Dr. Street also enjoys volunteering her time to community outreach venues, such as OASIS, an active senior citizen continuing education program.

Lecture Abstract: Damage to mitochondrial DNA can impair energy production and could ultimately result in cellular and organismal dysfunction.  Indeed, the consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction are exemplified by human mitochondrial diseases, induced cellular death (apoptosis), and perhaps, normal aging.  Mitochondrial diseases typically manifest in tissues with high-energy requirements such as brain, heart, and skeletal muscle.  Because mitochondrial diseases typically affect neuromuscular tissues, establishing an appropriate cell type in vitro system to more directly test the role of oxidative DNA damage in aging is warranted. Experiments and cell lines were designed to more directly delineate the contribution oxidative damage in mitochondrial DNA has in aging.  Specifically, the working hypothesis is that mitochondrial DNA repair can be increased by targeting a DNA repair protein to the mitochondrial matrix.

Since the time these experiments were performed, the scientific community has revealed some insight in the roles the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes play in regulating the import of proteins into the mitochondrion.  The quest to modulate and manipulate mitochondrial function through proteomics and genomics for therapeutic benefit still exists.  Despite over 20 years of scientific inquiry into approaches to treat mitochondrial dysfunction, most of these approaches remain in their infancy.  Rationally, overcoming the obstacles for targeting mitochondria could lead to the selective protection of cells in different tissues/organs and provide a "molecular handle" in alleviating  mitochondrial dysfunction.

Lecture dedicated to Dr. Richard McCullough in honor of his commitment to the Division of Mathematics, Science, & Engineering at Saddleback College. Dr. McCullough served the college for more than 30 years as a Professor in the Biological Sciences Department, Dean of the MSE Division, and former Saddleback College President.

February 22, 2013
"Rattlesnakes: The Structure and Function of
a High-performance Muscle System"
Dr. Brad Moon, Ph.D., University of Louisiana
from 10:30am-12pm in SM313

Speaker info: Dr. Brad Moon is an Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Biology at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Dr. Moon has a Ph.D. in Biology from University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from University of Arizona. He has many notable publications in scientific journals such as Ecotoxicolgy, Journal of Morphology, Herpetological Review and Oecologia. In addition, Dr. Moon is the Editor-in-Chief for Herpetologica. He has been involved with public education programs for Animal Planet, BBC Discovery, National Geographic Society, and much more. His major research interests focus on the mechanisms and evolution of animal movement.

Lecture Abstract: Rattling by rattlesnakes is one of the fastest vertebrate movements and involves some of the highest contraction frequencies sustained by vertebrate muscle. Specifically, the shaker muscles in the tails of rattlesnakes can sustain contraction frequencies up to 100 Hz for minutes to hours. These features make shaker muscles an excellent system for studying the mechanisms that allow muscles to sustain intense exercise without fatiguing. In a series of projects done over several years, I studied the anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of shaker muscles in order to understand the mechanisms that allow the muscles to sustain high-frequency contractions for long periods. Although shaker muscles use energy at high rates overall, they have a low cost per contraction because of the complex movements they produce and the biomechanical tradeoffs they make. Shaker muscles minimize the cost per contraction by exerting low forces, doing little work, and shortening very little, but not by recycling elastic strain energy. In addition, changing physiological and biomechanical constraints allow the muscles to function as they change in size and mass dramatically with growth. Together, these features allow the muscles to sustain the fast contractions necessary for sound production and self-defense without fatiguing throughout life.

March 8, 2013
"Disordered Eating: The Hidden Epidemic
Among Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults "
Dr. Maryann Shafer, M.D., University of California, San Francisco
from 10:30am-12pm in SM313

Speaker Info:
Dr. Shafer is a pediatrician who specialized in adolescent and young adult medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.  She graduated from UC Davis and attended Yale School if Medicine. She began her residency at UC San Diego and completed it at UC San Francisco. Since that time, she has had an academic appointment in the Department of Pediatrics at UCSF and has served as Vice Chair of Professional Development.

Dr. Shafer is an educator, clinician, researcher and international leader in adolescent health, STDs, health policy and international health. Her expertise is in general adolescent medicine, sexually transmitted diseases, eating disorders, chronic pain syndromes, and complex medical and psychosocial adolescent problems. Her efforts internationally include working with a number of countries in establishing adolescent and young adult medicine programs including France, India, China and Japan. 
Dr. Shafer was elected president of the premier international professional organization, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine and has received a number of awards for her work including the prized Adele Hofmann Award for her longitudinal scholarly and clinical work in adolescent health as she has written and presented widely through public, media, scholarly and clinical venues.

Lecture Abstract:
Disordered eating is an unrecognized and common nutritional challenge for adolescents, young adults and their families. Disordered eating presents as a pattern of behaviors that reflect distorted attitudes and perceptions about health and eating, diet and weight control, body image and self-esteem and exercise. It may lead to or be a precursor to actual eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.  Many young people and their families perceive that their eating and exercise regimes are part of a healthy lifestyle but they may have “crossed the line” actually into an unhealthy range unintentionally. In addition there is much pressure from peers, the media and sports, dance and other body esthetic programs which present a one-sided approach or body type as “perfection”.  Often to achieve this body type, it is necessary to engage in unhealthy behaviors with nutritional restriction, use of unnecessary and sometimes harmful   “supplements” and unhealthy exercise regimes. This presentation will assist the participants in recognizing what is normal and what may be harmful to one’s health and to discuss how to avoid unhealthy lifestyle choices and to embrace the exhilaration of appropriate exercise, participation in sport activities and joy of sharing food with self, friends and family. 

March 29, 2013
"Future Power "
Dr. AJ Shaka, Ph.D., University of California in Irvine
from 10:30am-12pm in SM313

Speaker Info: Dr. AJ Shaka is a Professor of Chemistry in the School of Physical Sciences at UC Irvine. His main research interest is in improving NMR techniques and applying them to high field solution experiments from small molecules to very large proteins. We collaborate with structural biologists, organic chemists, crystallographers, and theorists in the search for improved methods to identify and characterize molecular structure and dynamics in solution.

Lecture Abstract:
The term “nuclear waste” excites fear and revulsion among many residents of the United States.  However, it is fossil fuel waste, in the form of CO2 being pumped into our atmosphere, which will be the bigger worry.  Experts point to shifting weather patterns, drought, floods, stronger storms, and stifling summer heat and ocean acidification in the future:  these changes will be expensive to mitigate, and will make us all poorer.  In addition, civilization relies on a steady, reliable supply of electric power for almost every aspect of modern life.  We cannot rely on intermittent forms of power like solar or wind at the current time, nor can we drill up and burn even the known reserves of coal, oil and gas without dire consequences.  We need nuclear power, for many reasons that I will make clear in this lecture, and we need to learn to fear the right things like disease, war, and famine rather than nuclear power plants.  Future power will be ultra-safe, clean, quiet, and almost invisible.  I will show you the exciting prospects for those with training in science to really make a difference in the future.