Until further notice, all presentations and meetings are via Zoom Teleconferencing.

UPCOMING MONDAY:

6/21/2021 --- "The Cosmological Imperative"

Speaker: Sherwood Waggy --- Sherwood Waggy’s interest in astronomy began in middle school when he read through the entire shelf of astronomy books at the Goshen Library. Throughout his career as a software development professional, he has continued to observe celestial objects and share his avocation with others. Since 1987 he has been a member of a dozen astronomical clubs and national astronomy societies. (Email: sherwoodwaggy@optonline.net) (Sponsored By: Alison Brown)

There are very few cosmological imperatives. Examples include “stars and galaxies have been around for a very long while”, or “physical laws cannot change just any old time” (can they ever actually change at all?), or “the sky has to be dark”. Wait – the sky is dark? Why is the sky dark, and why is that darkness a cosmological imperative rather than a postulate? This is a presentation about Olber’s Paradox: what it is, and the different approaches that have been taken to resolve it.”

6/28/2021 --- Overdose Lifeline

Speaker: Kourtnaye Sturgeon --- Kourtnaye Sturgeon is director of Education for Overdose LifeLine. She will be joined by Justin Phillips, the executive director and founder of the organization. (Email: kourtnaye@overdoselifeline.org) (Sponsored By: Marvin Miller)

Substance use disorder, often referred to as ddictions are chronic diseases of the brain. Unfortunately, individuals suffering from these diseases often go untreated for years. Scientific and medical communities do not support these disorders with enough research or clinical care resources afforded other chronic diseases. Current ways to treat and prevent these disorders are discussed.

7/6/2021 --- Board Meeting

7/12/2021 --- Sports Neurology

Speaker: Bert Vargas, M.D. --- Dr. Vargas is a neurologist, specializing in headache and sports neurology. He joined Eli Lilly in 2020, having previously been at the University Of Texas Southwestern and the Mayo Clinic. (Email: bertvargasmd@gmail.com) (Sponsored By: Dr. Alan D. Schmidt)

Dr. Vargas has been a neurotrauma consultant for the NFL and a member of the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee. He was the head of the NASCAR neurotrauma program.

7/19/2021 --- Contagion:Plagues,Pandemics and Cures

Speaker: Richard Gunderman MD --- Professor Indiana University School of Medicine (Email: rbgunder@OI.edu) (Sponsored By: Jerry Kurlander )

Contagion: Plagues, Pandemics and Cures from the Black Death to Covid 19.The Microorganisms that Cause Infectious Disease -- discusses the discovery of infectious microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria and the individuals who made these discoveries, including the use of techniques such as light and electron microscopy.

7/26/2021 --- Freaks & Strange Things: Irvington Architecture

Speaker: Paul C. Diebold --- BFA in Art History - Herron Art MS Ball State - Historic Preservation - 1988 President Irvington Historical Society IN Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (Email: PDiebold@dnr.IN.gov) (Sponsored By: William H. Dick)

Paul Diebold will give a background to Irvington, a Historic District on the East Side of Indy. He will further discuss its Architecture dating back over 100 years.

8/2/2021 --- We Have All the Charts and Graphs: The Science of Harm Reduction

Speaker: Chris Abert --- Executive Director, Indiana Recovery Alliance (Email: chrisabert@gmail.com) (Sponsored By: Joyce Mallette)

Overview of the 40 years of peer reviewed research on the efficacy Harm Reduction as an effective response to the Methamphetamine/Opioid Crisis

8/3/2021 --- Board Meeting

8/9/2021 --- CRISPR-Cas9 Technology, Gene Editing for the Future

Speaker: Levi Beverly --- B.S. University of Cincinnati PhD University of Cincinnati-Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, & Microbiology (Email: levi.beverly@louisville.edu) (Sponsored By: M. P. Meisenheimer)

Jennifer Doudna & Emmanuelle Charpentier received the Noble Prize in Chemistry for their discovery of this process. This talk will discuss the process and applications of gene editing to disorders such as cancer and genetic diseases.

8/16/2021 --- Old Drugs, New Issues: Cannabis and OWI in the Recreational Age-

Speaker: Michele Glinn PhD F-ABFT --- Michele Glinn has a BA degree in Anthropology & a PhD in Biochemistry from Wayne State University. She was visiting scientist and postdoc at Eli Lilly then joined the Indiana State Dept of Toxicology as Assistant Director. She has served as program director for Michigan State Police laboratory toxicology program, where she also provided scientific support for the breath alcohol program. She has worked as Laboratory Director and program coordinator for several public and private toxicology and drug testing programs. Dr. Glinn is a Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board Consensus Body for Toxicology, and has served as VP, and President of the Midwestern Association for Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. (Email: michele.glinn@gmail.com) (Sponsored By: Karen Bumb/Sarah Halter)

This presentation explains the effects of cannabis on the human body and on cognitive function. A little chemistry, physiology and law review provides a better understanding of the history of cannabis and its use in the US. How does cannabis impair driving? What type of scientific evidence is available? Prosecuting for driving under the influence of cannabis has changed as the law has changed and concludes with discussion of a typical cannabis-OWI case.

8/23/2021 --- The 21st Century: the Golden Age of Health Quackery?

Speaker: Hunter Heath, MD --- Physician, MD Washington University (St. Louis); former professor of medicine and researcher at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and University of Utah School of Medicine; retired Executive Director of US Medical Division, Eli Lilly and Company. Currently adjunct professor, department of medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. (Email: calciophile@gmail.com) (Sponsored By: self)

Medical quackery through most of history represented only deviance from the most widely accepted practices, with the pecuniary interests of the mainstream doctors at stake. With the emergence of scientific medicine, the distinction between quackery and rational, proven medical practices became clearer. However, the digital revolution and public gullibility have made today the Golden Age of Quackery. There are ways to sort out fact from fantasy and protect oneself from being misled.

8/30/2021 --- (TBA)

9/7/2021 --- Board Meeting

9/13/2021 --- The Three-Legged Stool of Research, Education and Advocacy

Speaker: Paula Grisanti --- Paula Grisanti, D.M.D., MBA, is CEO of the National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF). Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, NSCF funds adult stem cell and regenerative medicine research, connects children of limited means to clinical trials for rare diseases, and underwrites the National STEM Scholar Program for middle school science teachers inspiring the next generation of STEM pioneers nationwide. She is currently an officer of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) Kentucky Chapter, a member of the Executive Women’s Advisory Board to the School of Business at the University of Louisville and a member of the Jewish Family and Career Services Advisory Committee. She has served on the Louisville Metro Board of Health as an appointee of Mayor Greg Fischer since 2019 and serves as a mentor for Women In Advanced Therapies, an initiative of global biomedical organization Phacilitate. (Email: paula@nationalstemcellfoundation.org) (Sponsored By: Doug Gettelfinger)

An overview of NSCF's research collaborations and partnerships, including a first-in-man study of neurodegeneration on the International Space Station; the large and growing gap between available STEM jobs and the U.S. STEM-educated graduates who can fill them; why providing access to clinical trials for children of limited means accelerates discovery - and how all of them are connected.

9/20/2021 --- (TBA)

9/27/2021 --- (TBA)

10/4/2021 --- (TBA)

10/5/2021 --- Board Meeting

10/11/2021 --- (TBA)

10/18/2021 --- (TBA)

10/23/2021 --- ANNUAL DINNER (at Woodlland Country Club), Speaker: Tom Lauer

10/25/2021 --- IF IT WEREN’T FOR OPERA… I would not know a thing about AKHNATEN!

Speaker: Ray Busmann --- Ray Busmann was born and raised in Germany, where he hosted classical music radio shows. Since his move to Southern California in 1992, Ray has worked as a teacher for vocational schools, and as a German translator and voice-over artist for feature films. Presently, he is employed by the Los Angeles Public Library and is enjoying his ninth season as a volunteer Community Educator for LA Opera. (Email: raybusmann@gmail.com) (Sponsored By: Alison Brown)

Hear the story of this revolutionary young pharaoh, whose incredible contributions to history and the arts were erased from the world’s memory for 3,000 years. Rediscovered in all his glory and mystery only 100 years ago, Akhnaten is the title character of Philip Glass’ mesmerizing 1984 opera.

11/1/2021 --- (TBA)

11/2/2021 --- Board Meeting

11/8/2021 --- (TBA)

11/15/2021 --- (TBA)

11/22/2021 --- (TBA)

11/29/2021 --- (TBA)

12/6/2021 --- (TBA)

12/7/2021 --- Board Meeting

12/13/2021 --- (TBA)

12/20/2021 --- (TBA)