ARDMORE, Okla. — In this age of technology, science is a part of everything around us. Advances in science have safeguarded our foods, improved auto performance, made our houses more comfortable whatever the season, and increased our work productivity. They have provided amazing glimpses of the tiniest elements of our planet, as well as entire galaxies light years away.

Yet, most people feel inadequate when it comes to understanding even the most basic concepts of science.

That's why The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., in Ardmore, Okla., has started the Public Lectures in Science series — to present news to the public about the fascinating work going on in the science world in plain, easy-to-understand language.

"Science has become an increasingly important part of our everyday lives, probably more than most of us realize," said Michael A. Cawley, president of the Noble Foundation. "However, few of us feel that we understand what is happening in the world of science. This lecture series was created to introduce even those of us with virtually no background in science to the interesting things taking place at the Foundation and elsewhere."

Dr. Marilyn Roossinck, a principal investigator at the Noble Foundation, launches the series with her presentation, "The Secret Life of Viruses," at the Foundation's Kruse Auditorium on Dec. 12.

It is fitting that Roossinck starts the series. Public Lectures in Science was her brainchild, stemming from the positive response by the community to an earlier Foundation-sponsored speaker in the Profiles and Perspectives program, researcher Mark Plotkin. Plotkin looks for medicines and cures among primitive rainforest tribes.

The science lecture series fulfills one of Roossinck's favorite crusades — communicating science to the public.

"I want to dispel the ivory tower image of science," said Roossinck. "Science should be exciting and fun for people other than scientists. I'd like to give people a glimpse into what is happening in science in a way that is non-threatening and easy to understand. Science is fun for me because I'm driven by curiosity. I want to know how things work."

Other lectures in the series in 2003 are by Dr. Elison Blancaflor, "Modern Microscopes and the Marvels of Plant Motion," on Feb. 27, and Dr. David Meinke, "Arabidopsis: A Minor Mustard in the Major Leagues," on May 5.

All lectures are at 7 p.m. in the Kruse Auditorium at the Noble Foundation at no charge to the public, and will be followed by a reception. Parking is free at the facility.

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Photos: (tiff format)
Dr. Marilyn Roossinck
Dr. David Meinke
Dr. Elison Blancaflor

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release