Explorations in Science kicks off season with swine flu talk

NEWS RELEASE
Issued - November 19, 2009

ARDMORE, Okla. — The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation's scientific speaker series, Explorations in Science, will launch its 2009-2010 season with a practical discussion of the H1N1 "swine flu" virus.

Noble Foundation virologist and Explorations in Science series organizer Professor Marilyn Roossinck will present Pigs and People: Influenza from 1918 to 2009. Roossinck's presentation will detail how flu viruses are spread from animals to humans and provide insight into the current flu outbreak by examining the significant flu epidemics of the last 90 years.

"The H1N1 'swine flu' virus has grabbed countless headlines around the world in the past year," Roossinck said. "With so many stories, it is difficult to differentiate between fact and fiction. I hope to provide a clearer explanation of how flu viruses develop and how this particular strain compares to the other strains that have impacted humanity in the last century."

Roossinck's presentation, which will take place at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Ardmore Convention Center, is offered at no cost, courtesy of the Noble Foundation. A reception will follow the event.

After the holiday break, Explorations in Science will present Prosthetic Robotics with Colonel Geoffrey Ling, M.D., Ph.D., with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Ling's research interests focus on brain and spinal cord injuries with application for soldiers returning from combat.

Ling leads the Human-Assisted Neural Devices (HAND) Program that studies the processes that the brain uses to perform tasks. The HAND Program provides the basis for integrated robotic devices that restore functional use of injured or absent limbs. More than just prosthetics, Ling's devices let the users control their artificial limbs with excellent precision. Ling's presentation will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, at the Ardmore Convention Center.

The Explorations series will wrap up its season with Fabulous Fungi: Not Just Rottin' on Thursday, April 8, 2010. As a mycologist, Noble Foundation Assistant Professor Carolyn Young studies the fascinating world of fungi. Young's lively presentation, which will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 8, 2010, at the Ardmore Convention Center, will detail how fungi play a beneficial role in our lives with some hands-on demonstrations.

"Each of the presentations this season will offer an informative but fun look at science and how it shapes our lives," Roossinck said. "These three presentations each offer something unique. From replacing fear with information about swine flu or seeing how robotic arms can change an amputee's life or how fungus play a significant role in nature, audiences will be both entertained and educated and that's the mission of Explorations in Science."

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For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact:

J. Adam Calaway

jacalaway@noble.org

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.