Seminar – Biomaterials: From blood compatibility to stem cell expansion
Speaker Daniel Heath, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne Abstract Biomaterials are critical toward the development of successful biomedical devices, tissue engineering scaffolds, and organ on a chip models. In this talk, we will discuss the design, fabrication, and utilization of biomaterials for two specific applications: blood contacting biomedical devices and substrates for …
Seminar – Worldwide Migrations, Evolutionary Relatednessand resurgence of Phytophthora infestans and other Emerging Plant Diseases
Speaker Jean Beagle Ristaino, Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University Abstract Emerging plant diseases threaten many foods crops including those we eat for breakfast such as coffee, oranges, banana and potatoes. Plant pathogens cause global losses estimated to be as high as $33 billion per year. The risk of introduction of pathogens …
Seminar – The ecology of fear: are we progressing towards predicting patterns in nature
Speaker Dr. David Kimbro, Associate Professor, Northeastern University, USA Abstract A significant amount of research has evaluated how predators can cause changes in prey traits (“fear” effects) that have substantial impacts on the prey, other species, and even ecosystem properties. In this talk, I will share how my laboratory has evaluated fear effects to demonstrate …
Seminar – Incidence and pathogenicity of plant-parasitic nematodes on coffee in Australia and the potential of organic amendments as a management tactic
Speaker Khoa Le, PhD Candidate, SOLES, University of Sydney Abstract Coffee is the world’s most traded commodity and a source of employment for millions of people, but one of the many challenges facing those who grow coffee is to minimise the yield losses caused by plant-parasitic nematodes. Numerous nematode pests are associated with coffee worldwide …
Seminar – Ecological consequences of plant genetic diversity
Speaker Associate Professor Randall Hughes, Northeastern University College of Science Abstract Evidence for the interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes is increasing, along with recognition of their potential importance for management and conservation. For example, trait divergence and genetic variation in key consumer and plant species can have far-reaching impacts on community and ecosystem …