Thursday, Feb 13, 2025 at 9:25am
2025 Darwin Festival
Salem State's annual Darwin Festival is a weeklong event that celebrates the work of Charles Darwin, with sessions from leading researchers celebrating the field of biology and its impact on today's world.
All in-person talks will be held in Vets Hall, Ellison Campus Center, North Campus. A number of the talks are webinar only. Events are free and open to the public.
Students and guests who anticipate needing accommodations due to a disability or who have questions about access may contact the Center for Accessible Academic Resources at [email protected] or Ryan Fisher for more information.
Schedule:
9:25 am: Stephanie Poindexter, Department of Anthropology, University at Buffalo (Zoom Webinar)
"Surviving the Night: Lessons from Nocturnal Primates”
Surviving the night requires unique adaptations, but what can nocturnal primates teach us about evolution? I delve into this question by highlighting the difference between the day and night and the strategies nocturnal primates use to navigate their environment. Through their survival strategies, we can uncover elements of our own evolutionary history.
Sponsored by the Salem State University Biology Department and the Charles Albert Read Trust
10:50 am: Cara Pina, Biology Department, Framingham State University
“Survival under pressure: Stress Responses in Bacteria and the Academic Journey of Students of Color.”
A variety of stressors threaten bacterial survival triggering intricate defense mechanisms that enable adaptation and persistence in hostile environments. Similarly, students with identities that have been minoritized or marginalized in STEM often face unique pressures, such as systemic inequities, cultural isolation, and resource disparities, which require significant resilience to overcome. This talk discusses examples of research and how they can promote student resilience while highlighting the importance of support systems, adaptability, and advocacy for students with the hopes of inspiring systemic changes that promote equity and inclusion in STEM fields.
Sponsored by the Salem State University Biology Department and the Charles Albert Read Trust
1:40 pm: Gavin Gleasman, Geological Sciences Department, Salem State University
“How Do Hurricanes and Wildfires Influence Earth’s Carbon and Water Cycles?”
Hurricanes and wildfires are notorious environmental disturbances that greatly influence local hydrological, biological, geological, and chemical mechanisms, commonly known as hydro-biogeochemical processes. Under steady-state conditions, the interconnected relationship between hydro-biogeochemical processes is routinely recognized. During hurricanes and wildfires, the routine relationships between hydro-biogeochemical processes become more complex. Empathetically, the visible alterations from hurricanes/wildfires are commonly recognized. However, in this presentation, we will discuss the invisible influence hurricanes/wildfires have on hydro-biogeochemical processes governing the carbon and water cycle.
Sponsored by the Salem State University Geological Sciences Department and the Charles Albert Read Trust
Alumni-Student Social
Please consider joining us for an alumni-student evening from 6:30-9 pm Thursday evening in the commuter lounge of the Ellison Campus Center. For questions and to RSVP, please contact Ryan Fisher.