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MATH & SCIENCE TOPICS

Amazonia: The Neotropical Rain Forest

Ecology of plants and wildlife of Amazonia's major ecosystems will be addressed.

Leo Welch, Retired Faculty
Target Audiences:  HS, AG

MON/RAND

Amphibians and Reptiles of Southwestern Illinois

This informative presentation will introduce your group to the frogs, toads, salamanders, lizards, snakes and turtles that are native to southwestern Illinois.  PowerPoint slides of amphibians and reptiles from the area will be presented.

Bob Weck, Faculty, Biology

Target Audiences:  GS, HS, AG

MON/RAND

Botswana: Africa's Last Eden

Ecology of plants and wildlife of Botswana's major ecosystems will be addressed.

Leo Welch, Retired Faculty
Target Audiences:  HS, AG

MON/RAND

Brown Pelican Restoration in Louisiana

A decades long story about the ecological mystery behind the disappearance of brown pelicans in Louisiana, their restoration, and their subsequent decline again due to habitat loss.

Kyle Donaldson, Assistant Professor

Target Audiences:  HS, AG

Costa Rica: A Biological Crossroad

This session features an in-depth look at Costa Rica's biological life and environment.

Leo Welch, Retired Faculty
Target Audiences:  HS, AG

MON/RAND

Darwin's Islands: The Galapagos

Ecology of plants and wildlife of the Galapagos Islands' major ecosystems will be addressed.

Leo Welch, Retired Faculty
Target Audiences:  HS, AG

MON/RAND

Hurricanes, New Orleans and Katrina

Hurricane formation, mechanics in gulf, mechanics in New Orleans scenario, importance of defending New Orleans for ports and energy, “Venice” scenario.  This presentation would be well-suited as a follow-up to the Wetlands Loss and Preservation in Louisiana presentation.

Kyle Donaldson, Assistant Professor

Target Audiences:  HS, AG

Mona Island: The Galapagos of the Caribbean

This session provides an overview of Mona Island: environment, habitat and a character similar to Galapagos.

Leo Welch, Retired Faculty
Target Audiences:  HS, AG

MON/RAND

Natural History of Stemler Cave

This is an introduction to the biology, geology and history of Stemler Cave Nature Preserve.  Stemler Cave is one of the most interesting natural features in St. Clair County and is home to rare and threatened species.  Power Point slides of organisms and cave features will be presented.

Bob Weck, Faculty, Biology

Target Audiences:  GS (6-8th), HS, AG

MON/RAND

Space Travel

How is space flight different than flying in an airplane?  Discover the challenges astronauts face once they blast off. (Can be combined with The Solar System.)

Tami Hughes, Assistant Professor

Target Audiences:  GS

MON/RAND

The Fano Plane Meets the Octonions

This two session presentation teaches advanced 5th graders how to multiply eight-component numbers together using system mod 7 (the basis of string theory).  Presentation can be given in one day (morning and afternoon) or on two days, such as Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Chris Niemann, Retired Faculty

Target Audiences:  GS (5-8th), HS

The Maya:  People of the Corn

This is a presentation on the Maya of MesoAmerica.  It includes Maya ruins found in Guatamala, Belize, and the Mexican states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas.  The culture, contemporary and historical, and ecology of this civilization will be considered.

Leo Welch, Retired Faculty

Target Audiences:  HS, AG

MON/RAND

The Shrinking Aral Sea: Development and Disaster in Central Asia

This visual presentation examines the causes, consequences, and catch-22s of one of the world's worst environmental disasters. Designed to illustrate the importance of understanding interaction between physical and human geographies.

Jeff Arnold, Faculty
Target Audiences:  HS, AG

The Solar System

Explore characterisitics of the planets in our solar system and find out about the figure from mythology associated with each planet. (Can be combined with Space Travel.)

Tami Hughes, Assistant Professor

Target Audiences:  GS

MON/RAND

The Teaching of Evolution-Creationism: The Legal Landscape

This discussion will focus on issues significan to court cases involving attempts to teach creationism in public schools.

Leo Welch, Retired Faculty
Target Audiences:  HS, AG

MON/RAND

Wetlands Loss and Preservation in Louisiana

History of land loss problem, importance of wetlands to area and U.S., restoration efforts, radical proposals under consideration.

Kyle Donaldson, Assistant Professor

Target Audiences:   HS, AG

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