We’re back for another round of Nerd Nite Kyushu. This time we have a theme again: To Live. Join us on June 30 (Sun) from 18:00 at B.R.E.W. for another night of nerdy talks and nerdy people!
Where
B.R.E.W. (Two minutes from Ohori Park station)
Entry fee: ￥1000 (comes with a drink ticket)
入場料: ￥1000 (ドリンクチケット付き)
Speakers
What is space weather and why do we care about it?
by Huixin Liu
Summary
Not heard about space weather? But saw the recent worldwide aurora in May? If so, you already know a space weather event. Aurora is a visible form of space weather. Though beautiful, however, aurora actually signals disturbances rather than peace in the space environment. These disturbances are called “space weather”. What causes space weather? How does it affect us? Can we forecast it, like weather forecast? What are challenges? You’ll be able to answer these questions after this talk.
Bio
Huixin Liu is a Professor at Kyushu University’s Faculty of Sciences in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Her research fields include Space Physics and Space Weather. Prof. Liu originally studied electric engineering at Wuhan University, China followed by a PhD at Space Physics in Max-Planck- Institute for Solar physics in Germany. She has been awarded the Shiseido award for outstanding female scientist, the Nishida Award from the Japan Geophysical Union, and the Tanakadate Medal, among others. Her hobbies include running and Taichi.
Ecology of pill bugs and effects of short-term memory
ダンゴムシの生態と短期記憶が彼らに与える影響とは
by Mako Shimizu
The presentation will be in Japanese
Summary
皆さんは、昔道端で見たダンゴムシと遊んだことはありますか？ダンゴムシは驚くほどたくましい生き物で、さまざまな生息地や環境条件でも生き延びることができます。彼らは世界中の海や陸地に生息しており、1000種以上が存在します。 そのため、さまざまな研究のテーマとして使われてきました。 例えば、ダンゴムシには短期記憶があるのをご存知ですか？ また、短期記憶のレベルはダンゴムシの種類によって異なるのです。さあ、今日はダンゴムシの驚くべき世界へ飛び込みましょう！
What can pill bugs tell us about memory and survival? Pill bugs are astoundingly resilient creatures, able to survive various habitats and environmental conditions. There are more than 1000 species within the pill bug family worldwide, both marine and terrestrial. So naturally, they are subjects of various research studies. For example, did you know pill bugs have short-term memory? And the level of short-term memory differs among different species of pill bugs? Let’s roll into the amazing world of pill bugs today!
Bio
My name is Mako Shimizu, a rising junior at the College of Wooster, majoring in neurobiology and minoring in chemistry. Originally from Hiroshima, I am currently interning at the Imai Lab at Kyushu University in Fukuoka. My early passion for science led me to attend a science academy from ages 7 to 17, where I conducted experiments with various organisms. I also studied abroad in Belgium for seven months in my high school years. My research interests focus on the interactions between the brain and other organs, as well as the relationships between memory and fear, and between the brain and scoliosis.
Instagram: mako_bfr.34
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mako-shimizu-756445263
Arctic Today: Climate Change, Largescale Natural Resource Development, and Indigenous Peoples
by Hiroko Ikuta, Ph.D.
Summary
The Arctic is on the front-line of climate change. In rural Alaska, people depend on subsistence hunting and fishing in order to acquire their daily food. On the other hand, Alaska is part of America’s capitalist system and the global economy, with 80% of the state’s revenue coming from oil and gas. This talk will introduce how the federal and state governments along with the Indigenous Peoples face ongoing climate change, wildlife management, and sustainable development in Alaska, all the while protecting their traditional ways of life.
Bio
I am a social anthropologist. I’m originally from Kamakura in Japan. After getting a B.A. and M.A. at University of Alaska Fairbanks in the U.S., I received a Ph.D. at University of Aberdeen in UK. I worked for the Institute of Arctic Studies at Dartmouth College, then moved back to Alaska. During my tenure at the Subsistence Division of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, I worked on regulatory issues and led research projects regarding the impacts of large-scale natural resource developments on wildlife and subsistence ways of life among Indigenous Peoples. I lived in Alaska for 18 years.