Science Evenings With IDEAS

Fall 2012 Schedule:

All events are free, open to the public . Note time and location of each event.

Thursday, October 4, 2012
Regenerating Spines and Joints:
Research on Cell and Biological Repair Systems

Muscle and skeletal injury is a leading cause of pain and disability. Dr. Nadeen Chahine will review and describe recent developments in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering for the repair of cartilaginous and ligament injury in the spine and other joints, including her own research. Much emphasis in the field is focused on development of 'biological implants' where combinations of cells, biomaterial scaffolds and growth factors are optimized for implantation. The development of successful materials for implantation could reduce pain for millions of people.

Dr. Nadeen Chahine
Director, Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Laboratory,
Assistant Investigator, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-LIJ Health System
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine

Location: The Helene Fortunoff Theater
(Monroe Lecture Center, California Avenue, South Campus)
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Learn more about Dr. Chahine and her research, visit:

Photo: Charles Merguerian

Thursday, November 1, 2012
Deep Science of Subterranean New York City

Using his 30 years of active consultation on subsurface geotechnical projects in New York City, Dr. Merguerian will take you to a depth of 800 feet below the hustle and bustle and the towering heights of New York City construction. In this “quiet environment” we explore the NYC tunnels and the 1,100 million years of geological history exposed within them, made possible by mechanized moles (tunnel boring machines), mechanized excavators and traditional drill and blast technology. Join Dr. Merguerian for this dynamic lecture and learn first-hand just how tunnels are planned and constructed for public benefit in the hard crystalline rocks of New York City and share in the unique “deep science” discoveries made during his investigations in the subterranean world of our metropolis.

Dr. Charles Merguerian
Professor, Department of Geology
Hofstra University

Location: The Helene Fortunoff Theater
(Monroe Lecture Center, California Avenue, South Campus)
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.

To learn more about Dr. Merguerian and his research, visit:

Thursday, December 6, 2012
Caught in the Same Net: The Ocean and Us

Fisheries, coral reefs, forests, climate change, poverty, literacy for girls, and peace—these are all facets of the same issue. Drawing on two acclaimed books published in the last few months—The View From Lazy Point and A Sea In Flames—scientist/author Dr. Carl Safina weaves a story that is both deeply personal and broadly global. Sharing travels that take us from his Long Island beach house to the high Arctic, Antarctica, and across the coastal tropics, he shows how the changes he has witnessed challenge not just nature but all of humankind. Safina will also discuss how science has ethical implications, how religion and science are converging toward common cause on environmental matters, and how moral responses can add momentum toward increasingly crucial solutions. Despite serious trends, there is a path forward.

Books, signed by the author, will be available for purchase.

Dr. Carl Safina
President, Blue Ocean Institute
Stony Brook University

Location: The Helene Fortunoff Theater
(Monroe Lecture Center, California Avenue, South Campus)
Time: 7:30 to 9 p.m.

To learn more about Dr. Safina and his research, visit:

Hofstra University