Houston Science Enthusiasts

ONLINE: "Seaside Chats is an annual speaker series about ocean science and conservation topics associated with Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary."

March 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (CT) - Are Damsels Causing Distress?: Identifying traits that make marine invasive species successful
Across the globe, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are being reshaped by non-native species that can alter food webs, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt ecosystem functions. Despite the accelerating pace of invasive species introductions, we know little about the traits and conditions that allow invaders to succeed in new habitats. This talk will explore how marine invasive species are introduced, establish, and spread, focusing on the Regal Demoiselle fish, which has recently spread to Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. (Photos courtesy of Dr. John Majoris)

Presented by Dr. John Majoris, Assistant Professor of Biology, Pennsylvania State University
Webinar Registration

Full Seaside Chats schedule: https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/education/seasidechats.html

HYBRID: The James A. Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University presents a program featuring Arati Prabhakar, former director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and science and technology advisor to President Joe Biden,

Description: "Artificial intelligence and the internet, cancer cures and vaccines, as well as clean water and clean energy all have one thing in common: They are the result of the American people’s bipartisan support for publicly funded research and development (R&D) over the past eight decades. Today, however, the country’s public research foundations that enable these major advances are facing substantial risk.

"Join Arati Prabhakar for a candid conversation about the U.S.’ federally funded R&D that has been internationally recognized and respected, its currently vulnerable state, and the steps needed to build a fortified American research enterprise for the future.

"The lecture is part of the Baker Institute Civic Scientist Lecture Series, sponsored by Virginia Clark with additional support from Benjamin and Winifer Cheng, Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Wiess School of Natural Sciences. Lunch will be provided.

This event is free, but registration is required. Click below to attend in person. You may also register to attend virtually.

Event page and registration: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/event/future-us-science-and-technology-arati-prabhakar

NOTE: RSVP'ing on this Meetup page DOES NOT mean you are registered for the event itself.

Campus parking: https://parking.rice.edu/parking-facilities-and-rates

To sign up for the Baker Institute newsletter, including upcoming events, go here: https://bakerinstitute.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a8b4052d865ef65a2030dbb9d&id=130c6f9ea3

HYBRID: The Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society will hold a meeting featuring a presentation by Jessica A. Gaston, Ph.D. of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center titled "Unveiling the Hidden Universe and the Future of Discovery."

Per Wikipedia: "Jessica Gaskin is an American astrophysicist at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, where she leads the X-ray Astronomy Group X-Ray Astronomy at Marshall Space Flight Center. She was the lead author on the conceptual study of the Lynx X-ray Observatory, a Large Mission Concept Study space-based X-ray telescope submitted to the Decadal Survey for prioritization."

NASA bio: https://www.nasa.gov/people/dr-jessica-gaskin-nesc-academy-biography/

The meeting at will be held at the University of Houston-Clear Lake STEM Building, Room 1203 starting at 7:30 p.m.. People should arrive between 7 and 7:15 p.m. Attendees should park in Parking Lots D3 or D4 no earlier than 7 p.m.

Please see the UHCL Map here -- Please park in lots D3 and D4. The STEM building is building #5 on the map. Come in from the east side and go left. When you come to the end of hallway, you should find the auditorium where the meeting will be.

The meeting can be accessed by going to the JSCAS YouTube Channel at the link: https://www.youtube.com/c/JSCAstronomicalSociety

Also, the JSCAS YouTube Channel link will be posted on the JSCAS web page: http://www.jscas.net

To submit questions for our presenters during the meeting, please either enter your questions as a YouTube comment (if you have an account that will allow doing so) or send your questions to: jscaslive@gmail.com

JSCAS is open to anyone who wants to learn about astronomy and membership is free. After joining, you’ll have access to our amazing Astronomy DVD Library with 100’s of choices to learn from (from Astronomy Magazine, NASA, The Great Courses, Discovery Channel, etc.).

Top image: C. Henze/NASA Ames Research Center

Some game suggestions and how to play: Codenames, Taboo, Decrypto, Ransome notes, Just One, Bananagrams.

We will meet at the Cafe Express close to CityCenter. There is parking in the nearby lot. Look for the table with the rectangular black bag.

Come by, meet new people, and spend the evening playing games!