Welcome to the Cafe!

Deciphering the long-term history of global sea-level change

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:02:33 -0800

In order to predict future changes in global sea level and shoreline location, it is vital to constrain the range of past variability. One way to do this is to investigate the thick sediment accumulations beneath continental shelves and slopes. Continental margin sedimentary packages (sequences) and their bounding unconformities constitute long records of global sea-level change, created as the shoreline migrates back and forth across the continental shelf. Complicating this record are basin subsidence, changes in the rate of sediment supply and other local processes that can superimpose their signatures on the preserved stratigraphy. Scientific ocean drilling of globally coordinated transects of boreholes across continental margins provides the best way to distinguish these effects and extract the sea-level signal. Continuous coring provides information on sediment ages, depositional environment and paleowater depths during multiple sea-level cycles spanning millions of years.

Metering of water in a desert city: Green lawns to water wise landscape in Fresno

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:10:14 -0800

Fresno is one of the two cities in California that yet to have residential water meters. Of the total residential water use 70% is used for irrigating lawns. Fresno Audubon Community Water Wise Landscaping Program is a collaborative, volunteer-driven, residential landscape transformation process. Goal of this project is to build a dynamic and active coalition of local government, housing developers, homeowners, community organizations, educational institutions, and environmental groups helping to create a more sustainable environment. Through this program, we will help homeowners install water conserving native plants in their yards, providing enhanced biodiversity and new habitat for birds. This project is funded by National Audubon Society and Toyota through Together Green Project.

Copenhagen a conversation about physics and ethics

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 16:50:34 -0800

The New Ensemble, a local theater group committed to dynamic, forward-thinking productions of great plays in Fresno’s Tower District, are excited to bring Michael Frayn's Tony award-winning, internationally renowned play Copenhagen to the Broken Leg Stage in Fresnoʼs Tower District beginning November 11th. On November 7th, they will perform selected scenes from the play and engage in a conversation with physicist Ray Hall for a unique Café Scientifique experience.
“Michael Frayn’s tremendous play is a piece of history, an intellectual thriller, a psychological investigation, and an explosive examination of the role of science and progress in our world. It is a brilliant dramatization of a real but mysterious meeting that took place at the height of World War II in Nazi-occupied Denmark, between the Danish scientist Niels Bohr, and his former student and colleague, the German scientist Werner Heisenberg. Did Heisenberg set up the meeting in order to spy for the Nazis, or was he trying to assist the Allies by passing on information about Nazi progress towards building an atomic bomb? Was he there to steal or share? Audiences will be fascinated by the combination of science, ethics and human feeling of this smart piece.”
Join us for an evening of science, ethics, and theater.

What is Dementia, anyway?

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:36 -0700

Dramatic increases in public health have helped Americans live unprecedentedly long lives. However, even as we decrease deaths in many areas, bodies continue to age. Aging brains lose speed and precision, and frequently develop diseases that impair the very memory and thinking skills we use to define ourselves. Dementia affects 1 in 8 people 65 and older, and nearly half of all people 85 and older. Come learn about the causes, effects, and treatments of this complex set of highly prevalent diseases.

What do the sprinklers in my yard have to do with biodiversity?

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:40:45 -0700

With the City of Fresno installing water meters, there is some anxiety among Fresnans about the cost of water and what the future holds. Do we have to worry about how much we water our yards? Will we have to change our landscaping? How do we decide upon the best course of action? More broadly, what effects do our landscaping choices have on urban biodiversity?
The ULTRA-FACES (Urban Long-Term Research Area - Fresno And Clovis Ecosocial Study) project set out to address these questions before metering begins in earnest. Working with members of the community and city officials, we are uncovering some surprising connections between neighborhood wealth/poverty, homeowner choices about landscaping, and the diversity of plant and bird species occurring in our urban landscape. Dr. Katti will provide a quick overview of results from the study, and open the forum up for a general discussion about what the patterns mean for all of us. How do we engage with each other and with the city government to develop strategies that can transform our city towards a socially and ecologically richer, more biologically diverse, and sustainable long-term future?
Join us to share your thoughts!