Friday, August 19, 2016

Our 5th year of Science on Tap continues!

 

 A time to eat, drink & talk about science!

Excited to share the news


on Central is our new home 

Join us Thursday, September 1st at 5:30!

 


People, Behavior, Incentives and Water

Dr Janie Chermak

University of New Mexico

Department of Economics


Water is a unique.  In semi-arid climates, there is rarely enough, there can be severe shortages during times of drought and yet it is not uncommon to see expansive lawns, sprinklers on, or unlimited growth.  A better understanding of people’s perceptions about water and water availability, the incentives that drive their choices, and the dynamic interactions these factors have on water resources can inform policy and the use of a scarce resource.  This research focuses on the intersection of economics, human behavior and water resources.  The talk will focus on the development and results of a series of water and human response experiments and the incorporation of these results into dynamic water resource models.



Janie Chermak is a professor in the Department of Economics and former chair of the department. She is an applied micro economist who specializes in natural resource economics research.  She earned a MSc. and a PhD in Mineral Economics from the Colorado School of Mines and a BA in geology from Western State College.  Prior to earning her graduate degrees she was a practicing geologist focusing on uranium exploration and natural gas exploration and development.  Before joining the faculty at the University of New Mexico in 1995, she was a member of the faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School.  Since joining UNM her research has focused on various aspects of resource economics ranging from consumer issues in water, to common pool problems in invasive species, to efficient production of fossil fuels and the tradeoffs between energy/water futures.  Her work is interdisciplinary in nature and often incorporates aspects of the physical sciences within a dynamic optimization framework.  This results in work that advances the discipline, provides learning tools for students, and provides improved information for policymakers


Monday, June 20, 2016

Beginning our 5th year of Science on Tap!

 

 A time to eat, drink & talk about science!

Excited to share the news


on Central is our new home 

Join us Thursday, August 4th at 5:30!

 


What can we learn from dirt?  

Sediment as a rain gauge, thermometer, and history book.


Dirt is all around us but few of us stop to examine the story told by the soils and sediments we encounter on a daily basis. Through examination of soil profiles in southern Belize, recent research has determined the timing and intensity of deforestation through the last 10,000 years, the impact of ancient Maya cities on erosion, and the processes by which forests recovered following the decline of these cities. By utilizing stable isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating, and a variety of other techniques, the history of a landscape can be elucidated from the soils on which we live and farm.


Clayton Meredith is a PhD student at the University of New Mexico and a research assistant at the UNM Center for Stable Isotopes. His primary research interest is the application of analytical chemistry techniques to examine environmental management strategies employed by ancient peoples.


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

A time to eat, drink & talk about science!

Celebrating 4 Years of Science on Tap!


Join us 

Science on Tap Series
Thursday, May 5, 2016
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Yanni's
will be offering Happy Hour Appetizers during SoT!
 
3109 Central Avenue NE
(505) 268-9250


 Featuring:
Deborah Slaney
Curator of History • The Albuquerque Museum

 Route 66: Radiance, Rust and Revival on the Mother Road


From her hotly debated beginnings to her decades-long role as a pathway for adventurers, migrant workers, post-war veterans, tourists, hippies and sentimental souls, Route 66 has fascinated and engaged us, and compelled us to follow her beaten, crumbling path. The Albuquerque Museum’s exhibit, Route 66: Radiance, Rust, and Revival on the Mother Road, explores the story of Route 66 in New Mexico and the Albuquerque area, set in the context of significant events of national importance and enhanced by personal stories from Albuquerque’s residents. Deborah Slaney, Curator of History at the aM, will present highlights from the exhibition which will open the following week, on May 14.

The Exhibit

May 14, 2016 to Oct 2, 2016
Conceived in honor of the 90thh anniversary of Route 66, this exhibition celebrates the art, history and popular culture of the iconic Mother Road.
Too often the history of Route 66 in Albuquerque has been overlooked, even though our city sits at the center of the Southwestern leg of the route and boasts, at 16 miles, the longest single-city urban stretch of the highway in the nation. We are also the only place on the Mother Road where the highway crosses itself! Indeed the very re-routing of Route 66 to the east-west alignment was a political scandal, but shaved time and miles off the odometers of road-weary travelers and their automobiles.

Hope to see you August 4 at a new venue!

Friday, April 1, 2016

A time to eat, drink & talk about science!

Celebrating 4 Years of Science on Tap!


Join us 

Science on Tap Series
Thursday, April 7, 2016
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Yanni's
will be offering Happy Hour Appetizers during SoT!
 
3109 Central Avenue NE
(505) 268-9250


 Featuring:
Dr Stephen Myers
Seeing Invisible Colors



There are certain colors of light that we can see with our eyes like red, green, blue, orange, yellow, indigo, and violet (remember roy g biv?) as well as many variations of these. However, there are also many “colors” that we cannot see with our eyes such as infra-red and ultra-violet. We encounter these invisible colors every day in various circumstances without realizing it. To see these colors we usually require special tools that can be complicated and expensive. In this interactive presentation I’ll discuss ways we can “see” these invisible colors using common everyday objects.

Biography
Stephen Myers currently serves as a research scientist and product manager at Skinfrared, LLC where he develops infrared detector technology and medical thermal imaging applications. Stephen is also a volunteer in Explora's Portal-to-the-Public (PoP) Science program and provides science demonstrations with The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. Previously, Stephen received his PhD in Nanoscience and Microsystems (NSMS) at UNM during which he served as the President of the UNM SPIE student chapter and conducted outreach science demonstrations with the UNM NSMS program.

Coming up in May 5, 2016;
Route 66: Radiance, Rust and Revival on the Mother Road
Deborah Slaney
Curator of History • The Albuquerque Museum