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Below are some of the talks we do.
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Are You Sidious? The Biology of Species in a Galaxy Far Far Away
Hey force users and friends from the dark side, have you ever found yourself watching Star Wars wondering if what you see on screen could be real? Join Ecologists Dr. Ped Daneshgar and Kelly Zimmerman as they explore the Biology of species from a galaxy far far away. They will examine various species in Star Wars and use what they know about the Biology and Ecology of species on Earth to determine if the characters we love make any sense. They’ll ask questions like, why are there Banthas on Tatooine? What are those things on Ahsoka Tano’s head? What does it mean for our favorite wookie, Chewbacca, to be covered in hair? How does Jabba the Hutt move around and how much does he eat? Can Admiral Ackbar live out of the water? Ped and Kelly will take questions from the audience as well.
Whatever A Spider Can
Spider-man is easily one of the most popular superheroes, but some consider actual spiders to be a menace. We discuss and compare the great powers of our friendly neighborhood spiders’ silk, venom, and spectacular spider-senses to our favorite webslinger. This talk will contain pictures of spiders.
Wolverines Don’t Howl: What Comics Get Wrong (And Right) About Animal Abilities
Comics notoriously play fast and loose with the sciences, not excluding zoology. In this panel, we'll discuss animal-themed superheroes and how their powers diverge from their inspirations. Join an exterminator, a veterinarian, and an ecologist as they discuss why Doctor Octopus should be a bigger deal and why every batsuit needs nipples.
Queerness in Nature
Queerness is not restricted to humans and occurs throughout the natural world. Due to nature’s rich diversity, many interactions are observed and scientists are not limited to describing other organisms’ behavior through a cis-gender heteronormative lens. Queerness challenges traditional social and familial structures in nature just as it does in humans, creating functional relationships that serve vital ecological roles. We see this in many forms, in many species, as it is a natural state of being. From the smallest plants to some of the largest animals, there is great diversity in sexual behaviors, coupling, social structures, and shifting between sexes. Join a wildlife ecologist and a plant ecologist as they dive into the different aspects of how queerness reveals itself in nature.