SPRING 2022 Events and Activities

  • Feb 7: No Class
  • Feb 14: First Gathering, Planning
  • Feb 21: Discussion: Identify Some of the Most Important Scientific Questions/Problems of Our Time
  • Feb 28: Documentary: Race: The Power of an Illusion
  • March 7: Das Thamattoor: Professor of Organic Chemistry (Blog Assignment 1 due — see below)
  • March 14: Race, Technology, and Wealth: Governing Technology for Ethical Futures – Ostrove Auditorium
  • March 28: Kevin Rice: Professor of Biochemistry
  • April 4: Amanda Stent: Director of the Davis Artificial Intelligence Institute
  • April 11: Lisa Noble: Director of Employer Partnerships and Emerging Pathways at DavisConnects
  • April 18: Welcoming Ceremony for Pulver Scholars — Grossman second floor. Reception starts 6:30, Ceremony starts 7:00 PM.
  • April 25: TBD?: Book Discussion: “Bottle of Lies”
  • May 2: TBD?: Book Discussion: “Bottle of Lies”

Links sent by Amanda Stent: The Steep Cost of Capture, The impact of the digital revolution on human brain and behavior: where do we stand?, Can China and Europe find common ground on AI ethics?, and The EU and U.S. are starting to align on AI regulation. She also sent a link for graduate school preparation: Preparing a Strong PhD Graduate Application.

Topic of Discussion 1: On Feb 21, we explored major issues in science today, and “race” came up as a major theme, with the start of lots of great discussion. We’ll continue this theme for Feb 28 with a documentary, followed by blog posting.

Blogging Assignment 1: From Feb 28 Documentary: Race: The Power of an Illusion: By 7 PM next Monday March 7, create a post on our blog in response to the Race documentary and readings. Go to the PBS site Race: The Power of an Illusion, and click on the Background Readings link. Click the Science link. Select any one of the listed readings that interests you. Create a blog post summarizing the reading and some of the most interesting points (include the title of the reading). Select two other blog posts to comment on. Later, after next Monday, you will comment on others’ blog posts. (see HOW TO ADD A BLOG POST below).

HOW TO ADD A BLOG POST: To do so, first accept the email invite for you to be an author. Next, go to the Administrative link (you’ll need to log in), and on the left side near the top, you’ll see Posts. Click on this to get to the list of blogs, where you’ll find only one: Pulver Scholars Blog: Spring 2022. This will take you to the place where you can add posts. In the center panel, you’ll see Posts – Add New. Click the Add New button. In the new panel, Click on the + symbol (right side of page) to add a block of text, and click the paragraph symbol to choose the type of block. For example, you can create a block as a title, and another block for your text. Then begin typing at the cursor. Click the settings icon in the top right hand corner, choose the Page tab, and scroll down to Discussion. Select Allow comments from the drop down menu. When you’re finished, click enter to to complete your block, and — importantly — Update in the upper right corner to save it.

Apples2-Photo by Maria Lindsey Multimedia Creator from Pexels

For the Fall 2021 Semester, we met regularly for our Pulver Seminar most Friday afternoons 1-1:50 pm.

Aug 28 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ100 Kassman Auditorium – Introductions and Planning

Sep 5-6 – Sat-Sun:  Interviews with Trisha Mukerjee ’21

Sep 11 – Friday 1 PM:  via Zoom – Professor Jen Coane, Psychology: Learning Skills and Strategies

Sep 12-13:  Book Club Selection “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi (book arrives Sept 23)

Sep 15:  SLACK:  I’ve set up a Pulver Science Scholars Slack account for us as a means of quick communication.  

Sep 18 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ100 Kassman Auditorium – Professor Kevin Rice, Chemistry:  Cancer Science, Cancer Research, and Opportunities via the Colby Cancer Consortium

Sep 19 – Saturday afternoon:  Apple-picking at the Fairfield Apple Farm

  • Older science students will be joining us – this is a great opportunity to ask lots of questions about the sciences, Colby in general, and summer opportunities/research opportunities.

Sept 25 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ100 Kassman Auditorium – Planning Session for Pulver website/blog/activities, book hand-out.

Oct 2 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ 100 Kassman Auditorium – Ron Peck, Biology:  Viruses.  Immediately following: Pulver Scholars’ interview with Ron.

Oct 9 – Friday 1 PM:  Fall Break – No Class

Oct 16 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ 100 Kassman Auditorium – Movie Day:  Documentary – “Unnatural Selection” (Episode 1) and Treats from Hillman’s Bakery!

Oct 23 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ 100 Kassman Auditorium – Student Research Panel:  Students share their on-campus, off-campus, and remote research experiences.

Oct 30 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ 100 Kassman Auditorium – DavisConnects Science Career Guidance:  Lisa Noble, Jessica Matzko, and Lia Morris join us to discuss opportunities for summers, Jan Plan, post-graduation.

Nov 6 – TBA

Nov 13 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ 100 Kassman Auditorium – Book Discussion:  “When Breath Becomes Air.”

Nov 20 – Friday 1 PM:  LJ 100 Kassman Auditorium – Melissa Glenn, Psychology Professor:  Neuroscience Research

Announcement:  Check out the Colby Library Orientation, here and on Instagram – #colbylibrariesorientation

Announcement:  Goldfarb Center Event:  A Conversation with Ibram X. Kendi. – Not Racist or Antiracist: What’s the Difference?