SCIENCE FOR EVERYONE: State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, who is also a physicist and hosts the “Science on Saturday” series at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, is proud of its diverse array of topics.
By Anne Levin
As has been the custom for some four decades, the “Science on Saturday at the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab” (PPPL) series that opens at 9:30 a.m. on January 10 is likely to draw overflow crowds. Topics of the free talks by scientists, engineers, and others involved in cutting-edge research range this year from bee pollinators to lasers, from fighting cancer to biodiversity — and then some.
“We are so fortunate to live in a community where so many people are naturally curious about the latest scientific advances,” said State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, who is PPPL’s head of public engagement and workforce development. “I have the absolute delight of hosting it every year. We have some of the most amazing scientists in the area.”
The annual lectures are geared toward high school students and typically draw more than 250 people including teachers, parents, and curious members of the community. If the auditorium reaches capacity, an overflow room is available. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Talks are held at PPPL, 100 Stellarator Road, or via Zoom (pppl.gov/events/science-saturday), and the lectures are recorded and posted a week after each event. Coffee and doughnuts are served starting at 8:30 a.m.
“I’m convinced everyone comes for the free breakfast,” joked Zwicker.
This year’s lineup of lecturers starts this Saturday, January 10 with Rachael Winfree from Rutgers University, speaking on “Native Pollinator Species and Eastern Forests: A Biodiversity Frontier.” Next, on January 17, Aimy Wissa from Princeton University talks about “Nature in Motion: What Animals Can Teach Us About Moving Through the World.”
Frances Kraus of PPPL presents “The World’s Most Intense Lasers, Past and Future” on January 24, followed by PPPL’s Laura Berzak Hopkins on “Pioneering Plasma: Building on the 75-Year History of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory” on January 31. Kristin Dana of Rutgers tackles “Training Robots: Deep Learning for Embodied Artificial Intelligence” on February 7. On February 14, the speaker is Julie Lockwood, also from Rutgers. Her topic is “Biodiversity, Paint Rollers, and DNA: Welcome to the Revolution.”
The final two talks in the series are on February 28, when Kristin Dana of Princeton University presents “How Diet and Obesity Shape Our Immune System’s Ability to Kill Cancer;”and March 7, when Tania Lombrozo of Princeton University discusses “Why We Ask Why: The Science of Explanation and the Human Drive to Understand.”
Asked which lecture, in particular, he is looking forward to, Zwicker laughed. “That’s like asking me which of my kids is my favorite,” he said. “I don’t know where to begin.”
The goal of the series is to have wide appeal. “These talks are not for scientists or experts at all,” said Zwicker. “They are for the general public. Anyone scientifically curious will feel right at home. The series is about human nature, our immune system, evolution, and fusion, and science, and, my goodness — so many things. So I’m thrilled by the diversity of topics this year.”
Those attending in person must show a REAL ID license or a passport to be checked at the security booth. Visit pppl.gov for more information.