Past Events › Petri Dish

When Is It Time to Say Goodbye? As the threat of extinction accelerate under changing conditions, the conversation about which species to save and why takes on greater urgency. Is there a right way to decide what to fight for and what to let go? Are some extinctions true “game-changers” and can human innovation fill the gaps fast enough. Should we be worried about sharp declines in insects? Join us at Urban Growler for science-themed trivia and a discussion with…

Life has arisen only once to the best of our understanding. It is possible that there is life on other, distant planets, but could humans create a new form of life? Synthetic biology and the quest to create synthetic cells could reframe how we think about the boundaries of life. It could also give clues about the many forms life could take on other planets. The ability to create cells from scratch promises to answer fundamental questions about life and…

Drones, satellites, and other new technology allow measurement of biodiversity as never before, at a time when climate change, habitat destruction, and over-harvesting are causing unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss. Can better measurement of biodiversity along with better science linking biodiversity conservation to our own quality of life be used to slow or halt the rate of loss of biodiversity? We’ll explore the new opportunities that advances in science generate and the political and economic challenges to halting biodiversity loss.…

Cannabis has been classified as a controlled substance under federal law since 1970. The plant’s outlaw status hampered research and disrupted cultivation of Cannabis used for hemp fiber. But Cannabis wasn’t always flora non grata. The US Army encouraged hemp cultivation in Minnesota during the second world war and perceptions of the high-flying drug-type Cannabis have shifted dramatically in recent years. Now, laws restricting Cannabis are in flux across the country and the popularity of Cannabis derivatives such as CBD oil is on the rise. We’ll explore how we got here and where…

Imagine a world in which the makeup of your individual genome would help physicians pinpoint the very best course of treatment for a wide range of diseases. Diagnoses would be more accurate and therapies would be tailored to you. It’s an appealing idea that underpins a growing movement toward personalized or precision medicine, but it also raises numerous questions scientific and social. Is our current understanding of genetics adequate to the undertaking? Are we ready and willing to shoulder the…