LABS Series
LABS (Learning Among Brilliant Scientists) students will gain access to new knowledge and be introduced to the skills needed to be a successful scientific researcher through workshops that include a lecture, seminar, and hands-on learning experience.
LABS Series develops the whole child by:
- Engaging students in a unique educational experience to learn about a brilliant scientist’s current research work.
- Promoting optimal challenge for students seeking opportunities to further their interests and passions in the STEM field.
- Building a community of like-minded learners interested in STEM.
Upcoming Lectures
Saturday, August 18, 2018
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
540 South Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, CA
Speaker:Bradley Dickerson, Ph.D.
Topic: The Neuromechanics of Sensory Systems
Grade Level: 7th-12th
Program Fee: $50*
*Scholarships are available to qualified families in need.
Every animal, regardless of size, collects and acts on rich sensory information as it moves through complex natural environments. However, we know very little about the role that an animal’s physical interaction with the environment plays in determining the information available to control its behavior. Many animals rely on specialized sensors, such as the fish lateral line or the cricket cercal system to trigger the appropriate responses to different environmental signals. In this workshop, we will explore how biologists use tools from biology, physics, engineering, and robotics to develop a deeper understanding of how the brain and body work together to produce behavior.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
540 South Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, CA
Speaker: Dr. Mike Krebs
Topic: Simple Math Problems No One Knows How To Solve. Yet.
Grade Level: 7th-12th
Program Fee: $50*
*Scholarships are available to qualified families in need.
A common misconception about mathematics is that we know all the answers and can find them via a set of established techniques. In fact, there is a multitude of problems that are extremely simple to state but that so far remain unsolved. In this workshop we will explore several of these easy-to-state, not-yet-solved math questions. No mathematical background beyond Algebra I will be required.
Past Lectures
- Chemical Evolution of Galaxies with Ivanna Escala, NSF/Ford Graduate Research Fellow at Caltech Department of Astronomy
- Circadian Rhythms in Genetics with Dr. Susan E. Cohen, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at Cal State Los Angeles
- Plant Ecology with Dr. Alexandra Wright, Assistant Professor of Ecology at Cal State Los Angeles
- Ecology and Water in Desert Biological Soil Crust Ecosystems with Dr. Kirsten Fisher, Associate Professor, Graduate Advisor Biological Sciences at Cal State Los Angeles
DETAILS
When: Once a month
Duration: 2.5 hours
Where: IEA Learning Center, 540 South Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, CA
Cost: $50-$85*
*Scholarships are available to qualified families in need. Price subject to change based on number of lectures in series.
ELIGIBILITY
Participants will be:
- Current 7th-12th grade students
- Passionate about learning
- Interested in pursuing an advanced STEM research topic
