Cafe Sci Orlando announcements for 2013-11: Medical Geography, Weather

[cafesciorl-annc]

contents:

• "Medical Geography" at Taste
  
• "Weather" at Downtown Orlando Library

This month we will have fascinating discussions at our Cafe Sci at 7PM on Wednesday 6 November, at Taste, in College Park; and at the Cafe Sci for kids at 6PM on Tuesday 12 November, at the downtown Orlando Public Library.

Medical Geography

In the early 1860’s the citizens of London, England were frightened. People were dying from toxic “vapors.” Many thought these vapors emanated from the cemetery. Dr. John Snow decided to look at this problem differently: He took a map of London and placed a mark on it where people had died; there was a cluster around a particular public well. He had the handle removed from the pump at this well and deaths from these “vapors” ended, almost overnight. He had stopped the source of Cholera. This event marks the beginning of modern Medical Geography. Medical Geography is the science of understanding the spatial distribution of health and disease.

Dr. Russ Butler is a full professor, director of research, and runs the Multi-scale Health Sciences Research Lab at the Adventist University of Health Sciences off of Orange Ave, in Orlando, Florida. Research in this lab focuses on understanding spatial patterns of phenomena related to human-health and well-being. Current research is analyzing distributions of contaminants and substances in drinking water in a central Florida community as well as elucidating environmental factors influencing obesity. He has instructed multiple biology courses from general biology, biochemistry, and genetics to technical and computer applications in environmental sciences. Additionally, he researches educational methods for science teaching in higher education and has scholarly interest in the discussion between science and religion. He has multiple single-author publications and has given dozens of professional presentations.

Taste

717 W. Smith Street

32804

Taste is near the corner of Princeton Street (really Smith Street east of the fork) and Edgewater Drive. One can park on the street or in the parking lot behind Taste. Please park across the street in parking for Downtown Credo first, then around Taste.

Weather

This was announced last month, but delayed because of the shutdown of the federal government.

William Ulrich is an expert on weather. Meteorologists everywhere try to understand and predict what the near future of weather, but not so many of them work for the National Weather Service and live and work in Florida, where hurricanes pummel coasts and lightning strikes each square kilometer about four times a year.

Join William Ulrich of the NWS in Melbourne as he explores different weather phenomena including, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires, that have helped shape Florida through the years.

Orlando Public Library, first floor

101 E Central Blvd

32801

Parking is free on the street starting at 6PM, and there's a parking garage across from the library on Central.  Lymmo busses are free and can bring you from farther away and stop at the Library.