Cafe Sci Orlando announcements for 2011-11: "The Periodic Table"
Chad MILLER
* Topic, "The Periodic Table"
* Themed Drink
Topic, "The Periodic Table"
Hi. This month we will have a fascinating discussion at our Cafe Sci at
7PM on Wednesday 2 November, at Taste, in College Park.
The periodic table is an amazing tool that provides the ability to
predict chemical properties. Scientists often take it for granted. We
will undertake a guided tour of the periodic table from its humble
beginnings with just a little over 60 elements to today's table with
118 elements and counting. The layout we are familiar with is much
different from the original and even today alternative depictions are
being developed.
Dr. Richard Blair earned his B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from
Hope College in Holland, MI. He has an MS in Physical Chemistry from UC
Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from UCLA. He worked at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the next generation of
thermoelectric power modules for spacecraft.
In 2007, he accepted a position as assistant professor of Chemistry and
Forensic Science at UCF. His work at UCF has expanded on a synthetic
technique utilized at JPL where mechanical force is used to induce a
chemical reaction--mechanochemistry. His current research is focused on
biofuels, greener syntheses, and forensic identifications of illicit
substances.
Directions
Taste
717 W. Smith Street
Orlando, United States
32804
Taste is near the corner of Princeton Street (really Smith Street after
the fork) and Edgewater Drive, so about 2 minutes from I-4 to parking.
One can park on the street or in the parking lot behind Taste.
* From Downtown and south, drive north ("east") on I-4 through
downtown. At the exit for Princeton Street, exit and turn
left/west.
* From Altamonte Springs and north, drive south ("west") on I-4
toward downtown Orlando. At the exit for Princeton Street, exit and
turn right/west.
From I-4, drive a few blocks to Edgewater Drive. At the intersection,
you should see a orange building ahead of you, labeled "Taste". Park on
the street or behind Taste.
Themed Drink
We have access to a full bar, and it can be difficult to order while
someone is speaking, so Chad is playing with the idea of an
easy-to-order themed drink for each topic. Of course, our Cafe Sci
remains open to people of all ages.
This month's drink is the White Russian. 5 parts vodka, 2 parts coffee
liqueur, 3 parts fresh cream, served pver ice in an Old Fashioned
glass. While Dmitri Mendeleev was Russian, the drink is not. (If you're
dressing as a character from "The Big Lebowski" for Halloween, you
pretty much have to come dressed in costume, now. Sorry.)