Science Series

Local earthquakes, "‘photoswitch"’ molecules,
testes development to be discussed

Los Angeles, CA – Major earthquakes, molecular photoswitches and the male reproductive tract will be explored in Cal State L.A.’s Science Series, free public lectures by University faculty members focusing on their innovative research.

Sponsored by the Physics and Astronomy Department at Cal State L.A., the lectures will be held Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. in Physical Sciences building, room 158.

On Feb. 7, geology associate professor Kim Bishop will present “Shake, Rattle, and Roll—Some Lessons from the 1971 San Fernando and 1994 Northridge Earthquakes.” In 1971, the San Fernando fault zone slipped suddenly to create the magnitude 6.6 San Fernando earthquake. In 1994, a previously unknown fault beneath San Fernando Valley ruptured to create the magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake. Bishop will discuss how new lessons were learned and old lessons returned as a result of each earthquake.

On Apr. 11, chemistry assistant professor Alison McCurdy will present “Molecular Attractions: Peptides and Photoswitches.” McCurdy will showcase research by CSULA students that could advance fields such as material science and pharmaceutical design.

On May 9, biology professor Betsy Peitz will present “Development of the Testes and the Male Reproductive Tract.” Leading to new theories on the evolution of sex chromosomes, Peitz will discuss the role that genes play in testes development.

Cal State L.A. is located at the Eastern Avenue exit, San Bernardino (I-10) Freeway, at the interchange of 10 and 710 Freeways. Public (ticket dispenser) parking available in Lots C and G, or the upper level of Parking Structure 2.

For more information, call the Cal State L.A. Department of Physics and Astronomy at (323) 343-2100.

Working for California since 1947: The 175-acre hilltop campus of California State University, Los Angeles is at the heart of a major metropolitan city, just five miles from Los Angeles’ civic and cultural center. More than 20,000 students and 190,000 alumni—with a wide variety of interests, ages and backgrounds—reflect the city’s dynamic mix of populations. Six colleges offer nationally recognized science, arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education and humanities programs, among others, led by an award-winning faculty. Cal State L.A. is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Jazz Orchestra and to a unique university center for gifted students as young as 12. Programs that provide exciting enrichment opportunities to students and community include an NEH- and Rockefeller-supported humanities center; a NASA-funded center for space research; and a growing forensic science program, to be housed in the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center now under construction. www.calstatela.edu