People University Livestream: Series 31 - Physical Science: The Joy of Discovery
The Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling will offer the 31st entry in its People's University series as a 6-class online, livestream presentation. "Physical Science, The Joy of Discovery" will take attendees on a journey through the philosophical and intellectual development of science as a method of accurately weighing evidence, eliminating bias, finding facts, and acquiring knowledge.
The opening classes in the series will explore, in part, the following themes: Science is not political; Science is not magical; Science is not faith or belief; science is not based on feelings; it's not a conspiracy and has no hidden agenda. Science is the earnest pursuit of what is true in terms of the best available, logically generated evidence. Science recognizes that it’s OK to be wrong and to learn from it.
Later classes in the series will explore the history and fundamental building blocks of the pillars of physical science: chemistry and physics. Attendees will learn about what matter and energy are and what laws they obey. Additional classes will explore specific applications of chemistry, namely laser technology as well as combating multi-drug resistant bacteria through drug discovery.
CLASS 1 - January 14 at 6:30 pm: The Philosophy of Science Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
What is Science and who cares? Why is Science revered or rejected? What is the role of Science in society’s decision-making, and in its search for equity? Instructor Mary Ellen Cassidy will lead us through an exploration of the philosophy of science.
INSTRUCTOR: Mary Ellen Cassiday’s professional background includes teaching and research in the areas of Chemistry, Statistics, Algebra, and Environmental Science. Her community background includes Appalachian Institute Director, New Energy Economy Coordinator at WALS, Wheeling Solar Co-op Coordinator, Solar United Neighbors of West Virginia Board Member, and Energy Efficient West Virginia Steering Committee member. Mary Ellen is currently enjoying her work as a Mathematics/Science Tutor, at West Virginia Northern Community College’s Academic Support Center.
WIN THIS PINT GLASS!
NOTE: Watch our video LIVE, click "LIKE," make a comment, or ask a question, and you will be entered in a drawing at the end of the livestream to win a Great Women of Science Pint Glass from Uncommon Goods.
Log into your YouTube or Facebook account while watching to leave your questions in the comments box.
Raise a glass to the great women of science because knowledge is served in this pint glass!
CLASS 2- January 21 at 6:30 pm: Scientific Method - A Panel Discussion Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
A panel discussion featuring our three instructors (Mary Ellen Cassidy, Erin Duffy, Stacey K. Vargas) and our special guest, Darlene Stradwick discussing the importance of science historically and in the modern world.
INSTRUCTOR: A lifelong Wheeling resident, Darlene Stradwick is Field Site Coordinator, Ohio and Marshall Counties, for West Virginia University Health Sciences & Technology Academy. She is the founder and past president of East Wheeling Civics, and she assists with the Ohio Valley African-American Student Association (OVASSA). Darlene is a past employee of the Ohio Valley Medical Center and is a 30-year employee of West Virginia University. Her interests are health care, the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) and National Institute of Health (NIH). Darlene will share her stories about the HSTA program, and her experiences and knowledge related to the issues of the lack of diversity and equity in science and its endeavors, historically and currently.
WIN THIS PINT GLASS!
NOTE: Watch our video LIVE, click "LIKE," make a comment, or ask a question, and you will be entered in a drawing at the end of the livestream to win a Great Women of Science Pint Glass from Uncommon Goods.
Log into your YouTube or Facebook account while watching to leave your questions in the comments box.
These women of science are so nice, we're offering the chance to win this glass twice.
CLASS 3- January 28 at 6:30 pm: Chemistry 1 - Fundamentals of Chemistry Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Learn about the physical and chemical properties of matter and the states of matter, including atoms, the building blocks of matter, how atoms combine into molecules, and how molecules interact and react from instructor Dr. Erin Duffy.
INSTRUCTOR: Erin Duffy, Ph. D., has 17+ years of drug-discovery and problem-solving experience in the antibiotic arena. At Rib-X Pharmaceuticals (Melinta Therapeutics) she helped to build and sustain a team of researchers that translated the company’s scientific platform into next-generation and novel antibiotics that target the ribosome. Prior to Rib-X, Erin was the Associate Director of Innovative Discovery Technologies at Achillion Pharmaceuticals. She began her industrial career at Pfizer Central Research, in Groton, Connecticut. Erin earned be B.S. at Wheeling Jesuit College and her doctorate at Yale University. She is now Chief of Research & Development at Carb-X, Boston University.
WIN THIS PINT GLASS!
NOTE: Watch our video LIVE, click "LIKE," make a comment, or ask a question, and you will be entered in a drawing at the end of the livestream to win a Beer Chemistry Pint Glass from Uncommon Goods
Log into your YouTube or Facebook account while watching to leave your questions in the comments box.
CLASS 4- February 4 at 6:30 pm: Chemistry 2 - Drug Discovery Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Instructor Dr. Erin Duffy will talk about combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria through new drug discovery. Given the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, alongside the alarmingly low rate of newly approved antibiotics for clinical usage, we are on the verge of not having effective treatments for many common infectious diseases. This also impacts procedures we have grown to take for granted, like childbirth, joint replacements, and chemotherapy. Historically, antibiotic discovery has been crucial in outpacing resistance. But, we have had only one new class of antibiotics introduced in the last 30 years! At CARB-X, we are investing in innovative science to provide diagnostics, preventatives, and treatments for infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
INSTRUCTOR: Erin Duffy, Ph. D., has 17+ years of drug-discovery and problem-solving experience in the antibiotic arena. At Rib-X Pharmaceuticals (Melinta Therapeutics) she helped to build and sustain a team of researchers that translated the company’s scientific platform into next-generation and novel antibiotics that target the ribosome. Prior to Rib-X, Erin was the Associate Director of Innovative Discovery Technologies at Achillion Pharmaceuticals. She began her industrial career at Pfizer Central Research, in Groton, Connecticut. Erin earned be B.S. at Wheeling Jesuit College and her doctorate at Yale University. She is now Chief of Research & Development at Carb-X, Boston University.
WIN THIS PINT GLASS!
NOTE: Watch our video LIVE, click "LIKE," make a comment, or ask a question, and you will be entered in a drawing at the end of the livestream to win a Beer Chemistry Pint Glass from Uncommon Goods
Log into your YouTube or Facebook account while watching to leave your questions in the comments box.
Your stomach and whatever you fill this glass with will have great chemistry!
CLASS 5- February 11 at 6:30 pm: Physics 1 - Fundamentals of Physics Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Fundamentals of Physics. Force, pressure, momentum, energy are words used by many but to a physicist, they are more than mere words. They merge together with mathematics and laws creating a path to describes matter, motion, and our universe. Join me in an ambitious journey through the fundamentals of physics, beginning with classical mechanics, Newton’s Laws and ending with a glimpse into Albert Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity (if space and time permit!).
INSTRUCTOR: Stacey Kefalos Vargas is a professor at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virginia. She received her B.S in physics from Wheeling College in 1988 and continued her education, earning a Masters and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Connecticut. She joined the faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at VMI in 1996. She was the first woman in science and engineering at VMI to receive tenure and promotion to full professor. She is the recipient of a VMI Distinguish Teaching Award and the Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award. In addition to teaching a variety of physics courses, she performs research in laser spectroscopy, free space optics and visible light communication. She has published many articles and received several grants to fund her research. She has collaborated with companies pursuing novel wireless communication technologies. In 2017, she won the Innovation in Higher Education award from the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council for her novel research using ultra-short-pulse lasers in free space optics communication. She is passionate about her teaching and her research. She resides in Lexington, Virginia with her husband and their five children.
WIN THIS PINT GLASS!
NOTE: Watch our video LIVE, click "LIKE," make a comment, or ask a question, and you will be entered in a drawing at the end of the livestream to win a Famous Scientist Tumbler of Marie Curie from Uncommon Goods.
Log into your YouTube or Facebook account while watching to leave your questions in the comments box.
Your enthusiasm for science will radiate through this pint glass!
CLASS 6- February 18 at 6:30 pm: Physics 2 - Light, Lasers, and Free Space Optics Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Look! It’s a particle. It’s a wave. Actually, it is light behaving as both. In this lecture, Dr. Vargas will discuss the dual nature of light, and apply that knowledge to lasers, touching on how a laser works, and what makes laser light unique. Finally, we will discuss experimental applications of laser light in free space optics wireless communication.
INSTRUCTOR: Stacey Kefalos Vargas is a professor at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virginia. She received her B.S in physics from Wheeling College in 1988 and continued her education, earning a Masters and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Connecticut. She joined the faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at VMI in 1996. She was the first woman in science and engineering at VMI to receive tenure and promotion to full professor. She is the recipient of a VMI Distinguish Teaching Award and the Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award. In addition to teaching a variety of physics courses, she performs research in laser spectroscopy, free space optics and visible light communication. She has published many articles and received several grants to fund her research. She has collaborated with companies pursuing novel wireless communication technologies. In 2017, she won the Innovation in Higher Education award from the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council for her novel research using ultra-short-pulse lasers in free space optics communication. She is passionate about her teaching and her research. She resides in Lexington, Virginia with her husband and their five children.
WIN THIS PINT GLASS!
NOTE: Watch our video LIVE, click "LIKE," make a comment, or ask a question, and you will be entered in a drawing at the end of the livestream to win a Great Beards of Science Pint Glass from Uncommon Goods.
Log into your YouTube or Facebook account while watching to leave your questions in the comments box.
Too bad there isn’t a Nobel Prize in facial hair.
- People's University Online- Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm on YouTube Live and Facebook Live
In 1951, the Ohio County Public Library's librarian, Virginia Ebeling, referenced British historian Thomas Carlyle, who said, “the public library is a People’s University,” when she initiated a new adult education program with that name. Miss Ebeling charged the library with the responsibility of reaching “as many people in the community as possible.” In keeping with that tradition of public libraries as sanctuaries of free learning for all people, the Ohio County Public Library revived the series in 2010. The People’s University features courses (taught by experts in each subject) that enable patrons to pursue their goal of lifelong learning in classic subjects such as history, music appreciation, philosophy, and literature.
Want to keep up with all the latest Library news and events? 
ABOUT THE OCPL'S PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY SERIES:
