The Tri Beta Biological Honor Society has invited Dr. Eric Spana from Duke University to visit Appalachian next week to give two seminars on Thursday, April 18, 2019.
"A Couple of CUREs for Flies"
12:30 p.m.
Biology Conference Room, second floor of Rankin Science
This talk will cover Spana's work with developing course-based undergraduate research experiences. This talk is open to faculty and staff of the department and campus.
"Harry Potter and the Genetics of Wizarding"
4 p.m.
Rankin Science West, Room 183
The second talk will be hosted by Tri Beta. This is a talk that Spana has given to a wide variety of venues and audiences. It uses the massively popular Harry Potter novels to explain human molecular genetics to a non-science or intro-science audience.
Dr. Eric Spana is an Associate Professor of the Practice in Biology and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in Biology at Duke University. Spana teaches a variety of courses in the Biology Department at Duke University, mainly in the fields of developmental, cell and molecular biology. His laboratory classes are CUREs (Curriculum-based Undergraduate Research Experiences) where students may examine biodiversity and evolution from a molecular basis in Bio203L, to identifying mutations using genetics and next-generation genome sequencing in Bio414LS. On the side, he teaches public audiences interesting and fun molecular biology and genetics through examples in the worlds of Harry Potter, Star Wars and the Avengers.
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About the Department of Biology
The Department of Biology is a community of teacher-scholars, with faculty representing the full breadth of biological specializations — from molecular genetics to landscape/ecosystem ecology. The department seeks to produce graduates with sound scientific knowledge, the skills to create new knowledge, and the excitement and appreciation of scientific discovery. Learn more at https://biology.appstate.edu.
Dr. Eric Spana is an Associate Professor of the Practice in Biology and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in Biology at Duke University. photo submitted.
Dr. Eric Spana is an Associate Professor of the Practice in Biology and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in Biology at Duke University. photo submitted.