Speaker Series Schedule 2009-2010

BioMedTech’s Speaker Series features interactive presentations from leading experts in the field of biomedical technology and engineering. Check back for more up-to-date information.

Please note which dates are for school groups and which are open to the public.

Friday, October 23, 2009 – School Groups
Topic: Super Hero Science
Presented by the Cleveland FES Center: Dustin Tyler, PhD; Kevin Kilgore, PhD; Katie Polasek, PhD; Christa Wheeler Moss, MS; Chris Pulliam, MS; Dana Hromyak, RRT; Nathan Makowski, Graduate Student; Ilya Kolb, Undergraduate Student; Logan Hubbard, Undergraduate Student.

See how biomedical engineers make what happens in movies a reality! Investigators and graduate students from the Cleveland FES Center and Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University will engage school groups in understanding the concepts of functional electrical stimulation (FES) with hands-on demonstrations including the FES hand grasp system.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 216-621-2400 for information.

Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 1:30 PM – General Visitors
Topic: Super Hero Science
Presented by the Cleveland FES Center: Dustin Tyler, PhD; Kevin Kilgore, PhD; Katie Polasek, PhD; Christa Wheeler Moss, MS; Chris Pulliam, MS; Dana Hromyak, RRT; Nathan Makowski, Graduate Student; Ilya Kolb, Undergraduate Student; Logan Hubbard, Undergraduate Student.

See how biomedical engineers make what happens in movies a reality! A principal investigator from the Cleveland FES Center and Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University will present the latest advances in functional electrical stimulation (FES) to science center visitors. Graduate students will engage visitors in understanding the concepts of functional electrical stimulation (FES) with hands-on demonstrations including the FES hand grasp system.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. No reservations required.

Friday, November 6, 2009 – School Groups (Grades 7-12)
Topic: Diabetes: Causes and Consequences
Presented by Bridgette Christopher, and Chep Yego, PhD Candidates, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics.

In recognition of American Diabetes Month, graduate student researchers will engage school groups in understanding the causes and consequences of diabetes, specifically diabetic blindness and heart disease. Students will utilize hands-on demonstrations to explore the anatomy of the eye, simulate vision with diabetic retinopathy (blindness) and observe the fat-sugar-protein ratios in common foods.

This program is aligned with National Science Education Standards (Life Sciences, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, History and Nature of Science) and Ohio Department of Education Science Academic Content Standards (Life Sciences, Scientific Ways of Knowing.)

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 216-621-2400 for information.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 1:30 PM – General Visitors
Topic: Diabetes: Causes and Consequences
Presented by Kate Trueblood Doreian, Bridgette Christopher, and Chep Yego, PhD Candidates, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics.

In recognition of American Diabetes Month, graduate student researchers will engage the public in understanding the causes and consequences of diabetes, specifically diabetic blindness and heart disease. Students will utilize hands-on demonstrations to explore the anatomy of the eye, simulate vision with diabetic retinopathy (blindness), and observe the fat-sugar-protein ratios in common foods.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. No reservations required.

Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 1:30 PM – General Visitors
Topic: Snoring and Sleep Apnea: What You Should Know
Presenter: Carol Rosen, MD, Sleep Medicine Specialist, University Hospitals at Case Medical Center and Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC)

Learn how snoring and sleep apnea affect overall health. Observe a demonstration of the biomedical technologies used to treat these sleep disorders. Discover how a local clinician uses research and technology to improve human health.

Friday, February 19, 2010 – School Groups
Time: TBD
Topic: Artificial Limbs for Real People
Presented by David Garcia, LP, Lped, Manuel Garcia Prosthetic
and Orthotic Centers

Celebrate National Engineers Week with a local prosthetist and explore how science, technology and art integrate to improve people’s quality of life. See the award-winning Touch Bionics i-LIMB hand in action.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 216-621-2400 for information.

Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 1:30 PM – General Visitors
Topic: Artificial Limbs for Real People
Presented by David Garcia, LP, Lped, Manuel Garcia Prosthetic and Orthotic Centers

Celebrate National Engineers Week with a local prosthetist and explore how science, technology and art integrate to improve people’s quality of life. See the award-winning Touch Bionics i-LIMB hand in action.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. No registration required.

Friday, February 26, 2010– School Groups
Time: TBD
Topic: Face Transplant: Medicine Makes the Impossible Possible

Technology, expertise, teamwork and creativity come together to develop ground-breaking medical procedures. Join a member of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Face Transplant team to learn more about this incredible achievement.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 216-621-2400 for information.

Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 1:30 PM – General Visitors
Topic: Face Transplant: Medicine Makes the Impossible Possible

Technology, expertise, teamwork and creativity come together to develop ground-breaking medical procedures. Join a member of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Face Transplant team to learn more about this incredible achievement.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. No registration required.

Friday, March 19, 2010 – School Groups
Time: TBD
Topic: Brain Power
Presented by: Sean Veney, Ph.D., and Heather Caldwell, Ph.D.,
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University

Explore the inner-workings of the human brain with local neuroscientists. In recognition of Brain Awareness Week discover what researchers are learning about the brain and how their studies impact human health.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 216-621-2400 for information.

Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 1:30 PM – General Visitors
Topic: Brain Power
Presented by: Sean Veney, Ph.D., and Heather Caldwell, Ph.D.,
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University

Discover what local neuroscientists are learning about the inner-workings of the brain and how their studies impact human health. In recognition of Brain Awareness Week, Kent State University Biology Professors Dr. Sean Veney and Dr. Heather Caldwell will share and discuss their research into how the brain develops and regulates social behaviors. Following this presentation, the audience will be invited to participate in an exciting assortment of educational brain games and activities!

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. No registration required.

Friday, April 23, 2010 – School Groups
Time: TBD
DNA Days Celebration

National DNA Day commemorates the discovery of the double helix and the completion of the Human Genome Project. Join our celebration with speakers, games, workshops and interactives to learn more about genetics and genomics.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 216-621-2400 for information.

Saturday, April 24, 2010 – General Visitors
Time: TBD
DNA Days Celebration

National DNA Day commemorates the discovery of the double helix and the completion of the Human Genome Project. Join our celebration with speakers, games, workshops and interactives to learn more about genetics and genomics.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. No registration required.

Friday, May 7, 2010 – School Groups
Time: TBD
Topic: Microbe Detectives

In celebration of National Lab Day, a medical technologist will share how clinical laboratories identify the microbes that cause infections in humans.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. Registration required. Call 216-621-2400 for information.

Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 1:30 PM – General Visitors
Topic: Microbe Detectives

In celebration of National Lab Day, a medical technologist will share how clinical laboratories identify the microbes that cause infections in humans.

Presentation is free with paid admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Space is limited. No registration required.


Aligned with the Ohio Department of Education Science, Mathematics, and Technology Content Standards and the National Science Education Standards. Due to the nature of the health care industry, dates and speakers are subject to change.