Young Scientist Roundtable

Rapid Intervention in the ER to Save a Dying Patient

This presentation will dive into what happens when a dying patient arrives in an emergency department. We will discuss how dying from “shock” is really about not getting enough oxygen and nutrients to mitochondria to support the function of organs like the heart, kidneys, and brain. We will look at what happens to cells and molecules when blood isn’t getting to where it needs to go. Finally, we will examine the science behind what doctors and nurses do to get oxygen to dying mitochondria as fast as possible before they reach a point of no return.

Dr. Mike Puskarich is a practicing emergency physician at Hennepin
Healthcare and is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota. He is an internationally recognized clinical researcher in the field of sepsis and
contributed to and led numerous COVID-19 clinical trials since the onset of
the pandemic. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research articles, has authored the chapters on sepsis and shock in the leading emergency medicine textbooks, and his work has been funded by the American Heart Association and National Institutes of Health, among others.

In partnership with: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Eden Prairie Public Schools, Edina Public Schools, Hopkins Schools, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka Public Schools, Orono Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Wayzata Public Schools.

Tornadoes: The Mathematics & Physics Behind Their Power

Tornadoes are the most intense local storms on Earth posing great
danger to people and property. Their origin and maintenance are
not well understood despite active and extensive research. Please
join us to learn more!

We will discuss what is known about tornadoes, what is being
done to understand them better, and how mathematics, physics,
and computing come together to try to discover the unknowns.

Dr. Pavel Bělík is a Professor of Mathematics and Data Science at Augsburg
University in Minneapolis, MN, and he is also the chair of the Mathematics,
Statistics, and Data Science department. He obtained his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota where he worked on the mathematical modeling and computer simulation of the behavior of crystalline materials. He is interested in all areas of applications of mathematics and has worked, among other things, on mathematical and computational problems related to shape-memory alloys, oil and natural gas detection and recovery, thin films for car windshields, effects of radiotherapy prostate treatment, and, of course, tornadoes.

In partnership with: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Eden Prairie Public Schools, Edina Public Schools, Hopkins Schools, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka Public Schools, Orono Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Wayzata Public Schools.

Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructures

The US Department of Homeland Security lists sixteen critical infrastructures that provide secure and reliable operations that are fundamental to national and international economies, security, survival, and quality of life. Some examples of these infrastructures include the financial, energy, food, and transportation sectors.

Dr. Amin’s presentation will focus on the technological and operational aspects of cybersecurity and how it impacts these critical infrastructures and the lives of citizens. Please join us to learn more about this multifaceted and critical area of science!

Dr. Massoud Amin, IEEE, and ASME Fellow is a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor Award Recipient, at the University of MN. He is widely credited as being the “father of the smart grid”, and a cyber-physical security leader who led the development of 24 technologies transferred to industry and directed all security-related R&D for all North American utilities after the 9/11 tragedies.

Dr. Amin's current research focuses on two areas:

• Global transition dynamics to enhance resilience, agility, security, and efficiency of complex dynamic systems.
• Technology scanning, mapping, and valuation to identify new science and technology-based opportunities to meet the needs of today’s consumers, companies, and the broader society.

In partnership with: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Eden Prairie Public Schools, Edina Public Schools, Hopkins Schools, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka Public Schools, Orono Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Wayzata Public Schools.

Human Neurological Disease: From Gene to Treatment

The brain is a critical part of what makes us humans. Understanding diseases of the brain is important for improving the lives of those affected by neurological diseases. Join us to hear Dr. Harry Orr discuss the work of the Institute for Translational Neuroscience at the U of MN. Their work on ataxia started with finding the gene mutated in individuals with the disease. Dr. Orr will share the progress made in understanding disease mechanisms
and using this information in developing a potential treatment.

Harry T. Orr, Ph.D.
Dr. Orr is Director of the Institute for Translational Neuroscience-University of Minnesota. Orr received a B.A. degree from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. He earned his Ph.D. at Washington University, completed a Postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard, and joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 1981. Among his honors, in 2014 Dr. Orr was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and received the Kavli Neuroscience Prize in 2022.

Dr. Orr’s research group has a long-standing research program on the use of
genetics, biochemical, and behavioral approaches in the study of
neurodegeneration with a focus on the human disease, spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). In collaboration with Huda Zoghbi at Baylor, his team cloned the gene affected in SCA1 - the first genetically defined ataxia. They went on to establish the first transgenic mouse model of a polyglutamine disease. Mouse models are being used to further understand SCA1 pathogenesis as well as for clues for potential therapy.

In partnership with: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Eden Prairie Public Schools, Edina Public Schools, Hopkins Schools, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka Public Schools, Orono Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Wayzata Public Schools.

Invention of the Honeycrisp Apple

Apple breeding at the University of MN has been ongoing since 1908 and has produced 28 varieties of apples including the Honeycrisp. The Honeycrisp, Minnesota’s state fruit, has become a global phenomenon and is considered to be one of the most profitable apples to grow in the world.

Join us as Dr. Luby shares the Honeycrisp story, the science that led to the creation of this unique apple, and how taste testing propelled it to be such a sensational success story. You’ll also learn how plant breeders develop new apple varieties that are adapted to our region, providing delicious fruit for consumers and apple processors for years to come

Dr. Luby received B.S. in Agronomy-Crop Science from Purdue University in 1978 and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Minnesota in 1982. Luby is a Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota where he has directed research in fruit crops breeding and genetics since 1982. The emphasis of this program is to develop new varieties that combine a satisfying eating experience for the consumer with cold hardiness and disease resistance. His research aims to determine the inheritance of these traits and identify important genetic loci and DNA markers for use in DNA-informed breeding. Under his direction, the University of Minnesota's fruit crops breeding program has introduced and commercialized 28 cultivars of apples, wine grapes, blueberries, strawberries, and other fruits.

In partnership with: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Eden Prairie Public Schools, Edina Public Schools, Hopkins Schools, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka Public Schools, Orono Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Wayzata Public Schools.

Microbiome - It's Impact on Brain Health

Your gut is talking to your brain – you better listen!

• You have an important gymnastic meet. You need to find foods to eat at the best time to settle your stomach so you can perform at your best.
• You must present in your AP English class. You forgot to eat breakfast and now you have a headache. Your gut is talking to your brain – you better listen!

Your gut and brain have always been communicating, but new research on the gut-brain axis and the importance of the gut microbiota in this communication is opening up research on the importance of dietary fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, and post-biotics in the food as medicine trend.

Join us to hear more about what your gut is telling you and how to eat the right foods to feed those gut microbes.

Dr. Joanne L Slavin (PhD, RDN) is a professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. She is a Science Communicator for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and a member of numerous scientific societies, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the American Society for Nutrition (ASN). With the help of current and former graduate students Dr. Slavin has authored more than 350 scientific articles on dietary fiber, carbohydrates, whole grains, protein, snacking, gut health, brain health, and sustainable

In partnership with: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Eden Prairie Public Schools, Edina Public Schools, Hopkins Schools, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka Public Schools, Orono Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Wayzata Public Schools.

Smart Bandages: The Future of Bandages with Chips!

Have you ever wondered how a computer chip could possibly bring you Netflix, YouTube, or a video game? Join us to hear Dr. Sarah Swisher discuss the role of semiconductors, the building blocks of all modern electronics. There are millions of them smaller than human hair on everything with an on/off switch!

Part I: We will explore the materials and devices that make chips work, how they have changed our world in just over 50 years, and what the future of electronic devices could actually look like. She will share the results of research into ‘smart bandages’, flexible band-aid-like electronic sensors that have the potential to provide early detection of harmful skin damage.

Part II: Dr. Swisher will go into great depth about next-generation flexible electronics and the potential benefits for medical research and health care. Now is a fantastic time for students to learn how to get involved in this exciting field!

In partnership with: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Eden Prairie Public Schools, Edina Public Schools, Hopkins Schools, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka Public Schools, Orono Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Wayzata Public Schools.

Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

Roundtable Part 1 (7:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
Have you ever wondered what an orthopedic surgeon does, and how to become one? Join us at this special Young Scientist Roundtable to learn more! Dr. Allan Hunt from Twin Cities Orthopedics and the VA Medical Center will discuss the pathways to orthopedics. He will focus on orthopedic surgery for sports-related injuries, share videos of surgery, and show examples of implants. Dr. Hunt will be ready to answer questions from all of the young scientists in the audience.

Roundtable Part 2 (8:10 - 8:40 p.m.)
Dr. Hunt will perform a simulated total knee replacement. Young Scientists will see a ‘carpenter’ in action. Don’t miss this unique and entertaining opportunity!

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Wayzata Central Middle School Auditorium
Register Here

In partnership with: Anoka-Hennepin School District, Eden Prairie Public Schools, Edina Public Schools, Hopkins Schools, Lakeville Area Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minnetonka Public Schools, Orono Public Schools, Osseo Area Schools, and Wayzata Public Schools.

The foot and ankle are complex mechanical structures, often forgotten about and hidden underneath shoes and dirt. We depend on our feet to function normally. When we stress the foot and ankle that we often realize the problems and pain that can arise when something alters the normal mechanics and how our tendons and joints interact. Dr. Jeffrey Seybold, Foot & Ankle Surgeon with Twin Cities Orthopedics, will share basic biomechanics of the foot and ankle and apply this to an understanding of how the foot and ankle can stand the stress of running, respond to injuries of professional athletes, and affect how we decide on our next pair of shoes.

Optics go beyond eyewear and lightbulbs. Fiber optics are fundamental to the operation of the internet, household lighting, and more. Lasers, with pulse lengths of one femtosecond, are used in eye surgeries and steel cutting and measuring gravity in collapsing black holes. Dr. James Leger, University of Minnesota College of Science & Engineering’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, will describe nanostructures that act as optical cloaks similar to Harry Potter’s famous invisibility cloak, huge telescopes may someday be held together in space using laser beams, and futuristic ideas in optics that include systems that can “see around corners” and whether it is possible to use laser light produced on earth to propel an interstellar spacecraft to Alpha Centauri.

Producers, distributors, and consumers place great emphasis on the identity, origin, purity, and safety of food products. The importance of sophisticated and robust tests to confirm label claims and ensure quality of products cannot be overstated. Emerging DNA sequencing technologies show great potential as a quality assurance tool by providing high resolution, comprehensive, and data-driven analysis at every level of food production. Strain-level microbial pathogen identification along with longitudinal sampling programs can be used to pin-point and track contamination events within facilities and help to guide mitigation. DNA sequencing also has utility in applications for authenticating ingredients and identifying adulterations in a variety of products. In this presentation we will discuss several case-studies utilizing DNA sequencing applications to improve confidence and assure quality of food production from the farm to the fork.

• Presenter: Mr. Ken Oostra, CEO of Exact Scientific Services
• Tuesday, November 12
• 7:00-8:00 p.m.
• Wayzata High School Auditorium 

Spinal cord injury is devastating. There are many exciting advancements being made in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Current thinking is that there is not one single cure, but likely a combination of potential therapies that can be used. Dr. Ann Parr, board certified neurosurgeon and faculty member in the graduate program in Neuroscience and the Stem Cell Institute, will share how her laboratory is using a combination of stem cells, scaffolding and electrical stimulation as potential therapies.

• Presenter: Dr. Ann Parr - Board Certified Neurosurgeon and faculty member in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience and the Stem Cell Institute
• Date: Monday, December 9
• Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
• Roundtable Part 2: 8:10-8:40 p.m.
• Where: Central Middle School

There is groundbreaking work being done at the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Medical Center and Masonic Cancer Center in the treatment of brain tumors in dogs. Dr. Liz Pluhar, Board Certified Veterinary Neurosurgeon and Director of the Canine Brain Tumor Clinical Trials Program, will discuss new immunotherapies that greatly extended survival of canine patients with Glioblastoma (GB) and how these are to be translated into trials in human GB patients. 

Dr. Pluhar received her D.V.M. from Oregon State University in 1989. She earned a master of science degree in molecular biology from Northern Illinois University. In 1999, she earned a Ph.D. in veterinary sciences/comparative orthopedics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research interests include improving total joint longevity, development of bone graft substitutes, the study of osteoclasts and bone graft incorporation, and the investigation of novel gene and immunotherapies for brain tumors.

• Presenter: Dr. Liz Pluhar
• Date: Wednesday, January 15
• Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
• Roundtable Part 2: 8:10-8:40 p.m.
• Where: Central Middle School

Many insects provide valuable goods and services to humans. Some of these services are used in very diverse fields including the garment industry, sport fishing, subjects for the study of aging and longevity, genetics, acoustics, and the physics of flight. In this presentation Dr. Ferrington will provide a series of short examples of ways in which insects can be beneficial, including examples from the state of Minnesota. He will also bring in samples which will be looked at in small groups following the main presentation.

Leonard Ferrington is a Professor in the Department of Entomology with research interests related to biological monitoring, water quality assessments and sustainable management of aquatic resources. His research is intended to develop models that relate the kinds and abundances of aquatic insects to specific environmental pollutants such as increased organic enrichment, presence of toxic heavy metals and/or acidification. He has done research or collaborated with scientists in 52 countries, including Icelandic scientists and exchange student researchers. He also has led short term study abroad courses to Iceland that focus on sustainable resource management. 

• Presenter: Dr. Leonard Ferrington Jr.
• Date: Monday, February 3, 2020
• Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
• Roundtable Part 2: 8:10-8:40 p.m.
• Where: Central Middle School

Dr. Deepak Kademani, oral & maxillofacial surgery specialist, sees
patients from all over the state and region for complex head and
neck problems. Dr. Kademani will highlight developments in facial
surgery, and the overlap of dentistry and medicine.

Deepak Kademani, MD is an oral & maxillofacial surgery specialist, and has been practicing for 23 years. He graduated from the University Of Pennsylvania / School Of Dental Medicine in 1997 and practices oral & maxillofacial surgery. His clinical and research interests include head and neck cancer, salivary gland disease, facial trauma, obstructive sleep apnea, TMJ, orthognathic surgery and reconstructive head and neck surgery. Dr. Kademani is currently the chief of staff at North Memorial Medical Center.

• Presenter: Dr. Deepak Kademani
• Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2020
• Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
• Roundtable Part 2: 8:10-8:40 p.m.
• Where: Central Middle School

Many insects provide valuable goods and services to humans. Some of these services are used in very diverse fields including the garment industry, sport fishing, subjects for the study of aging and longevity, genetics, acoustics, and the physics of flight. In this presentation Dr. Ferrington will provide a series of short examples of ways in which insects can be beneficial, including examples from the state of Minnesota. He will also bring in samples which will be looked at. 

Dr. Ferrington is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota. 

• Presenter: Dr. Leonard Ferrington Jr. 
• Date: Thursday, April 9, 2020
• Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
• Roundtable Part 2: 8:10-8:40 p.m.
• Where: Central Middle School