After Film Talk: Coexistence in a Toxic World

Ecological restoration is the “process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been damaged, degraded, or destroyed” and the science and practice of ecological restoration are expanding rapidly. However, science shows us that ecosystems can often heal themselves, even without human intervention. Our Science on Screen discussion following Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind will begin with a short talk by restoration ecologist, Magda Garbowski, focused on the fundamentals of restoration ecology and trade-offs of passive vs. active restoration approaches. This will be followed by a general discussion focused on the role humans’ play – or ought to play – in restoring damaged ecosystems.

Presenter: Dr. Magda Garbowski

Magda is an Assistant Professor of Functional and Restoration Ecology at New Mexico State University. With her research, Magda aims to clarify the mechanisms driving biodiversity and ecosystem change. She then seeks to apply this understanding to management, conservation, and restoration of rapidly changing landscapes for the benefit of both nature and society. 

After Film Talk: Waking the dead: ¿Es posible?

People can argue about how or when life begins, but death (at least at the cellular level) is fairly easy to define. Bringing the dead (Frankenstein) or inert (Frosty the Snowman) to life pops up frequently in television and cinema, and we’ll try and place what we see in Re-Animator within the context of our current understanding of death.

Presenter: Dr. Charles B. Shuster

Dr Charles B. Shuster is the Department Head of Biology at New Mexico State University, a position he has held since 2002. His academic career centers on cell biology, with a particular focus on the mechanisms by which cells divide during early development and in the context of disease. Because the study of cell division is inherently intertwined with cancer biology, his research over the past decade has examined why cells die (or don’t die) when they are unable to complete division in response to specific chemotherapeutic drugs. Outside of his professional pursuits, Shuster spends his time hiking and fly fishing in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado.Outside of his professional pursuits, Shuster spends his time hiking and fly fishing in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado.

After Film Talk: The Science of Learning: Educational Innovation in the Borderlands

How are educators in the borderlands revolutionizing education? How do our brains learn best, and what does that have to do with you and our borderlands community? Gain insight into these fascinating questions as you learn about the innovators right next door, unique barriers in our community, and what we all can do to ensure that students of every age have access to the highest-quality learning experiences.

Presenter: Melody Hagaman

Melody Hagaman is an instructional designer with NMSU Global Campus and a former computer science educator with over a decade of experience in the classroom. She has led professional development for national initiatives and earned multiple honors for her innovation in education, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, the Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award, and the NCWIT National Educator Award.

After Film Talk: Understanding the Mind Through Extraordinary Brains

After the screening of Oliver Sacks: His Own Life, join cognitive scientist Michael C. Hout for a post-film conversation that explores what stories of neurological difference reveal about how the human mind actually works. Rather than focusing on the brain as a machine with parts that simply “break,” this discussion will examine how changes to memory, perception, language, and more can illuminate the fundamental principles of cognition, and challenge our assumptions about what is “normal.”

Drawing on examples from neuroscience and cognitive science, the talk will unpack why individual case studies have played such a powerful role in understanding the brain, what they can (and cannot) tell us scientifically, and why narrative remains one of the most effective tools for making sense of complex neural systems. At its core, this conversation invites audiences to rethink the relationship between brain, mind, and identity, and to consider why studying unusual brains may be one of the best ways to understand ourselves.

Presenter: Dr. Michael C Hout

Michael C. Hout is the Associate Dean of Research in the NMSU College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation, and the Interim Director of the STEM+ Education Research Institute. He received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh, and his Master’s Degree and PhD in Cognitive Psychology from Arizona State University. He is a cognitive scientist who specializes in visual cognition and uses neural network modeling in his research. He was previously a Program Director at the National Science Foundation programs in Perception, Action, and Cognition, and Cognitive Neuroscience. And he is the incoming Editor in Chief at the journal Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics.