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David E. Dix
| Special to The Record-Courier
Have you ever noticed that scientists sometimes confuse us with conclusions in their research that contradict one another?
Christie Bahlai, a population ecologist in Kent State’s Department of Biological Sciences, says one of the reasons for that might be the samples that researchers draw from might not represent all of the variations in the things they are trying to study. It is very hard to accurately measure things in nature as compared to in a laboratory, she said. Bahlai cited a recent paper that found researchers were more likely to study birds that were more colorful and lived near university campuses where more researchers live.
She also cited some high profile, but small-scale studies that had led to alarming conclusions about an insect apocalypse that were widely covered by the media. But, she said, the methods of study were shoddy, leading to a lively debate among scientists. Since that time, she said, scientists have found ways of combining data from a lot of studies together to gain better reliability. They have found a pattern of decline does hold true for many species.
An example of that, she said, is the finding that most butterfly species are declining at a rate of 1% to 2% a year. Not all species are threatened, she said, and different causes are responsible. She said the Monarch butterflies have been threatened at different times by the loss of habitat due to agricultural development in the Midwest, climate change in Texas, and the loss of overwintering zones in Mexico. The beautiful Monarch, she warned, might eventually experience an apocalyptic event resulting in their extinction.
A humorous debunker of overstated conclusions, Bahlai was one of the presenters at the “Pint of Science” event that had its three-evening Kent debut May 19 through May 21 at North Water Brewing Co.
A global festival that aims to communicate contemporary scientific developments to the public by bringing scientists to pubs, cafes, and other public places, Kent’s version featured two Kent State scientists per night talking in the friendly surroundings of the craft brewery.
Bahlai spoke Tuesday evening along with Susan Fisk, a Kent State sociologist, who talked about the importance of increasing young students’ persistence in challenging subjects. She cited studies in which students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs in control groups received just two positive communications vs. students in control groups who received no such attention. The positive effects of encouragement are measurable, she said.
Monday evening, Thorsten Lars-Schmidt, a professor in Kent State’s Physics Department, talked about DNA, the molecule that governs the development of our cells, and the effects of mechanically twisting the molecule. Jeffrey Balcerski, of Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering, discussed the history and status of Venus exploration as well as recent findings that suggest that the planet’s clouds may be a viable habitat for simple forms of life. Balcerski argued that these findings make Venus just as important as Mars for astrobiology missions.
Wednesday evening, Clarissa Thompson, professor of Psychological Sciences, discussed research that indicates that intervention can succeed with students who might have a math phobia. She cited the importance of mastering fractions without which algebra is difficult to comprehend. Maureen McFarland in Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering said a revolution is coming in flight in which drones are merely the beginning. She predicted an era of flying cars in which new traffic accommodations will have to be set up and enforced.
Having gotten its start in 2013 in Great Britain, “Pint of Science” quickly spread as an annual festival that lets scientists talk with those of us who are non-scientists in everyday expressions in comfortable surroundings. The festival is held in Australia, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Brazil and the United States, a website says. It adds that the format is flexible and sometimes mixes art with the sciences. The USA has 16 cities participating and Kent is one of them.
Kent’s edition of “Pint of Science” was a team effort. Mateaus Reinke Pelicer, a postdoctoral fellow in Physics studying astrophysics and neutron stars, who attended a “Pint of Science” event in Brazil, told others about it and the idea generated enthusiasm. Joaquin Grefa, a postdoctoral fellow working on interacting matter thermodynamics and astrophysics, teamed up with Pelicer to coordinate planning. Their team included Ayusha Paul, a graduate researcher in ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals, Thomas Franzem, a postdoctoral fellow studying biodiversity management, and Maci Kesler, a graduate researcher in experimental high energy physics.
According to Grefa, the group chose North Water Brewing Co. because “we knew its warm and vibrant atmosphere. All of our speakers were professors and researchers from Kent State University.” Pelicer credited Don Schjeldhal, North Water Brewing Co., owner, Bob Maefield, and Zach O’Connor for helping and providing a $15 prize for trivia contest winners. He said Towpath Distillery and NP3M sponsored the event. The National Organization provided T-shirts.
Pleased with the enthusiastic response of the community, Grefa said the group has already booked the North Water Brewing Co. for next year, May 18-20, 2026.
David E. Dix is a former publisher of The Record-Courier.
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