Saturday Morning Science is a series of one hour science talks hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Missouri-Columbia. These are not your typical science lectures. Expect to be entertained, to see demonstrations, to learn a lot, and—best of all—to want to come back for more. Saturday Morning Science is free and open to the public. No science background is required. All ages are welcome. Saturday Morning Science is sponsored by MU Office of Research, University Bookstore, Monsanto, and Pierpont Productions.

Recent Submissions

  • Maternal diet and sex of offspring 

    Roberts, R. M. (Robert Michael), 1940- (2006)
    Powerpoint presentation delivered by Curators' Professor in the Department of Animal Science and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, R. Michael Roberts, as part of the ...
  • Climate, climate change and hurricanes 

    Lupo, Anthony R., 1966- (2006)
    Associate professor in the Department of Soil, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Anthony R. Lupo, delivered this powerpoint presentation on ...
  • The chemistry of NASCAR 

    Keller, S. W. (Steven W.) (2009)
    Associate professor in the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Steven W. Keller, delivers a lecture on the chemistry of NASCAR, that is, the underlying chemical ...
  • Cure you or cripple you? 

    Daniels, Mark (2009)
    Visiting scholar Mark Daniels delivers a lecture on the human immune system and how it protects the body from disease and infection as well as immune system malfunctions.
  • How are drugs designed? 

    Zou, Xiaoqin (2009)
    Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Xiaoqin Zou, delivers a lecture on the history of medical drug production and uses.
  • Charles M. Rick's hunt for the wild tomato 

    Chetelat, Roger (2009)
    Visiting scholar and director of the C. M. Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center at the University of California-Davis, Roger Chetelat, delivers a lecture on pioneering tomato geneticist Charles M. Rick and his study of ...
  • How does malaria jump from mosquitoes to humans? 

    Beerntsen, Brenda T. (2009)
    Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Brenda Beerntsen, delivers a lecture on malaria and it's method of transmission from mosquitoes to humans.
  • Darwin's Mystery of Mysteries 

    Ariew, André (2009)
    Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Andre Ariew, delivers a lecture on Charles Darwin's heroes and inspirations in the fields of ...
  • Darwin's germ: the life and times of E. Coli 

    Stewart, George Cameron, 1953- (2009)
    Chairman of the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia, George C. Stewart, delivers a summary lecture on the subject of the "most misunderstood" ...
  • Forests and greenhouse gases: a science primer 

    Pallardy, Stephen G. (2010)
    Professor Stephen Pallardy of the Forestry department at the University of Missouri-Columbia delivers a summary lecture on the topic of greenhouse gases, forest growth, and global climate change from the perspective of a ...
  • Help! Where am I? 

    Keller, James M. (2010)
    Professor James M. Keller of the University of Missouri-Columbia department of Computer Sciences delivers a summary lecture on fuzzy logic and computer engineering.
  • Do we really need sleep? 

    Thakkar, Mahesh (2010)
    Mahesh Thakkar, Phd. in the Department of Neurology at the School of Medicine in the University of Missouri-Columbia, delivers a summary lecture on sleep and it's affects, informed by twenty years of research into sleep.
  • How Game Theory explains stupid behavior 

    Ernst, Zachary (2010)
    MU Department of Philosophy Associate Professor Zachary Ernst delivers a summary explanation of Game Theory and it's influence on human behavior.
  • Life in the treetops: Forest canopy research and outreach 

    Nadkarni, Nalini Moreshwar (2010)
    Visiting scholar Nalini Nadkarni delivers a fifty minute lecture highlighting her own forest canopy research with special attention paid to interdisciplinary perspectives.