From Helix to Healthcare
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Blog entry by Ambrea Kuhn, The Leonardo's Intern
The Leonardo After Hours: Energy Revolution event in Logan last week was a huge success with a ton of audience participation. Thanks to our presenters and our host, The Italian Place, which supplied nourishment (energy!) for the crowd. Take a look at our recap video, with interviews with all three presenters:
If you missed us in Logan, catch us next week in Salt Lake City. Leonardo After Hours: From Helix to Healthcare will look at genetic research and personal healthcare on Tuesday, March 9.
Our presenters are Jeff Botkin, the University of Utah's Associate VP for Research; Julie R. Korenberg, a USTAR professor of pediatric genetics at the University of Utah; and Jennifer Logan, the program director for personalized health care at the University of Utah's Eccles Institute of Human Genetics. The presenters will talk about how your genetic profile can help a doctor shape your health care in a hyper-personalized way, and what that means for patients, physicians and the health-care industry.
The event runs 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 9 at the Olive Bistro at 57 W. 200 South. RSVP to Chris Davies at 801-531-9800 or rsvp@theleonardo.org -- but hurry because only a few spots are left!
Labels: events, Leo, locals, science, technology, USTAR, video
Energy Revolution
Monday, February 22, 2010
Blog entry by Ambrea Kuhn, The Leonardo's Intern
Leonardo After Hours has been such a great success that we decided to take it on the road to Logan, home of some of the leading experts in the energy revolution. Join us Feb. 24 as we talk about new ways to make and store energy.
Jeff Muhs, executive director at Utah State University Energy Lab, will discuss new initiatives from his lab, such as creating biofuels from algae and automated electric transportation, which will make energy mobile. Other presenters include Kevin Shurtleff, who is a member of the USTAR Technology Outreach team, and Lynsey Talbot, who is a student energy researcher at Utah State University.
The event will be held at The Italian Place, Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 5:30 until 7 p.m. Space is limited and we're already filling up so RSVP by contacting Chris Davies at 801-531-9800, or email rsvp@theleonardo.org. And, as ever, thanks to USTAR for co-sponsoring this event.
Algae solutions from Muhs' lab
The event will be held at The Italian Place, Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 5:30 until 7 p.m. Space is limited and we're already filling up so RSVP by contacting Chris Davies at 801-531-9800, or email rsvp@theleonardo.org. And, as ever, thanks to USTAR for co-sponsoring this event.
(And, if you can't make it to Logan this Wednesday, put our next Leonardo After Hours event on your calendar: March 9 we'll look at how technology and advancements in genetics are changing your healthcare.)
Labels: education, energy, events, Leo, locals, science, technology, university, USTAR
Cashing in on Green (Energy)!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Blog entry by Ambrea Kuhn, The Leonardo's Fall 2009 Intern
Bob Barson, executive director at the Center for Active Sensing and Imaging at Utah State University, showed us how CASI uses new technologies to improve wind energies, including pinpointing the best spots for new wind turbines. Nathan Furr, from the business management department at Brigham Young University, discussed the importance of an entrepreneurial spirit in energy innovation. Kent Udell from the University of Utah talked about using heat banking to store our currently bitter cold weather to air condition buildings on hot summer days (and storing heat from those 105-degree days to comfort us in this 9-degree weather!).
A 10-minute presentation from each speaker sprinkled with questions from the audience and some friendly moderation from the Salt Lake Tribune's Kirsten Stewart made for a successful and lively evening where audience members got to participate in the discussion about what will make Utah a better innovation center in green energy. Stay tuned for details about our next Leonardo After Hours, which will be March 9.
Labels: energy, events, Leo, sustainability, technology, USTAR, video
Fun Films and Serious Games: Digital Media in Utah: Recap
Friday, September 25, 2009
Blog entry by Ambrea Kuhn, The Leonardo's Fall 2009 Intern
Our five presenters did a fantastic job talking about animation in films, gaming, and online platforms. They covered everything from story boards to the final product.
Check out some of the Lunch with Leo fun!
Our next Lunch with Leo event will be held early December. Keep checking back for more details!
Labels: art, Leo, locals, technology, university, USTAR, video
Lunch with Leo
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Blog entry by Ambrea Kuhn, The Leonardo's Fall 2009 Intern
Our next Lunch with Leo is fast approaching! We are once again partnering with USTAR to bring you a visual feast, "Fun Films and Serious Games: Digital Media in Utah." This Lunch with Leo will be Sept. 23 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Public Library.
At the event, you'll see the cool tech tools and creativity that go into all-things animated -- from feature films and shorts, to hand-held video games and serious simulations. Our five presenters come from companies and labs right here in Utah. We think you'll be wowed to see what's happening in your own backyard.
Our presenters are James Bunker, who is the Studio Art Director for Avalanche / Disney Interactive Studios; Craig Caldwell, a USTAR Professor of Digital Media at the University of Utah; Brent Adams, the Director of the Center for Animation at Brigham Young University; Alan Hashimoto, who is a Graphic Design Professor at Utah State University; and Brett E. Shelton, a Professor in the Department of Instructional Technology and Learning at Utah State.
This event is $25, includes lunch, and is open to the public. Space is limited, so get your tickets now!
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Become a fan of The Leonardo on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!
Labels: art, Leo, locals, technology, university, USTAR
Jeff Muhs and biofuels
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Next week's Lunch with Leo presentation coincides with Air Force Week, and the topic couldn't be more relevant: biofuels and the future of energy. (Sorry -- Thunderbirds not included!) The speaker for the June 3 lunch is Jeff Muhs, executive director of the Utah State University Energy Lab. Muhs investigates strains of oil-rich algae in order to optimize biofuel production.
Muhs, who was at one point an energy and science policy advisor to the U.S. Senate, recently testified before Congress about the plausbility of using algae to capture and recycle carbon-dioxide emissions and create oil in the process. Muhs is also a USTAR researcher.
(All images courtesy of Jeff Muhs' research lab)
Muhs, who was at one point an energy and science policy advisor to the U.S. Senate, recently testified before Congress about the plausbility of using algae to capture and recycle carbon-dioxide emissions and create oil in the process. Muhs is also a USTAR researcher.
In theory, algae farms can be anywhere there is enough sunlight for the plants, and part of Muhs' research is optimizing sunlight absorption and thus increasing the amount of fuel produced. Other biofuel researchers are exploring creative placements for algae ponds -- next to wastewater treatment plants (the, ahem, natural organics in the wastewater can be part of the algae "food"), in shallow desert pools in the sunny southwestern United States, or next to coal plants where algae could convert waste carbon dioxide to biofuel.
You may remember the Continental Airlines test flight this January with half a tank of conventional jet fuel and half a tank of algae- and jatropha-produced biofuel. Continental joined Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines, among others, in testing biofuels as an alternative to conventional jet fuel. Even though large-scale algae fuel production is likely still several years away, the promise of this biofuel has caught the attention of the airlines, Congress and R/D communities throughout the country.
So, please, join us Wednesday, June 3, at the Salt Lake City Public Library for a discussion about how the hated pond scum of yesteryear could become the future of fuel. (To register for Lunch with Leo, visit its web page. The event is open to the public, and the $25 fee pays for your meal.)
Labels: Leo, locals, science, technology, university, USTAR
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