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University of Pittsburgh Convenes Science2010

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Pitt’s 10th Annual Science Showcase, Oct. 7-8, Features ‘Scientists to Watch’

PITTSBURGH, July 22 – The best examples of current, revolutionary biomedical research will converge for the University of Pittsburgh’s landmark 10th annual showcase of science and technology, Science2010: Transformations.

Sessions are scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8 at Alumni Hall, 4227 Fifth Ave., on Pitt’s campus in Oakland. Admission is free and open to the public, but registration is required either on-site or in advance at www.science2010.pitt.edu.

“Medical history is really a revelation of the transformative nature of science through the ages,” said Arthur S. Levine, M.D., senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and dean, School of Medicine. “For this special 10th anniversary observation, we recognize the contributions and promise of today’s scientific ‘transformations,’ many of which—like the polio vaccine of the 1950s—may begin right here in Pittsburgh but have an impact that spans the globe.”

This year’s program includes four keynote lectures by leading contemporary scientists; spotlight sessions by nearly 50 researchers from Pitt, Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History; a showcase of new technologies developed on campus that are now available for licensing; research poster sessions; a professional development workshop for early-career scientists; and some special events to celebrate the 10th annual showcase.

“Science2010 marks a significant anniversary for what has become an important institutional tradition,” said James V. Maher, Ph.D., provost and senior vice chancellor. “For example, last year, for the first time, we expanded our poster sessions to include the work of undergraduates, designating those students, as well as other researchers whose work is featured, as scientists to watch.”

While Science2010 will have particular appeal for people engaged in research, sessions could also be of interest to representatives of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, information technology, scientific equipment and related industries; leaders in economic development and philanthropy; representatives of biotech-oriented law, financial and venture capital firms; secondary school science teachers, and students at all levels.

The full program for Science2010 is available online at www.science2010.pitt.edu.

Following are program highlights:

Plenary Lectures

  • The 2010 Dickson Prize in Medicine Lecture, “The DNA Damage Response: Stopped for Repairs,” will be presented at 11 a.m., Oct. 7, by Stephen J. Elledge, Ph.D., Gregor Mendel Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.
  • Patrick D. Gallagher, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will present “Strengthening the Connections: Research, Innovation and Economic Growth” as the Provost Lecture at 4 p.m., Oct. 7.
  • The 2010 Mellon Lecture, “Our Habitual Lives: How the Brain Makes and Breaks Habits,” will be given at 11 a.m., Oct. 8, by Ann Martin Graybiel, Ph.D., Walter A. Rosenblith Professor of Neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology, and an investigator at MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research.
  • At 4 p.m., Oct. 8, Mark B. Roth, Ph.D., a 2007 MacArthur Fellow and cell biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, will present this year’s Klaus Hofmann Lecture, “Metabolic Flexibility and Suspended Animation.”

Spotlight Sessions

A dozen Spotlight Sessions will feature some of the most current, engaging and important investigations being undertaken by researchers at Pitt, Carnegie Mellon and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Session topics include:

  • Cell Cycle Checkpoint Pathways: DNA Damage and DNA Replication Interference
  • Materials Related to Energy
  • Biological Implications of Climate Change: Past and Present
  • Computational Advances
  • Endocytosis
  • New Ways of Seeing Things
  • The Mysterious Operation of the Basal Ganglia in Health and Disease
  • Pragmatic Clinical Trials and Comparative Effectiveness Research
  • Stem Cells in Embryogenesis and Cancer
  • Systems-Level Science
  • Buying Time: Metabolic Flexibility
  • Environmental Exposures

Technology Showcase

A technology showcase will feature displays of new technologies developed by Pitt researchers that are now available for licensing. Sponsored by the University’s Office of Enterprise Development and Office of Technology Management, this event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., Oct. 6, in Alumni Hall.

Professional Development Workshop

This interactive workshop presented by the Office of Academic Career Development, Health Sciences, and the University of Pittsburgh Postdoctoral Association is designed to bolster the professional development of early-career scientists by providing practical input for discovering emerging opportunities in today’s job market. A special guest speaker will be joined by professionals from science-related fields who will facilitate roundtable discussions about career prospects in a variety of settings.

Celebrating the 10 Years of Science at Pitt

A special event is scheduled to close Science2010, Oct. 8, in Alumni Hall.

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University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

As one of the nation’s leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top 10 recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1997 and now ranks fifth in the nation, according to preliminary data for fiscal year 2008. Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region’s economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see www.medschool.pitt.edu.

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University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Arthur S Levine MD Science2010 Transformations Science2010 Scientists to Watch 10th Annual Science Showcase Alumni Hall James V Maher PhD