Thursday, Feb. 12, 4:00, Workman 101 [Maps and Directions]
A Joint Seminar Sponsored by Earth and Environmental Science, Physics, Biology, and the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.

Dr. Jonathan Wolfe, Executive Director of the Fractal Foundation. "Fractals and the Evolving Patterns of Nature"

Fractals are infinitely complex, self-similar patterns. They are also often extraordinarily beautiful and intriguing. A natural fractal pattern tells the story of the repetitive processes that formed it, explaining how complex structures emerge from simple actions. Learn about this exciting new realm in an engaging interdisciplinary presentation that explores the evolving fractal patterns in nature, seen at scales from the microscopic to the galactic.

Jonathan Wolfe, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Fractal Foundation, a New Mexico nonprofit that uses the beauty of fractals to inspire interest in science, math and art. With a scientific background in visual neurophysiology, and an international reputation as the artist behind the flying fractal hot air balloons, Dr. Wolfe is ideally situated to promote both the beauty and the intellectual impact of fractals. Since 2003, he has taught over 21,000 children and 10,000 adults about fractals, and he is the creator of the extremely popular First Friday Fractals show at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

Tentative Schedule: Friday, Feb. 13, 12:00-5:00, Workman 101

12:00-1:00. Birthday Celebration. Come and eat cake! Sponsored by the New Mexico Coalition for Excellence in Science Education.

1:00-1:30. Rebecca Reiss, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology, NMT. "Evolution, Eugenics, and Epigenetics: Why its Good to be a Mutt."

1:30-2:00 David Johnson, Ph.D., Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, NMT. "Assaults on Science Education, the Year in Review."

2:00-3:00 Eileen Ryan, Ph.D., Project Scientist and Manager at the Magdalena Ridge Observatory. "Asteroids: Their Impact on Evolution."

3:00-3:30 David Thomas, M.S., IRIS-PASSCAL. "The Age of the Earth."

3:30-4:00 Donald Wolberg, Ph.D., NMT. "Darwin and Mendel: An historical view."

4:00-4:30 Jesse Johnson, Vice-President, Coalition for Excellence in Science Education. "CESE and Science Education: A Student Activist's Perspective."

4:30-5:00 Open Discussion.