Cafe Scientifique

The Annapolis Cafe Scientifique @ 49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar & Gallery
All are welcome, and we are happy to add anyone to the email list. We hope folks will come back in person to 49 West – It’s not Cafe Scientifique without you! You may reserve seats at 49 West by calling 410-626-9796 and asking them to add you to the list for the next Cafe Scientifique event. Note: these events are free. If you are concerned about Covid, feel free to wear a mask, or attend via Zoom (see info below). For more, contact annapoliscafesci@gmail.com

Hello! Two topics in this email:

1. March 30 presentation, 6-7:15pm ET: “Serendipity in Science:
Investigating Malaria Transmission from the Perspective of a Green Alga”, by William Snell, Ph.D., Cell Biologist, University of Maryland, College Park

About the Talk: Malaria kills ~600,000 people (mostly children) each year. Although research focused directly on malaria is central to global efforts to eradicate the disease, the National Institutes of Health also recognizes the importance of basic, non-targeted research and serendipity in solving major biomedical challenges. Please join us to hear Dr. Snell describe how his long-term, NIH-funded studies on a simple green alga have led to the discovery of an ancient family of proteins essential for sexual reproduction in unicellular and multicellular plants and animals and uncovered a new target for a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine.

Brief Bio: Over a decade ago, Dr. Snell discovered a new protein, HAP2, and he and his team showed it to be essential for fertilization in a type of green algae, Chlamydomonas. HAP2 was also present in the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria. Collaborations with malaria researchers at Imperial College in London showed that HAP2 was also essential for sexual reproduction in Plasmodium, and that antibodies against Plasmodium HAP2 block mosquito transmission of malaria. Revealing the parsimony of evolution, his recent collaborations with a Pasteur Institute virologist showed that HAP2 is directly related to proteins essential for transmission of many viruses, including Dengue and Zika.

Snell Photo 1.jpg

Zoom Info for 3/30/23 Talk: If you cannot attend in person, join the Zoom Meeting; thanks to Vince Ferrari for stepping in as Zoom Host for March 30!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87848406572?pwd=VVVFOVNwNFdtN1VDVDA3Sk5yc0VLdz09
Meeting ID: 878 4840 6572
Passcode: 433794
Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
One tap mobile +13017158592,,87848406572#,,,,*433794# US, Wash DC

2) Link to recording from the 2/23/2323 presentation: “Creating Us – Creating You: The Science of Creativity, Learning, and Wellness, by by Melissa M. Schmitz, Ed. D

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/aPrKqRr6UBi451v0bo-YAxNXpSEYiThU-bm4HHO3IsCD5NkhULtydVgATDXoqKxy.udFeIRyro783QNTA
Passcode: hJRE*7gt

Feel free to contact us with questions and suggestions for speakers, and please forward this email to anyone who might be interested.

Hope to see you in person at 49 West (or online) on Thursday, March 30th!

Yours in Science,

Tracy Gill, Andy Loftus, Roz Kleffman, and Paul Gruner
Co-hosts of Annapolis Café Scientifique at 49 West