University of Michigan researchers offer a peek into their cutting-edge research from the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History Science Forum.  Presentations are appropriate for ages 5 and up.

Scientist in the Forum presentations

Building the Universe

Ages: Youth, Adult
Grades: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Duration: 18 minutes

U-M astronomer and graduate student Gillen Brown tackles questions of astronomical proportions, like "Where do stars get their energy?" and "What happens when stars die?" Find out how astronomers like Gillen study distant galaxies using computer simulations and other technologies. No spacesuit required!

Diving Deeper: Sea Lilies - Investigating Deep Sea Crinoids

Ages: Youth, Adult
Grades: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Duration: 25 minutes

U-M paleontologist Meg Veitch, a PhD candidate in Earth and Environmental Sciences, shares her research about stalked crinoids, or sea lilies. Millions of years ago, stalked crinoids covered much of the ocean floor, but today they are only found in the deepest of Earth’s oceans. Join Meg on her journey in a real yellow submarine to find out why these living fossils made the move to deeper waters.

Bend it like Bourgueticrinids

Ages: Youth, Adult
Grades: 6-8, 9-12
Duration: 25 minutes

U-M paleontologist Meg Veitch, a PhD candidate in U-M Earth and Environmental Sciences shares her research on crinoids: deep sea creatures with a long history and some very special adaptations. Learn how these living fossils actively change the properties of their body tissue, and even shed body parts!

Repurposing FDA-Approved Drugs to Treat Ovarian Cancer

Ages: Youth, Adult
Grades: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Duration: 10 minutes

U-M researcher Jessica McAnulty, a PhD candidate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, explains how new medicines go from discovery and development to your medicine cabinet. Learn how repurposing known drugs can speed up that process and save money, something that is particularly important for Jessica’s research on ovarian cancer.

So much DNA, so little space

Ages: Youth, Adult
Grades: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Duration: 18 minutes

University of Michigan cell biologist and gene expert Dr. Gyorgyi Csankovszki from the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology shares her research on DNA. Dr. Csankovszki and her team use worms as a model organism to better understand gene expression.

Tiny Campsites: Understanding Bacterial Communities

Ages: Youth, Adult
Grades: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Duration: 13 minutes

Did you know that bacteria are 17 times older than the dinosaurs? U-M researcher Janet Price, a PhD candidate in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, shares her research on bacterial communities and the biofilms that help them thrive.

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