PPPL’s Science on Saturday lecture series explores new science worlds beginning Feb. 4

Jan. 26, 2023

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) Ronald E. Hatcher Science on Saturday lecture series has been transporting science fans to new territories in science for the past 38 years. Beginning on Saturday, Feb. 4, the series will be held in person for the first time in three years, with an option to view the lecture online. 

Visitors should plan to arrive to PPPL by 8:30 a.m. for coffee and doughnuts and should follow PPPL’s COVID-19 protocols, which currently require visitors to complete a brief COVID-19 health screening at the security booth. Face masks are optional. All adult visitors should have a photo ID such as a passport or license to show at the security booth. Plenty of parking is available.

Visit PPPL's website for additional information about the series, which is aimed at promoting science literacy in the public and among young people.

Feb. 4, 9:30 to 11 a.m.: “The Race for 6G Wireless: The Challenges and Opportunities Ahead,”

Yasaman Ghasempour, assistant professor of electrical and computing engineering, Princeton University

Feb. 11, 9:30 to 11 a.m.: “Dogs and Humans with Williams Syndrome”

Bridgett von Holdt, Princeton University, will discuss her team’s 2017 discovery that dogs and humans with Williams Syndrome share a handful of genetic variants that both are connected to friendliness. This sharing goes even further where the same genes carry these variants across the two species.

Feb. 18, 9:30 to 11 a.m.: “Saving the Sonorine: An Early 20th Century Form of Voice Mail”

Adam Finkelstein, Princeton University, will discuss the sonorine, a device first marketed in France in 1905 that recorded a one-minute voice message.

March 4, 9:30 to 11 a.m.: “What’s Up with the Weather?”

Lisa Thalheimer, United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security will discuss the impacts of climate change on the weather through the rising sea.

March 11, 9:30 to 11 a.m.: “High-field Tokamaks: the Fastest and Surest Path to a Fusion Energy Power Plant,”

Devon Battaglia, Commonwealth Fusion Systems and formerly of PPPL, will discuss high-field tokamaks and fusion energy.