TORONTO, August 17, 2000 -- York University will deliver food for thought during its Brownbag Research Seminars, a lunch-and-learn series on science, technology and culture this year featuring scholars from Canada, the US and New Zealand.

Now in its seventh year, the Brownbag Research Seminars provide a public forum for scholars in science and technology studies to establish tighter research links between York and neighbouring academic colleagues and to share works in progress before submitting them to journals and conferences. Presentations and discussions will revolve around an eclectic list of topics, some relevant to current and emerging issues such as: biomedical research, ethical issues, and intellectual property; genetic testing for breast cancer; national standards for mercury and the environmental effects of coal-fired plants; weather, science and the state; and information technology's impact on library use by students and researchers.

The seminars are held Tuesdays, 12 to 2 p.m., Sept. 12, 2000 to April 24, 2001. The brainchild of Physics and Natural Science Prof. Luigi M Bianchi, the Brownbag Research Seminars are hosted by the School of Analytic Studies and Information technology in the new Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies.

"The Brownbag Research Seminars are in a real sense a meeting place for the Humanities and the Sciences. The lively participation of talented, thoughtful people who love to share their passion for learning is a testament to the academic community's commitment to teaching and research, " said Bianchi.

Seminar abstracts will be posted on the Web site as they become available. A sampling of the topics follows:

From Dearth to Deluge: The Impact of Information Technology on Users of Academic Libraries
(Sept. 12) Catherine Davidson, Dale Irwin, Scott McLaren, Tom Scott, Rob van der Bliek (York Libraries)

What Does Visual Dysfunction in Children Teach Us About Normal Vision?
(Oct. 3) Martin Steinbach (Psychology/Atkinson, York University)

Equity Issues in Mathematics Education
(Oct. 10) Pat Rogers (Mathematics/Arts, Education, Centre for the Support of Teaching, York University)

Mercury: Canada-Wide Standards and Coal-Fired Plants
(Oct. 17) Anna Tilman (York Centre for Applied Sustainability, York University)

Nursing Research as Human Science: Understanding Lived Experiences of Health
(Oct. 24) Beryl Pilkington (Nursing/Atkinson, York University)

Virtual Anatomy: The Reconfiguration of the Body into Bits and its redistribution across the WWW
(Nov. 7) Kim Sawchuk (Communication Studies, Concordia University)

When Academics and Industry Partners Collide
(Nov. 21) Nancy Olivieri (Hospital for Sick Children, & Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Toronto)

Science and the State: Weather Has No Boundaries
(Feb. 6) Katharine Anderson (Humanities/Arts, York University)

Research Ethics Under the Microscope: The Intellectual Property Dimensions of Biomedical Research
(Feb. 20) Alex Wellington (York / Ryerson Polytechnic University)

Arnold Gesell: Eugenics, Psychology and Child Development, 1900-1930
(March 20) Fred Weizmann (Psychology/Arts, York University)

On the Cutting Edge: Science and Women's Obstetrical Practice
(March 27) Georgina Feldberg (York Centre for Health Studies & Social Science/Arts, York University)

Walkerton: The Memory of Matter
(April 3) Jody Berland (Humanities/Atkinson, York University)

Governing the Genetic Polity: Developing Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer in the US and UK
(April 24) Shobita Parthasarathy (Science and Technology Studies, Cornell University)

The seminars are held in the Harry Crowe Room, Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies, York University, 4700 Keele Street.

For a complete listing of the seminars, speakers, and available abstracts, visit:
http://www.yorku.ca/sasit/brownbag/

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For more information please contact:

Prof. Luigi M Bianchi
Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies
York University
(416) 736-5232
lbianchi@yorku.ca

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca
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