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    • June 09, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Suzanne Stanis

    Experience the heart of the Circle City during an illustrated talk of Indianapolis’s most recognizable historic district while exploring the fascinating past of a landmark that has come to define the city. View landmarks from various eras, including the symbolism behind the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, Christ Church Cathedral, Circle Theatre, and more. Along the way, hear stories and little-known history, revealing how the district’s art, architecture, and dynamic combination of public and private spaces give Indy its distinctive character.

    Suzanne Stanis serves as the Vice President of Heritage Education at Indiana Landmarks. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Hanover College and a Master of Library Science from Indiana University. Suzanne oversees Indiana Landmarks’ Indianapolis tours, the heritage tourism divisions of West Baden Springs/French Lick Springs hotels, and Samara, a notable Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in West Lafayette.

    With over three decades at Indiana Landmarks, Suzanne has contributed to historic preservation by researching and successfully nominating more than fifteen buildings and neighborhoods to the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, Suzanne manages the organization’s reference library.

    Sponsored by Jeff Rasley

    • June 16, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Bill Dick

    Bill's talk will describe the invention and development of the microscope.  This invention is one of the key early technological advancements for biology, medicine, and science in general.

    Bill Dick is a retired physician.  He is a past president of the Scientech Club and our historian.

    • June 23, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Jane Hartsock

    The introduction of AI to medicine has the potential to undermine the current human-centered approach of both medicine and ethics. This talk will explore the ethical implications and concerns.

    Dr. Hartsock, J.D., M.A., is Director of Clinical Ethics, IU Health

    Sponsored by John Langdon

    • June 30, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Chris Edwards

    What if the great discoveries of science came in the "wrong" order? The laws of thermodynamics were discovered long after the creation of algebra and Newtonian physics. This flawed chronology has led to an out-of-order understanding of physics. AI will likely understand science in a "new order" that starts with the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

    This talk is based upon a new book by Chris titled "The New Order: How AI Rewrites the Narrative of Science" published in April by Prometheus Press.

    Dr. Chris Edwards teaches history, English, and mathematics at a public school in Indiana. He is a frequent contributor to Skeptic magazine and the author of numerous books with Rowman and Littlefield Education, Blue River Press, See Sharp Press, and Prometheus. For many years Chris was a recipient of generous Scientech Foundation grants, and he directed the Scientech Summer Institutes for STEM teachers, which is now Indiana's TIE-IN teacher education program.

    Sponsored by Jeff Rasley


    • July 07, 2025
    • 12:00 PM


    • July 14, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker : Rashid Khairi

    The speaker will discuss Semiglutide (Ozempic for diabetes, Wegovey for obesity) and Terzaoatude (Mounjaro for diabetes, Zepbound for obesity). The talk will include the mechanism of action, the drugs effects on diabetes and obesity, and side effects. He will also talk about discontinuation and adherence rates for this treatment. There are additional benefits that have been gained from these drugs. There are newer drugs for these conditions on the horizon.


    Rashid A. Khairi was born in Ghazipur, India. He has a BS from Punjab University and an MBBS(MD) from Karachi University. He is a member of the Royal College of Physicians in London, Diplomat American Board of Internal Medicine, Diplomat American Board of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology).

    He was a staff physician at St. Vincent Hospital and Community Hospitals Indianapolis. He was president of Physicians Research Group and Indiana Center for Health and Nutrition. He was a Principal Investigator in Phase 2,3, and 4 clinical trials for many pharmaceutical drugs now on the market.

    He is a founding member of the Pakistan American Friendship Association and has served as its President.


    • July 21, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker : Jeff Rasley

    The state and local communities in Indiana have experienced cycles of increasing prosperity and population explosions and then economic and population declines repeatedly from when Indiana was a territory to today. The talk, enhanced with projected images, will describe the most significant boom/bust cycles and how the booms and busts have affected the development of the state and many of our towns and cities. Some communities have prospered from a boom and then never recovered from the bust, while others just keep growing by deftly pivoting through different booms and busts. Jeff and Alicia Rasley are engaged in a research and writing project about Indiana's towns and small cities. One section of the work in progress is about Indiana's boom/bust cycles, and the talk will reflect what they have learned by visiting and researching the history of over 150 Hoosier communities so far.


    Former Club president and current Scientech Foundation president; BA University of Chicago, JD Indiana University-Indianapolis, and MDiv Christian Theological Seminary. Jeff has authored over 90 feature articles in Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, ABA Journal, Indiana Lawyer, Journal of Communal Societies, Friends Journal, and other periodicals. He is the author of 14 books and has appeared as a featured guest on over 200 podcasts and radio programs to discuss philanthropy, politics, law, spirituality, and adventure travel experiences.



    • July 28, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speakers : Glenn Bingle and Hank Wolfla

    Glenn Bingle will discuss the science of cyber security. He will give examples of all the current fishing Trojan horses and other cyber security breaches and hacking and phishing techniques from his own personal experience. Hank Wolfla will discuss simple easily implemented methodologies that you can use on your phone, iPad, television, or other Internet connected cyber digital technology! Both speakers will concentrate on the use of social media and artificial intelligence in protecting cyber security,


    Glenn Bingle received a BA from the University of Massachusetts and his MD and PhD from IU. He was the medical director of Genetic Service and Counseling for Community Health Network and a Clinical Professor of Medicine and Medical Molecular Genetics at the IU School of Medicine. He has been a member of Scientech since 2018. Hank Wolfla received an associate degree and bachelor degree from Purdue University in 1965 and 1968. He taught at IU-Kokomo for a while before entering the bioengineering field. He has worked for Clarian, Community Hospital, and Hancock County Hospital. He helped to development instrumentation for the insertion of cardiac pacemakers, and received a patent for his design of an ergometer (exercise device) used in cardiac rehabilitation.

    • August 04, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Doug Ellrich

    The state of water availability in the present and in the future around the world. There are 3 main aspects. 1. There is the technology of water - storage, various desalination methods, uses. 2. There is the availability of water with several places as examples - Saudi Arabia, Morocco, SoCal, Uzbekistan, Canada, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, Africa. 3. The politics. The water rights agreements of the American West, how water gets allocated by these hundred year old agreements. Africa; after decades of water projects in Africa, it's still a place where millions upon millions of people still do not have clean water after there have been $trillions spent trying to bring clean water to Africa. The politics of drought and the science of climate change as it affects water availability.

    Doug Ellrich worked for the Marion County Welfare Department from 1973-1979. He served in the US Army from 1979-1989. He worked at the U. S. Department of State from 1990 - 2014. He has been a Scientech club member since 2023.

    • August 11, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Guang Xu 

    Our study investigates risky behaviors among U.S. medical students as coping mechanisms for academic stress. Using an anonymous Qualtrics survey based on the CDC’s 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, data was collected from 561 students across 21 states during the 2023 fall semester. Results show that first-year students engage in fewer risky behaviors compared to second-years: 9.30% vs. 26.86% overall, with specific increases in alcohol consumption (10.47% vs. 21.71%), binge drinking (5.81% vs. 16.57%), recreational drug use (2.33% vs. 14.29%), worsened diets (20.35% vs. 40.57%), mental health professional care (19.19% vs. 44.57%), and new prescription medications (7.56% vs. 24.0%). Additionally, the percentage of students without diagnosed psychiatric disorders decreases from 95.93% in first years to 62.32% in fourth years. The study concludes that risky behaviors escalate as students progress through medical school and suggests that schools implement campaigns to highlight the dangers of substance use, potentially reducing these coping strategies.

    Guang Xu, PhD, MPH, is an associated professor and course director of biostatistics, epidemiology, and public health at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Marian University. Guang has been a mentor and a committee member for graduate students with biostats and public health focus. Guang also serves as the data analyst and/or Co-PI for colleagues as well as collaborators outside Marian University. Dr. Xu has published multiple peer-reviewed papers on public health, infectious diseases, immunology, and pharmacology. Dr. Xu has been invited as the reviewer and editor for multiple peer-reviewed journals including Emerging Infectious Diseases from the CDC. Guang was elected as the chair of statistics section and co-chair of the mentoring committee and panelist for the epidemiology at American Public Health Association.

    • August 18, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speakers : Dr. Sophia Wang and Dr. Jeff Dage

    Dr. Dage and Dr. Wang will talk about current research in using blood based and other biomarkers for early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's and other dementias.

    Both researchers are from the IU School of Medicine and specialize in this area.


    • August 25, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Michelle O'Hollaren

    This talk will explore the relationship between the creative realm of art and the innovative world of technology, highlighting how the two disciplines come together to shape the modern creative industry; including topics such as computer-generated art, 3D printing, virtual reality and immersive art.

    Michelle O'Hollaren is the Vice President of Education and Innovation at the Indianapolis Art Center.

    Sponsored by Jeff Rasley




    • September 01, 2025
    • 12:00 PM


    • September 08, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speakers: Alan Schmidt Ruth Schmidt

    The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was for computational protein design and protein structure prediction.  They can predict proteins' complex structure and have built entirely new proteins.  Proteins can be used as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and tiny sensors.  The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics was for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity. They provide new insights into why there are such vast differences in prosperity between nations.

    Dr. Alan D. Schmidt received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Michigan State University and doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has done industrial polymerization research and development.  He retired from being an environmental engineer at the Indiana Department of Environmental Engineering.

    Ruth Schmidt, PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, MBA, program manager - business mailer payment systems, United States Postal Service,



    • September 22, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Rod Reid

    A STEAM program based around auto racing. Rod will describe the Next Generation Youth Motorsports program. The classroom topics include timing, statistics gathering, and the level of accuracy needed. It also includes physics of the track and the correct line to follow for the greatest success. Mechanics come in to talk about the opportunities and limitations, safety features of the car and ways to avoid injuries.  On the track, the participants learn about the flags used to communicate with the drivers. The instructors cover how fuel economy is balanced with speed and ways to prevent unnecessary braking. The physical forces on the car such as over and under steering, accelerating too much in turns and inappropriate breaking. Auto racing can be a life goal, but this program can spur interest in many other areas.

    Rod Reid has been  the director of NSG Youth Motorsports since 2006. Previously he worked for RLR Associates. He has a degree in Architectural/ Civil Engineering from Purdue University.  He is a board member for the International Center of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Arts Center.

    Sponsored by Bill Halsema

    • October 13, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: James Lowery

    This presentation explains an alternative wastewater treatment system that uses plants to naturally clean wastewater such as domestic (homesite) wastewater, industrial wastewater, business buildings discharges, stormwater, etc.  It will explain how plants clean wastewater and the different types of constructed wetlands.


    James Lowery is former Director of Management Support Services , University of Birmingham


    Sponsored by Alan Schmidt

    • December 15, 2025
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Richard Gunderman

    After conducting our required annual meeting and the election of officers for 2026, Richard Gunderman will talk about the impact of the life of John Shaw Billings. He was a Civil War Surgeon, founded the National Library of Medicine, developed the Index Medicus, founded the New York Public Library, designed Johns Hopkins Hospital, and introduced punch cards to the US census, laying the groundwork for IBM, as well as many other notable contributions.

    Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD, is Professor of Radiology, IU School of Medicine. He is a Scientech Club member and past speaker.


    • December 22, 2025
    • 12:00 PM


    • December 29, 2025
    • 12:00 PM


    • January 26, 2026
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Dr. Maria Iturbide-Chang

    Wetlands are the unsung heroes of Indiana’s landscapes, providing essential ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and carbon sequestration. Despite their critical role, Indiana has lost over 85% of its original wetlands, leaving these vital ecosystems at risk. This presentation explores the ecological importance of wetlands, their status in Indiana, and the challenges they face due to policy changes, development, and environmental degradation. Using science-based insights and real-world examples, we will delve into successful restoration initiatives and advocate for integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning and conservation efforts. The session will also present actionable steps to protect and restore wetlands, including community engagement strategies, policy advocacy, and scalable restoration techniques.

    Maria is the Water policy Director for the Hoosier Environmental Council. As the former Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in Guatemala and the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization FUNCAGUA (water fund) for nine years, she spearheaded initiatives in freshwater management, policy formulation, and strategic planning.

    Maria holds a Doctorate in Environmental Policy and Planning from Lincoln University, New Zealand, a Master's in Environmental Sciences, a BS in Biology from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, and postgraduate studies of (i) Nature-Based Solutions for Water Challenges from Technische Universitat Dresden, Germany, (ii) Water Cooperation and Diplomacy from the University of Geneva, and (iii) Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy from Purdue University-Indiana.

    Sponsored by Christopher Moore




    • April 06, 2026
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • 2100 E 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220
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    Speaker: Richard Gunderman

    Based on the work of Simone Weil and Iris Murdoch, two of the most formidable women in philosophy in the 20th century, this talk makes the case that how we direct our attention has a bigger impact on the moral dimension of our lives than our sense of right and wrong. In our current political climate, it is a really timely topic.

    Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD, is Professor of Radiology, IU School of Medicine. He is a Scientech Club member and past speaker.


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