The Scientech Club upcoming events

The Acoustic Science Behind Singing and the Mechanics of the Throat (June 15, 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Dana Zenobi

The talk will cover the acoustical elements of singing and the anatomy of the throat. Science has found ways to improve singing just as it has athletic performance. The talk will show how art and science intersect in vocal performance.

Dana Zenobi is equally accomplished as performer and pedagogue. She has earned national recognition as an interpreter of Art Song by women and has garnered success in operatic roles ranging from Mozart heroines Konstanze and Donna Elvira to Verdi’s Violetta Valéry. Currently based in Indianapolis, IN, she is an active recitalist, presenter, and concert soloist. She is on the faculty at Butler University, where she teaches Voice Pedagogy, Diction, Opera Literature, and Art Song Literature.

Treating Mental Illness in the 19th Century (June 22, 2026)

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: John Langdon

Superintendents of 19th Century mental hospitals struggled to treat illnesses they did not understand. In theory, the approach of Moral Treatment was humane and promising. In practice, clinical tools were limited and the lack of resources negated their effectiveness.

John Langdon is Professor Emeritus of Biology and Anthropology, University of Indianapolis. He has broad interests in human biology, history of science, and general history.

No Meeting - Independence Day 250 (July 06, 2026)

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Col. Eli Lilly (July 13, 2026)

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Richard Gunderman

Eli Lilly and Co, founded in 1876, is the largest private corporation in Indiana, and the Lilly Endowment is the largest private philanthropy in the US.

Richard Gunderman is Chancellor's Professor of Radiology at the IU School of Medicine. He is a member of the Scientech Club and a frequent program contributor.

STEM Education in Early Childhood (July 20, 2026)

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Karan Young

Before children read fluently, calculate logically, or think scientifically, the brain must first build the architecture for learning — a foundation on which all future learning depends. During these early critical years, the brain forms more than one million new neural connections every second; what is used is strengthened, and what is unused is pruned.

This presentation connects modern brain research with Montessori’s understanding of movement, language, independence, attention, self-regulation and nature — an educational approach increasingly supported by neuroscience.

As education struggles to prepare children for tomorrow’s world, the question becomes: what kinds of experiences most profoundly develop the human mind?

Karan Young is a highly experienced and trained educator of young children, ages 2-6, particularly in the Montessori method. She has a BA from the University of Tennessee, a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Loyola University, 2 AMI Montessori diplomas (0-3 and 3-6) as well as a certificate in Brain Based learning. She founded four Int’l Montessori schools, 2 in Helsinki, Finland and 2 in St. Petersburg, Russia which she led for 20 years. She has worked on four continents as an educational leader and guide.

Indiana Weather and Climate: A Look at the Past, Present and Future (August 10, 2026)

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Sam Lashley

This talk will examine past weather and climate trends, recent weather events, and potential future weather conditions across Indiana.

Sam Lashley is a veteran meteorologist with over 33 years of operational experience, culminating in his retirement in 2025 as the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) in Indianapolis. In that capacity, Sam served as the primary liaison for state and local partners, leading Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) to strengthen community resilience against severe weather and hydrological hazards. Today, Sam is the founder of Sunny Sam Enterprises LLC, a natural hazards consulting service specializing in preparedness and safety planning along with table top exercises focused on natural hazard event planning, operations, and recovery. Sam was born and raised in Crawfordsville, IN where he lives today with his wife Lesley.

The Making of Modern Medical Education in 20th Century China (August 31, 2026)

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Wendy Lee

During the 20th Century, China underwent one of the most remarkable public health transformations in human history. Its population grew from 400 million to 1.26 billion. Life expectancy increased from 35-40 years to more than 70 years. This achievement depended on the introduciton of modern medical science and the creation of institutions capable of training generations of physicians, researchers and public health professionals. This talk will include the contributions of Dr. Chung-un Lee, a little known but important figure in his generation.

Wei-Hua (Wendy) Lee is a retired Associate Professor of Pediatrics and anatomy at the IU School of Medicine. She taught neurobiology and condocuted research on neonatal brain injury for more than two decades. She received her medical training at Capital Medical University in China and earned her PhD in Pharmacology from IU> A former HIH-funded investigator, she has authored or co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed articles and led multiple exernally funded research projects. Since her retiremen, Lee has conducted extensive archival research in China, the UK, the US and Taiwan. Her research draws on institutional archives from Peking Union Medical College, the Guizhou Provincial Archives, the Rockefeller Archive Center, the University of Glasgow, family papers and unpublished materials. She has conducted interviews with former students and colleagues of Chung-un Lee, perserving first hand testimony not available elsewhere. Lee is the granddaughter of Chung-un Lee and resides in Indianapolis.

No Meeting - Labor Day (September 07, 2026)

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

How to Live Past 60 with the Best Quality of Life - By an Old Doctor (September 14, 2026)

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Glenn Bingle

This talk will be an update to an earlier talk on the Science of Aging. It will include new findings on the role of the immune system and innovative anti-aging therapies. The subtitle will be Who do you believe and follow: Drs Ko and Bingle or Dr. Eric Topol or Peter Attia.

Glenn Bingle was the chief medical officer of the Community Health Network, retired and chief of Medical Genetics. He also was a volunteer Clinic Professor of Medicine and Medical Molecular Genetics at the IU School of Medicine.

No Meeting - Christmas (December 21, 2026)

Mon, 21 Dec 2026 17:00:00 GMT

No Meeting - New Years (December 28, 2026)

Mon, 28 Dec 2026 17:00:00 GMT