The Scientech Club upcoming events

Phenology in Indiana: Observing Nature Across Time (April 20, 2026)

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Amanda Wanlass

Phenology—the study of seasonal events in plants and animals—is one of the oldest and most accessible forms of scientific observation. From early records by Chinese emperors to naturalists like Thoreau and Indiana’s Charles C. Deam, to modern citizen science programs, phenology helps us understand how species interact and respond to environmental change. The presentation reviews the history of phenology observation, both broadly and in Indiana, and shows how past records connect to present-day research. It also highlights current efforts to document seasonal events in Indiana and the tools used to track and understand local ecosystems and climate impacts across the state.

Amanda Wanlass is the Executive Director of Indiana Phenology, where she uses citizen science observations, historical records, and ecological data to examine temporal and spatial trends and patterns in plant phenology across Indiana. She holds master’s degrees in Environmental Science and Public Affairs from Indiana University and works with Butler University’s Friesner Herbarium, supporting specimen preparation, curation, and data management.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Classification, management, and sequelae (April 27, 2026)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Patricia Garcia

This presentation focused on adult patients will provide an explanation of the different mechanisms of injury, how severity is classified, ICU management of moderate/severe TBIs, tools for tracking recovery, and neuropsychological sequelae as it applies to cognitive and personality/behavioral domains. Neuroanatomical correlates will be highlighted when discussing the most commonly seen neurocognitive deficits.

Patricia Garcia, PsyD, HSPP is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation who specializes in the neurocognitive and psychiatric assessment of adult populations. Clinically, Dr.

Garcia evaluates a variety of adult patients with acquired and neurodegenerative diseases affecting cognition and personality. Her research interests include cognitive aging after a brain injury, neuropsychiatric sequelae following brain lesions, and cultural adaptations of psychological/behavioral interventions addressing neuropsychiatric symptoms. She graduated from Albizu University in Miami FL with a concentration in neuropsychology, and went on to complete internship and fellowship training in neuropsychology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and Jackson Memorial Hospital where she received extensive training on the neurocognitive assessment of trauma populations, including brain injury and stroke, both at acute/inpatient settings at the nation-renowned Ryder Trauma Center, and outpatient clinics. Dr. Garcia is past chair of Culture and Diversity Task Force in Traumatic Brain Injury from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and is current faculty with the Outreach Recruitment and Engagement (OREC) core of the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (IADRC).

The Neuroscience of Addiction (May 04, 2026)

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Christopher Lapish

Dr. Lapish will discuss the changes n the brain that are observed in addiction. He will discuss his work in animal models of addiction. A heavy focus will be on conemporary mtehods for recording and modifying neural activity.

Christopher Lapish is a professor of Neuroscience at the IU School of Medicine.

Do you know where your feet are? Proprioception, balance and joint replacement (May 18, 2026)

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Janet Hock

Research shows that hearing loss is the greatest risk factor for falling, especially in older people, and following hip or knee replacement surgery or skeletal fractures. Balance is also affected by the loss of proprioception, the sense of where one’s body is in space, when nerve pathways to the brain are disrupted by orthopedic surgery. Many orthopedists and physical therapists are not aware of how important hearing is as a risk factor in falls in their surgical patients. A brief overview of diagnosis and treatment options for hearing loss will be reviewed.

Janet Hock is a retired professor, biomedical research scientist and periodontist. She has worked in university, pharmaceutical and biotech settings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maine and Indiana. She is a current club member.

No Meeting - Memorial Day (May 25, 2026)

Mon, 25 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Metals and Minerals (June 01, 2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: David DeBrota

The speaker will focus on structural metal elements like iron, copper, aluminum, magnesium, and tin. He will have samples of metals and metal ores.

David DeBrota has spoken many times at Scientech. He's not a metallurgist, geologist, or gemologist, but would be willing to play one on TV. He reads about and collects mineral and element specimens.

Coding Breaking before, during and after WW II (June 08, 2026)

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Charlie Shoup

World War II was the first major conflict where electronic communications played an important role in executing military strategies. The Axis and Allied powers went to great lengths to encode electronic messages to hide their contents from their enemies.

This talk will focus on the ways that the Allies in particular were able to break these codes and the importance of this to the outcome of the war.

Charlie Shoup is an emeritus member and past president of the Scientech Club. He has degrees from Princeton Univesity and the University of Tennessee where he recieved his MS and PhD. He is retired after working for the Cabot Corporation for many years.

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.

Managing Wastewater Treatment (June 22, 2026)

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Speaker: Rick Reed

The speake will talk about the engineering involved in identifying and addressing problems in wastewater managment in the Indianapolis area.

Rick Reed is a Service Condition Analyst for Citizens Energy Group.

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.

No Meeting - Labor Day (September 07, 2026)

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

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