Hearing at the Microscopic Level

Hearing is an experience so ubiquitous that many of us take it for granted. Yet this seemingly simple process contains incredible complexity and wonderfully strange sights. From hammers and drums to hair cells and mysterious molecules, come and join us for a tour of hearing from the macroscopic to the microscopic.  

Chris Hoel is a PhD student in the Molecular and Cell Biology program at UC Berkeley. He loves running, backpacking, skiing, and any other chance to appreciate the outdoors. He considers the east coast home, but has come to love the Bay and is forever in pursuit of the perfect espresso.

The Many Magnets Within and Around Us

From electric shavers, flash drives and smartphones to the core of our planet and neutron stars, magnets are all around us, and even inside of us! But where does magnetism come from? Ashley, a researcher of novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques and magnet geek extraordinaire, will give a fundamental explanation to the origin of this ubiquitous, invisible force, and introduce us to the mysterious magnetism within our own bodies.

 

Ashley Truxal is a 5th year PhD student at UC Berkeley. Using her background in physical chemistry, she develops new techniques in MRI with the goal of enabling faster, more precise, and more convenient imaging. When not stuck under superconducting magnets, she enjoys hunting for free food, camping, hiking, and other general outdoor exploration, as well as applying her lab skills to motorcycle maintenance.