MEDIA ADVISORY: Wine Analysis, Composting and the ‘Tree of Life’ will be Featured at MU’s Missouri Life Sciences Week

Story Contact(s):
Timothy Wall, walltj@missouri.edu, 573-882-3346

WHAT:
The 28th annual celebration of Missouri Life Sciences Week at the University of Missouri will feature numerous events.

On Wednesday, Oliver Fiehn will explain how mass spectrometry can be used to observe wine and grape chemical compositions. Fiehn’s analysis of wine goes beyond the limitations of human palates to provide an objective evaluation of wine flavors. Fiehn is a professor of molecular and cellular biology at the University of California – Davis.

On Friday, National Academy of Sciences member and professor at the University of Texas – Austin David Hillis will explain how research into the evolutionary relationships between different species, or the “Tree of Life,” affects everything from forensic investigations to vaccine development.

During the week, MU scientists also will present more than 300 posters featuring their research. Tuesday evening, a networking event will bring together industry leaders and researchers with the public. Thursday will feature an all-day career conference.

The final event of the week will be a discussion of composting and the food cycle during Saturday Morning Science, MU’s weekly popular science lecture.

The celebration will also include displays featuring MU’s core research facilities and research centers, a large vendor show, an awards presentation recognizing excellence in student research, and a high school outreach program. Missouri Life Sciences Week typically attracts more than 1,000 academic researchers, business leaders and policy makers.

WHO:
The general public is invited.

WHEN:
April 16-21; For a schedule of events: lifesciencesweek.missouri.edu

WHERE:
University of Missouri Bond Life Sciences Center