Public Lecture Series

Based on the success of our 2011 and 2012 winter lecture series with approximately 200 individuals participating at each event, we intend to continue the series this upcoming season 2013.

These free events will feature internationally recognized scientists who will discuss their work on a variety of topics which address some of the most pressing problems and concerns. They will give an insight into interesting scientific questions and challenges our researchers face everyday in their labs.

"Education and community outreach is a hallmark of the Max Planck Institutes around the world, and this lecture series is an example of the Max Planck Florida Institute's commitment to South Florida," said Carl Minardo, Vice President of the Max Planck Florida Foundation. "We intend to present this series on an annual basis to give the community an overview of the broad research spectrum of the Max Planck Society, as well as our research that is going on at the Max Planck Florida Institute. The general public is invited to our lecture series and will be fascinated by the world of science."

Public Lectures will take place at the Royal Poinciana Chapel Fellowship Hall, 60 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, Florida.

• January 17, 2013 - 6:30 pm - "Unlocking the Mysteries of the Brain" by Dr. David Fitzpatrick, Scientific Director and CEO, Max Planck Florida Institute
• March 14, 2013 - 6:30 pm - "Training a New Generation of Biologists" by Speaker Dr. Ian Baldwin, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany

2012 Lecture topics were:

• "Illuminating Brain Circuits" by Dr. David Fitzpatrick, Scientific Director and CEO, Functional Architecture and Development of Visual Cortex, Max Planck Florida Institute, Jupiter, FL.
• "How the Brain Stores Information" by Prof. Dr. Tobias Bonhoeffer, Director, Department of Cellular and Systems Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.
• "Exploring our Fiery Star, the Sun" by Prof. Dr. Sami Solanki, Department of The Sun and Heliosphere, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany.

2011 Lecture topics were:

• "From the Cockpit of a Fly: How Visual Motion Information is Processed" presented by Dr. Axel Borst, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
• "A Balancing Act: Linking the Global Carbon Cycle to the Mitigation of Climate Change" by Dr. Martin Heimann, Mac Planck Institute of Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
• "The Threat of Plagues" by Dr. Stefan Kaufmann, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany