All members of the University community are invited to Science 2019, Pitt’s 19th annual celebration of science and technology. This year’s theme is “Question” — the building blocks of scientific knowledge.
This three-day symposium takes place Wednesday, Oct. 16, through Friday, Oct. 18, and has something for everyone, including faculty, staff, scientists, students, physicians and others interested in exploring the region’s strengths in science and technology.
Over the course of two days, a dozen sessions will feature presentations by multiple faculty researchers exploring hot topics in science from diverse viewpoints.
Topics under the microscope at Science 2019 include:
Inflammation, Immunology, and Disease
Mapping and Understanding the Brain
It’s the Only Planet We Have
Harnessing Technologies and Systems To Solve Real-World Problems
Cellular and Protein Signaling and Trafficking
Gene Expression, Development, and Disease
Mechanisms of Regeneration
Novel Therapeutic Strategies
New Materials and Their Applications
Artificial Intelligence
Oxidative Stress
Tumorigenesis — Speeding It Up and Putting on the Brakes
For detailed information on spotlight sessions’ locations, visitscience.pitt.edu.
All events at Science 2019 are free and open to the public. On-site registration is available in Alumni Hall throughout the event. For details, visit science.pitt.edu.
Highlights for the 2019 event include:
Special Symposium: William (Chet) de Groat, PhD — 51 Years as a Pitt Faculty Icon
Wednesday, Oct. 16
2–5 p.m.
Alumni Hall, Room 121
This symposium recognizes the unparalleled research advances, teaching and mentoring that have been provided to the University community by Chet de Groat, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology. Though de Groat officially retired in May 2019, he continues to publish important new advances and provide mentorship to colleagues.
Michael G. Wells Entrepreneurial Scholars Lecture
Wednesday, Oct. 16
4 p.m.
Alumni Hall, Auditorium, seventh floor
This year’s Wells Lecture features a panel of Wells Student Health Care Competition alumni who went on to form startup companies. They will share their experiences launching companies from the University and the opportunities and challenges of growing their companies as part of the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Michael G. Wells Student Health Care Competition and Kuzneski Innovation Cup
Wednesday, Oct. 16
4:45 p.m.
Alumni Hall, Auditorium, seventh floor
The Michael G. Wells Student Health Care Competition brings together Pitt students who are developing health care innovations. The competition is sponsored by the Michael G. Wells Entrepreneurial Scholars Fund.
The Kuzneski Innovation Cup, sponsored by local entrepreneurs Andrew and Laurie Kuzneski, involves Pitt students who are developing innovations in fields outside of health care that can improve people’s lives.
Opening Reception and Innovation Showcase
Wednesday, Oct. 16
5 p.m.
Alumni Hall, J.W. Connolly Ballroom, first floor
Join the Innovation Institute for a first look at the latest Pitt-generated innovations in health care, assistive technologies, Internet of things, information technology, human performance and more. Many of these technologies are available for licensing, and others already form the basis of local, early-stage companies.
You will have the unique opportunity to network with these inventors and founders, as well as with local entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders. Don’t miss this opportunity to view novel Pitt discoveries that have already received development funding and mentorship from a host of sources on campus. All Science 2019 registrants are invited to this eagerly anticipated opening reception.
Keynote Talks
Thursday, Oct. 17
11 a.m.
Alumni Hall, Auditorium, seventh floor
The Dickson Prize in Medicine, the highest honor bestowed by the School of Medicine, will be presented to Ruslan Medzhitov, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at Yale University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, for his discoveries related to the human immune response. Medzhitov will present the 2019 Dickson Prize in Medicine Lecture, “Host Defense Strategies.”
Other Science 2019 plenary speakers include:
Thursday, Oct. 17
4 p.m.
Alumni Hall, Auditorium, seventh floor
Dina Katabi, Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will give the Hofmann Lecture, “Health Monitoring with Machine Learning and Wireless Sensors.”
Friday, Oct. 18
11 a.m.
Alumni Hall, Auditorium, seventh floor
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, scientific director at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, will present the Mellon Lecture, “Past, Present, and Possible Futures for Regeneration Research.”
Friday, Oct. 18
4 p.m.
Alumni Hall, Auditorium, seventh floor
Alfred Spector, chief technology officer and head of engineering at Two Sigma, will present the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research Lecture, “Research on the Edge of the Expanding Sphere V. 2.0.”