June H-F Science Pub Focuses on Marine Mammals

Science fans, mark your calendar for Tuesday, June 24 at 8 p.m.

Shedd Aquarium's Vice President of Animal Health Bill Van Bonn, DVM will be the guest speaker at June's Homewood-Flossmoor Science Pub, to be held at Ravisloe Country Club, 18231 S Park Ave. in Homewood.  The setting is casual, and drinks can be ordered at any time during the lecture, before or after. 

Van Bonn will highlight the anatomy and physiology of whales, dolphins and sea lions—creatures that have adapted to live in the world's oceans which are "really pretty hostile environments for mammals.

"We will talk about how marine mammals have 'figured out' how to thrive in the oceans by developing some pretty incredible 'tricks of nature'," Van Bonn said in an email. "Things like how they stay warm, how they dive to great depths, how they stay vigilant against predators and so on. In addition we will touch on other things we have learned from the privilege of working closely with them, including things that may help us address important emerging questions related to human health."

Van Bonn has attended past science pub events, and was inspired to start a similar program at Shedd. The events will run in conjunction with the summer Jazzin' at the Shedd program. Shedd science pubs are set for July 23, Aug. 20 and Sept. 3. A scientist will present in the Phelps Auditorium, Van Bonn said. Click here for more information.

"It occurred to me that the aquarium could provide a similar venue for the downtown Chicago area and that it would be a great way to showcase some of the real science being done at the aquarium," Van Bonn said. 


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