Adult Programs

Upcoming Virtual Café Sci presentations:

September 6
Carla Rosenfeld
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
October 4
Alex Moskowitz
Carnegie Mellon University
November 1
Sandra DeVincent Wolf
Carnegie Mellon University
December 6
Coming Soon

Join us for Café Scientifique

Interested in science? Want to learn more about the latest technology breakthroughs in normal English, minus the jargon? Then Café Scientifique Pittsburgh at Carnegie Science Center is the place to be!

Café Sci is THE place in Pittsburgh where anyone interested in science can get together in a virtual setting to discuss today's science issues with experts, and best of all... you can ask your own questions! After a brief talk by our monthly guest speaker, the evening is dedicated to a question-and-answer session.

Presented by:

Sponsored by:

Virtual Café Sci: Phosphates and Pittsburgh’s Streams

Virtual Café Sci:
Phosphates and Pittsburgh’s Streams

Mon., Aug. 2
7–9 pm

Presenter

Dr. Anusha Balangoda, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Geology and Environmental Science,
Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach; University of Pittsburgh

Image courtesy of Malinda Sanjaka

Orthophosphates are the most biologically available and readily usable form of phosphorus for plant growth in aquatic ecosystems, but did you know they are also used as a corrosion inhibitor to prevent the release of lead in old pipes? Join Dr. Anusha Balangoda as she discusses the potential of these phosphates to contribute to increased plant growth—and drops in oxygen levels—in urban streams.

About Dr. Anusha Balangoda:

Dr. Anusha Balangoda is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Geology and Environmental Science and Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach at the University of Pittsburgh since 2019. She earned her PhD in Environmental Science from North Dakota State University. Her research examines nutrient dynamics, speciation, and sources, focusing on environmental controls of algal production and assessing causes and consequences of cultural eutrophication of freshwater systems ranging from lakes and reservoirs to urban streams and rivers. Her research employs a wide range of approaches from aquatic ecology, limnology, biogeochemistry, and hydrology. Dr. Balangoda is working on the NSF-funded collaborative project, “Assessing the Ecosystem Impact of Drinking Water Orthophosphate Addition on Urban Watersheds” with researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and collaborator Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

About our Virtual Café Sci:

The event is FREE to attend, but preregistration is required ! Carnegie Science Center would like to continue to offer programs like Café Sci, Women in STEM, and others. Please consider making a donation when you register. Once you sign up, you’ll get an email confirmation with instructions on how to enter the event. Have a question for Dr. Balangoda? You’ll be able to type your questions in the Q&A section during the presentation!

We want to hear from you!

What impact has Café Sci had on you? Are you a scientist interested in speaking at Café Sci? Do you have a recommendation for a speaker or topic? Contact us at info@carnegiesciencecenter.org.