Seminar Series
Upcoming Seminar
The Hidden (and not so hidden) World of Sexual Diversity
Dr. Thomas Sanger, Loyola University Chicago
March 19, 2026
4:00pm-5:00pm via Zoom
Join 3/19 Zoom
Meeting ID: 845 7121 0189
There is a deep chasm separating the way the public perceives sex, the ways that scientists study sex, and the ways that medical practitioners describe sex. This affects how public opinion and policy are shaped, especially when scientists' voices are drowned out by those with political aspirations and financial agendas. In this seminar, I will discuss the biological basis of sex and sexual diversity from a Developmental and Evolutionary Biologist's perspective. By using examples from across animals, including humans, I will demonstrate that there is a spectacular spectrum of sexual traits in nature, many of which deviate from the simplistic notions of sex illustrated in introductory textbooks. Along the way, I will share proven communication strategies to help us all convey difficult scientific topics to a broader audience.
About the Seminar Series
The Seminar Series is a unique opportunity for students to learn about new developments in biology and what biologists do after they graduate. Hosted by the Department of Biological Sciences at California State University, Long Beach, the weekly meetings invite guests from universities, research laboratories, and industry to present and discuss current topics in biology. All students are encouraged to attend.
Seminar Coordinator
For information and suggestions about our Seminar Series, please contact the seminar coordinator:
Dr. Houng-Wei Tsai
Houng-Wei.Tsai@csulb.edu
Schedule
| Date | Title | Speaker and Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| March 19, 2026 | The Hidden (and not so hidden) World of Sexual Diversity | Dr. Thomas Sanger, Loyola University Chicago |
| March 26, 2026 | Cell-type specific impact of Genetic Variation in a Multicellular organism | Dr. Ryan Weber, UC Irvine |
| April 9, 2026 | Using the mouse adrenal gland as a model to study cell differentiation, aging, and function | Dr. Jeff Huang, Auburn University |
| April 16, 2026 | TBA | Dr. Huifei Huang, City of Hope |
| April 23, 2026 | TBA | Dr. Kwasi Connor, UC Irvine |
| April 30, 2026 | TBA | Dr. Yangfan Zhang, Harvard University |
| May 7, 2026 | TBA | TBA |
Previous Seminars
| Date | Title | Speaker and Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| March 5, 2026 | After the High: Neurobehavioral investigation of motivational and cognitive deficits during opiate withdrawal | Dr. Briac Halbout, CSU Long Beach |
| February 26, 2026 | Why Women, Why Sleep, and Why Midlife Matter for Alzheimer's Disease Risk | Dr. Negin Sattari, UC Irvine |
| February 19, 2026 | The mysterious ecosystems of the ocean's surface | Dr. Rebecca Helm, Georgetown University |
| February 5, 2026 | Applying benthic ecology for coastal management for oyster reefs and salt marshes | Dr. John Carroll, Georgia Southern University |
The Seminar Series Archive has topics from previous semesters.
