‘Fires and floods’ seminar Friday to focus on how analytical chemistry can help people understand the natural world

How can chemistry be utilized to understand impacts to the environment?

That question will be answered during a Friday science seminar hosted by Southern Oregon University assistant professor Chris Babayco, Ph.D., organizers have announced. The talk, “Fires and floods: exploring environmental questions with analytical chemistry methods,” will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at the SOU Science Building, room 151. It is open to the public.

Babayco will discuss how analytical chemistry, defined by the American Chemical Society as “the science of obtaining, processing, and communicating information about the composition and structure of matter,” can be paired with biological study methods to understand how humans effect the natural world.

Topics discussed will include how scientists used cocaine to track the movement of wastewater within a Missouri conservation area and ongoing impacts to Bear Creek from the Almeda Fire and Interstate 5.