“Radiation: Facts, Fantasies and Phobias” is the topic of the next Science Café on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. in Omaha. Attendees will hear from David Crouse, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Those who attend will learn about how public perceptions of human radiation exposure have developed over time and how that fits with current scientific evidence. The lecture will address what is known about acute and chronic radiation exposure in humans and discuss recent events following the earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, Japan as well as other historic events.

Dr. Crouse, who also serves as interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and graduate studies, received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Illinois University and his doctoral degree in radiobiology from the University of Iowa.
In 1977, after three years of doing his post-doctoral training at Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago studying the late effects of radiation, Dr. Crouse joined UNMC as an assistant professor. His research interests, mostly funded by the National Institutes of Health, have been related to the re-development of the immune and hematopoietic systems following radiation exposure and bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
Dr. Crouse has taught in many areas of cell biology and radiation biology and has taken a lead role in promoting an understanding of the science and ethics that relate to stem cell biology. He has developed programs and taught courses on responsible conduct in research and other important career issues for graduate students, post-docs and junior faculty.

Science Café is a free educational event to increase the population’s science literacy. Hosted by UNMC, Bio Nebraska and the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, Science Cafés are held the first Tuesday of each month in Omaha and one Thursday every other month in Lincoln.