Make plans to visit nearby Modesto Junior College on several Wednesday afternoons this fall, starting Sept. 14, as the Science Colloquium returns for in-person gatherings.

Programs are hosted from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., at the Modesto Junior College West Campus, Room 115.

This marks the return for in-person talks for the first time since March 2020. Talks will also be recorded for the Science Colloquium’s YouTube site for later viewing.

Here is a list of the upcoming fall programs, open to all.

Sept. 14: Denise Godbout-Avant, Stanislaus County Master Gardener; All About Bees. Bees are fascinating insects that are vital agriculture pollinators. Learn about their anatomy, life stages, types of bees and habits, why they are in trouble and how we can help.

Sept. 28: Christine Gemperle, Almond Farmer, Gemperle Orchards; Growing Almonds and Finding Balance in the Face of Challenges Posed by Climate Change. California’s multibillion dollar almond industry must adapt to climate change. Gemperle is a leader in these efforts. She will discuss how her practices enrich soils naturally, save water, and sequester carbon.

Oct. 12: Heidi Fernandez Meyer, Professor of Mathematics, Modesto Junior College; John Napier: His Life and Early Calculating Devices. Sixteenth-century Scottish mathematician, scientist and inventor, John Napier is best known for his invention of logarithms and for his supposed sorcerous powers. Philosopher David Hume called Napier “the greatest man his country ever produced,” and mathematician Laplace said Napier had “doubled the life of the astronomer” by making calculations easier. In this talk you will hear stories of Napier’s life; you will also learn to use two of his beautifully simple calculating devices: Napier’s Rods and his Location Arithmetic.

Oct. 26: Emma Stein, former MJC student (who has been doing graduate research in Wales); Title of her talk is still to be determined, but the program will be on marine crab behavior.

Nov. 9: Tom Crain, NASA Ambassador; Here Comes the Sun. The sun’s origin, its longevity on the main sequence of stellar life, and what will be a very dramatic ending will be discussed. Breathtaking photos and videos from telescope observatories focused on the sun providing us with 24/7 coverage of what is happening will be included.

Science Colloquium Committee members putting the series together include Jill Cross, Denise Godbout-Avant, Troy Gravatt, Deborah Martin, Elizabeth McInnes, Erin Thompson, Catherine Tripp, and Richard Anderson.