Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, December 15th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! We will be joined by Dr. Jack Keene, who has a long-term interest in the structure and function of viral and mammalian genomes. Having determined the first genomic sequences for rabies, Ebola, Marburg and vesicular stomatitis virus, and discerned the origins of defective interfering viruses, interests shifted to the cloning of six human genes involved in autoimmune reactivity. During this event we will be exploring studies with viruses, autoimmunity, and regulation of mRNAs.

The western doors up the big stairs will open at 5:30 for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:00 and wrap up around 7:00.

About Dr. Keene

Jack D. Keene is a James B. Duke Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University where he studies the regulation of RNA and the mechanisms of RNA-protein interactions. His work includes many accolades isolating the first human autoimmune antigen.

Jack’s father was a schoolteacher in mathematics who was one of the first to use computers for the military. His family moved to 10 different locations where he worked for the Air Force to set up computers. Thus, Jack became a scientist at 9 years old because he got to see so many interesting things with his father. Biology became his love at the University of California and University of Washington and trained at the NIH for 4 years and then became a faculty member of Duke University in 1979.

Program Schedule

5:30 pm – Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Pizza social. Pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Discussion & activities. Presentations will take place at the Science Stage located on the 1st floor.

*Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.