Science & Suds, Event 3

This series support student fellowships at CDLS, turning good beer and great conversation into real impact.

We believe science belongs in community spaces — not just classrooms and conferences. That’s why we’re teaming up with Los Angeles Ale Works – Culver City for Science & Suds, a new series where CDLS Fellows bring their research beyond the university and into the community.

Join us for our third event on August 11 from 7 pm – 8:30 pm for engaging talks from Fellows tackling big questions about our environment, our communities, and our future.

Your $5 RSVP will be matched by LA Ale Works. RSVPs aren’t required, but space is limited, and an RSVP helps us plan (and maximize the donation!).

Please note: this is a 21+ event.

Randy Flores

Teeth Tell Tales: The Physiology of Giant Sharks and Dinosaurs

Could T. Rex have stayed warm in freezing climates? Did Megalodon have an appetite so big that it contributed to its extinction? In this talk, we’ll discuss how studying the chemistry of fossilized teeth can help us answer questions like these and more. Through unraveling mysteries surrounding some of the most iconic creatures in Earth’s history, we will explore how investigating the physiology of long extinct animals can help us better understand the impact of environmental change on animals alive today.

Randy Flores is a PhD student at UCLA who uses geochemical proxies to study the physiology of extinct animals.

Danielle Hoague

Lead contamination in Watts and what’s being done about it

Lead contamination in Watts and what’s being done about it? Well, it’s a complicated story! Watts has the largest concentration of public housing west of the Mississippi, and all four developments were built in the 1940s- before lead pipes were banned in the State of CA in 1985. Lead is a dangerous heavy metal and neurotoxin that causes severe damage to the central nervous system. Lead is especially dangerous for kids because they are more affected by small amounts of lead exposure that can build up in their blood and skeletal systems.

Dani Hoague is a sixth-year graduate student at UCLA, specializing in Environmental Justice. Her research and activism focus on reducing toxic lead exposure in drinking water in Watts, Los Angeles. Growing up in Altadena, CA, Dani experienced firsthand the impacts of environmental injustice due to toxic water contamination, fueling her commitment to addressing systemic inequities in underserved communities.

For Dani, the most crucial aspect of community-driven environmental justice is collective organizing and action. She believes diversity in STEM is essential for building trust and fostering meaningful relationships in minority communities, ensuring that people see advocates who reflect their lived experiences. Beyond her academic and advocacy work, Dani finds healing and connection through crochet. She hosts “Crochet Corners” in Watts and Altadena, creating meditative spaces that honor ancestral healing practices for communities of color. As a third-generation Altadena/Pasadena “Dena” resident, she is deeply committed to the empowerment of her Black community. Dani aspires to continue her work in reducing toxic exposure in Watts and advocating for environmental justice in Los Angeles.

Location

Los Angeles Ale Works – Culver City
8809 Washington Blvd, Suite 132, Culver City, CA 90232

Please note Los Angeles Ale Works has multiple venues. This event is at the Culver City location. See the image below to see where to park and how to find the entrance.