February 2, 2026 - Week 5
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Today, Monday, February 2 | "Life's Endless Forms: From Ancient Life to Alien Worlds" featuring Betül Kaçar, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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3:30-4:30 pm • Anderson 121 • Biology
As an Associate Professor of Bacteriology, Dr. Kaçar leads the Kaçar Lab which investigates the origins of life, the biology of early Earth and how understanding life's emergence and early mechanisms may assist finding life beyond Earth. The lab is home to the NASA Astrobiology Center for Early Life and Evolution.
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Today, Monday, February 2
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Biochemistry Student Panel - Olin 104, noon-1 pm
Curious about biochemistry at Carleton? Like free pizza? Join upperclassmen to hear about biochem class, summer research experiences, post-Carleton plans, and things they wish they knew.
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Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 3
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Physics Table - Check Radiations Newsletter for location, noon - 1 pm
If you have any sort of interest in Physics or Astronomy, come join other folks who are also interested, and enjoy a community lunch! We usually gather at the LDC at noon each Tuesday (check our newsletter Radiations for any exceptions). If you're off board or on a limited plan, let the cashier know you're there for Physics Table and we'll treat you to lunch!
Biology Comps Presentations - Olin 141, noon-1 pm
Throughout weeks 4-9, we will be hosting comps presentation sessions. All are encouraged to come support the ‘26 comps class and learn about what they learned about on their comps journey! Attendance at the full session counts as seminar credit, and cookies will be served.
Prospective Mathematics and Statistics Major and Minor Meeting - CMC 206, 4-5 pm
Interested students will get a chance to meet some faculty and fellow students, take a sneak peek at our tentative course offerings for next year, learn about both majors, both minors, and our student groups and employment opportunities, and free snacks.
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Inclusion in STEM Lunch on "Inclusion and AI" - Hulings 316, noon-1 pm
Are you interested in inclusion in STEM at Carleton? Are you a student, faculty, or staff member involved in a STEM department? Do you enjoy free pizza? The student organization Gender Minorities in Math and Stats (GeMMS) is hosting a pizza lunch to build community for Carls in STEM. We would particularly like to encourage participation from folks who hold an identity that has historically been marginalized in STEM.
After setting aside time for everyone to get to know each other and eat (free!) lunch, we hope to facilitate an informal conversation within small groups, where we will have semi-structured conversations about inclusion in STEM, specifically around inclusion and AI. At the end of this event, we will provide an anonymous way to share feedback and recommendations for how to make STEM at Carleton more inclusive. Registrations were due on February 1.
Isla Internships Abroad - Hasenstab 105, noon-1 pm
Isla places students in global development internships customized to match their specific skills and interests. There are currently 36 open opportunities in every career sector listed on Handshake for next summer. Hear more about Isla Internships and the opportunity to intern in Kosovo, Bulgaria, Spain, Armenia, North Macedonia, and India, from last year’s interns, Adria Major ’27, Lucia Caputo ’27, and Executive Director, Leila Ali. Lunch is provided. Register here.
Biology Comps Presentations - Anderson 121, noon-1 pm
Throughout weeks 4-9, we will be hosting comps presentation sessions. All are encouraged to come support the ‘26 comps class and learn about what they learned about on their comps journey! Attendance at the full session counts as seminar credit, and cookies will be served.
Chemistry Periodic Table - Anderson, Mohrig student gathering space, noon-1 pm
Join us for this weekly, informal gathering of chemistry students and faculty for lunch. If you are off board, the department will cover your lunch. Go to the Schulze Cafe in the Daugherty Atrium and ask for the chemistry charge.
Bits & Bytes hosts a Grad School Panel - Anderson 329, 3:30-4:30 pm
The panel will feature Eva Cao '25, Sky Lu '25, Quoc Nguyen '23, and Cecilia Enrlichman '24. Join us for treats, beverages, community, and conversation.
Neural ConnectiviTEA - Neuro Ganglion (Olin 101 Lounge), 4:15-5:15 pm
Meet and connect with other Carls interested in neuroscience. Treats and tea provided!
LoveLace hosts Lovelab - Olin 104, 6-7 pm
Lovelace is a warm and empowering space for gender minorities in computer science to connect, learn, and grow together. It's a space to unwind, study for class, and work on all things related to computer science. Anyone can come to Lovelab to enjoy treats, good vibes, great company, and conversation.
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Biology Comps Presentations - Hulings 316, 11 am-noon
Throughout weeks 4-9, we will be hosting comps presentation sessions. All are encouraged to come support the ‘26 comps class and learn about what they learned about on their comps journey! Attendance at the full session counts as seminar credit, and cookies will be served.
Goodsell Observatory Open House - 7-9 pm
Resident astronomers and astronomy students will be on hand to facilitate viewing of the sky and galactic objects we can see from our location, using historical and modern telescopes. Be sure to dress for the weather!
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Math vs. Stats Dodgeball Game - The Rec Center, 1:30-3 pm
No sign up required. Just come to have fun!
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Campus Events and Resources
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Today, Monday, February 2 | "Shared Struggle: The American Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and Black-White Diplomacy" featuring Ronald A. Johnson, Baylor University
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6:15-7:15 pm • Weitz 230 • Office of Intercultural Life
The American Revolution and Haitian Revolution are often studied as separate events within the Age of Revolutions. In his latest book project, We Are All Equal: Turmoil and Triumphs in the Early United States and Revolutionary Haiti, Ronald Angelo Johnson examines shared ideals of liberty and republican governance between early Americans and revolutionary Haitians, two peoples whose defiance of empire transformed the political landscape across the Atlantic world. The presentation will explore connections between Haitian contributions to American independence and, later, US influence in Haiti’s fight against slavery and European tyranny. More information here.
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Open to Carleton Community
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Wednesday, February 4 | Demarcating the Future(s): Genomics, Psychoanalysis, and the Chronotopes of Healing in Brazil with Dr. Rogelio Scott-Insua - Anderson 036, 4-5 pm
Join us as an anthropology candidate discusses understanding the development of mental health systems by focusing on cases and experiences that render visible the internal contradictions of Brazilian society, and the heterogeneity of Latin America before Global North paradigms.
Wednesday, February 18 | Remote Sensing, Land Change & Biodiversity with Dr. Xavier Haro-Carrión, Macalester College - Hasenstab 002, 11:10 am-12:20 pm
Dr. Xavier Haro-Carrión is a land change scientist and assistant professor. Come learn about how he uses remote sensing to study vegetation, land cover, and biodiversity in Ecuador and the Neotropics to contribute to a better understanding of land change processes in rapidly changing environments. Dr. Haro-Carrión will share his research during Dr. Karissa Pepin's Remote Sensing of the Environment class. Please RSVP here by noon on Monday, February 2.
Monday, February 9 | Mental Health First Aid - Hulings 316, 8:30 am-5 pm
In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
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Steve Grove has spent his career at the intersection of politics, media, and tech. His recent book, How I Found Myself in the Midwest, shares his journey of leaving a successful career at Google in Silicon Valley to move back to his home state of Minnesota to join state government, and then local news, where he now serves as the publisher of The Minnesota Star Tribune. Grove has become a national voice on the power of local action to rebuild American institutions, and his talk will explore what he's learned about strengthening technology, government, and media organizations from the inside.
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Design a Fire Fighting Robot
We are conducting a student-led project developing an autonomous mobile robot designed to protect homes in high wildfire risk areas from exterior fires and flying embers. The robot navigates around a house, detects heat, flames, and embers, and actively suppresses fires using a combination of high range water deployment, dry chemical fire suppression (changing to foam), and experimental infrasound based techniques inspired by firefighter methods. Anyone interested in contributing is encouraged to reach out to Ziad Hassan, as there are roles for a wide range of skills and experience levels.
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Monday, February 2 | Q&A Digital Document Accessibility - Online, 2-3 pm
As we work to ensure Carleton's digital presence reflects our mission of inclusion, we are shifting how we manage documents on carleton.edu. The Division of Communications will host a Q&A session to discuss ways to transition website PDF content to standard webpages.
Tuesday, February 3 | LTC Lunch - Extra Time Required - Weitz 236, 11:45 am-1 pm
Carleton's daily timetable can make class field trips challenging. Come hear Professor of Biology, Dan Hernandez, describe how to organize and execute successful field trips outside of regular class time.
Tuesday, February 3 | Ed Tech Tea - Crafting AI Images and Videos - Weitz 231, 3:30-4:30 pm
Let’s learn to coax AI tools into creating images and videos that work for you. We’ll turn “hohum” into “holy smokes!” while exploring tips and prompts that will help you create and animate effectively. Tea and cookies provided.
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News from the Career Center
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Monday, February 9 | Job Fair Prep Session - Anderson Hall 121, 5:30-6:30 pm
At this session, they will cover information about the fair, how to search for employers, how to dress, how to introduce yourself, how many resumes to bring, and more.
Wednesday, February 18 | Minnesota Private Colleges' Job and Internship Fair - Minneapolis Convention Center, 9 am-2 pm
By attending this recruiting fair, you will have the opportunity to network with 200+ Minnesota, regional, and national companies. Bus transportation provided. Register by Monday, February 16.
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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Deadline: Monday, February 2
If you’re a college student considering a career in natural resources, education, or park management, an internship with Minnesota state parks and trails is a great place to start. Our paid internships offer hands-on experience and real-world training in some of the most beautiful places in the state—all while helping you build skills that can open doors to future careers with the DNR and beyond.
Metropolitan Airports Commission Information Security Intern - Deadline: Monday, Feb. 2 at 3 pm
Shadow MAC Information Security staff to learn how airports protect systems and data, then work with staff to identify and execute a project. By the end of the program, the intern will be better versed in IT operations at a major US airport and have implemented a durable improvement to its capabilities.
Metropolitan Airports Commission Sustainability Intern - Deadline: Monday, Feb. 2 at 3 pm
The Sustainability Intern will contribute to impactful sustainability initiatives at one of the nation's busiest airport systems. This internship offers hands-on analytical, research, and communications experience. The internship will have a primary focus on supporting MAC's goal to reduce greenhouse emissions by 80% by 2030, and will also provide support for the water, waste, and engagement goals as needed.
Hernández Lab Summer Research Application - Deadline: Sunday, February 15
Professor Dan Hernández is recruiting several students to join his research team (the EcoCarls!) for Summer 2026. Research this summer will focus on a variety of projects, including studies of the ecosystem impacts of bison reintroduction at Spring Lake Park Reserve, ecological outcomes of prairie restoration practices in the Carleton Arb, and work with local farmers in the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance to monitor the impacts of regenerative agricultural practices on soil ecological processes and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Coe Wilderness Field Station Scholarship - Scholarship Deadline: March 1, 2026
Would a summer course that hones your independent abilities to gather data in the field be of interest? The Wilderness Field Station, run by Coe College, hosts summer field courses for credit that will take you into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and teach you both skills in wilderness travel and professional skills in your area of study. Courses like Ecology and Conservation of Mammals, Northwoods Ecology, or Environmental Justice will teach you how to collect, analyze and present field data, and give you the chops to handle typical field situations.
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When not traveling in the Boundary Waters, you'll work from our Field Station on remote Low Lake, set in the middle of Superior National Forest. Courses are intensive, small, and hands-on, lasting 4 weeks. They provide 4 semester hours of credit that can be transferred to Carleton. More information about the experience
The scholarship provides full tuition, travel expenses, and a $2,500 stipend.
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Technical Associate, Langer Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
This opportunity is brought to you by Carleton alumnus, Ruairi Brown '25. Brown is working in the Langer Lab's Jaklenec Group. It is a bioengineering lab focused on vaccines and drug delivery. The lab is looking for full-time technicians to start in the summer. Click here for more information about the internship with the Langer Lab at MIT.
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Post-Projects for Peace: Narjis Nusaibah '26 reflects on her nonprofit Alo Health and its impact
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Nusaibah provides updates about her work in Bangladesh following her Projects for Peace grant award.
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“I started a nonprofit named Alo Health with the Projects for Peace fellowship,” Nusaibah said. “We run workplace screenings, diagnostic camps, and remote clinics; teach breast self-exams; act as primary providers for suspected cases; and run a research stream to collect the data we need to improve and scale our work. As of now, we have taught around 5,000 women how to do breast self-exams, clinically screened 400 women, and have identified 28 suspected cases.” Read the full article here. |
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Visit Carleton Integrated Math and Science for additional news and research opportunities in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Mathematics & Statistics, Neuroscience, Physics & Astronomy, and Psychology.
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This Week in Science is produced by the Center for Integrated Math and Science. For questions about the newsletter, please contact Kari McMartin.
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