Past Events
Each year the ARCS San Diego Chapter has special events and field trips of a scientific nature to inform our members about the latest developments in science and technology.
June 3, 2025: Summer General Meeting
On a tranquil morning in early June, ARCS members and guests gathered at the La Jolla Country Club for the Summer General Meeting to close out the 2024/2025 fiscal year. President Leslie Bruce kicked off the meeting with an impressive summary of this year’s accomplishments and expressed her sincere thanks to all those who contributed their time, talent and treasure along the way. Cathie Atkins, this year’s SOY Chair, then followed up with further congratulations to members of the SOY Planning Committee, who pulled off another spectacular SOY Celebration and garnered over $100,000 in additional Scholar Award funds.
Cindy Goodman was next on the agenda with a pitch for the Legacy Society and its importance to the future of our chapter. Then came Laurie Roeder, VP of Membership, with a reminder that the deadline for membership dues was June 30th. The final item on the business agenda was to vote on the 2025-2026 Slate of Officers, which was unanimous in its favor.
It was then time to introduce our speaker, Dr. Megan Jennings, a conservation ecologist and co-director of SDSU’s Institute for Ecological Monitoring and Management. Megan was an ARCS Scholar at SDSU back in 2022-2012, when Robin Luby was president of our chapter. Those who knew Meganr back then were so impressed to see how much she had grown in her career. She delivered a fantastic talk about the important work she is doing in wildlife management, conservation planning, and supporting resilience to climate change in our local communities. After a brief, but lively, Q&A, lunch was served and we spent the next hour enjoying each other’s company. Couldn’t ask for a sweeter, more joyful, finish to the year!
April 13, 2025: Scientist of the Year Celebration
Oh what a night! The Conrad was literally buzzing with excitement as we gathered to celebrate our 2025 Scientist of the Year, Dr. Rob Knight, a renowned microbiome pioneer at UC San Diego, along with this year’s Scholars, all 50 of them!
As guests arrived in the courtyard, they were treated to a full-sensory experience, beginning with the sweet tones of the harp played by Candace LiVolsi, followed by the gorgeous flower centerpieces arranged by Christine Flora, and continuing with the tasty drinks and hors d’oeuvres served by Giuseppe Fine Catering.
Guests then moved into the JAI for the high point of the opening reception - the Scholar poster presentations - where they delighted in meeting one-on-one with these young scientists and learning about their research.
Soon it was time to move into the main auditorium for the start of the program. Our fearless leader, Leslie Bruce, welcomed the audience and then announced the arrival of the Scholars, who proceeded to march on stage accompanied by the traditional trumpet music (written by Kevin Yturralde). Next up was a heart-warming video collage of Scholar introductions put together by the masterful Rob Healey. This was followed by an inspiring video message from Scholar alum Dr. Kathryn Patras, Assistant Professor of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Stan Maloy then took the stage and introduced his good friend and colleague, and this year’s Scientist of the Year, Dr. Rob Knight. Dr. Knight proceeded to wow us with his insights about the profound impact that our microbiome has on our mental and physical health and received a standing ovation from a very enthusiastic and supportive audience! To close out the evening, guests moved into the courtyard for dessert and more lively conversation.
Hats off to the SOY Committee for organizing this spectacular celebration, or, as Rob Healey would say, “High fives all around!” SOY Committee: Cathie Atkins (Chair), Kathe Albrecht, Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins, Leslie Bruce, Rachel Collins, Margaret Dudas, Catie Madani, Lisa Perich, Laurie Roeder, Marla Shepard, Tami Strachan, Pam Werner. Technical Support: Rob Healey
Thanks also to Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins and Michael Roeder for these record shots of the event!
You may view the event on YouTube by clicking HERE
January 28, 2025: Winter General Meeting
On a crisp, sunny morning in late January, approximately fifty ARCS members and guests gathered at the La Jolla Country Club for ARCS San Diego's Winter General Meeting. President Leslie Bruce presided over the meeting with a very full agenda, including a toast to the chapter's 40th anniversary. ARCS member Barbara Bry summarized the meeting highlights in the following write-up and Laurie Roeder shared the accompanying photos. Enjoy!
INGRID BENIRSCHKE-PERKINS HONORED AS 2024 ARCS LIGHT FOR TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIPIn an emotional ceremony, Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins was celebrated as the 2024 ARCS Light, recognizing her impact on ARCS San Diego Chapter dramatically expanding its digital presence, and amplifying the achievements of tomorrow's scientific leaders. Each year, ARCS chapters select one member to be recognized for providing the highest quality of long-time service. ARCS Light committee members were President Leslie Bruce and former ARCS Light honorees Doris Ellsworth and Peggy Hanley. "Ingrid possesses a wealth of qualities that make her a huge success as an ARCS colleague, mentor and leader,” noted 2023 ARCS Light recipient Kim Miller. Beyond chairing the prestigious Scientist of the Year event, Benirschke-Perkins spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive Scholar Alumni directory. Visibly moved upon receiving the award, Benirschke-Perkins shared, "To be thanked for what you love doing is icing on the cake. The mission resonates with my passion and interests." Her emotional response underscored the deep personal investment ARCS members bring to nurturing the next generation of scientific pioneers.
EXCLUSIVE DINING EXPERIENCE: PRESIDENT LESLIE BRUCE OPENS HER HOME TO CHAMPION ARCS SCHOLARS
In an innovative approach to scholarship fundraising, President Leslie Bruce offered an intimate dinner experience at her home for three fortunate donors. All contributions to the scholarship fund made before February 14 would qualify for this unique opportunity to deepen connections within the ARCS community.
ARCS SCHOLAR SUCCESS STORY; FROM GRADUATE STUDENT TO BIOTECH VICE PRESIDENT
Dr. Leslie Nangle's journey from ARCS Scholar to Vice President of Research at aTyr Pharma News exemplifies the transformative power of ARCS support. Now leading groundbreaking research in rare diseases, Nangle credits ARCS with providing crucial early-career support during her PhD studies at Scripps Research. "The support of ARCS helped propel me forward and made me feel part of a community," Nangle reflected, sharing how this foundation led to her pioneering work on treatments for pulmonary sarcoidosis, offering hope to patients currently limited to steroid treatments with severe side effects. Drawing inspiration from Georgia O'Keeffe's words about courage in the face of fear, Nangle has risen from junior scientist to executive leadership, championing a corporate culture built on empathy, transparency, and collaboration. Her connection to ARCS runs deep - her PhD advisor, Dr. Paul Schimmel, 2020 ARCS Scientist of the Year, co-founded aTyr, creating a lasting legacy of scientific excellence and mentorship, and he is a major donor to the ARCS scholarship fund.
December 8, 2024: Holiday Party
More than 50 ARCS members, Scholars, and guests gathered at the San Diego Yacht Club for the annual holiday party on a cool, crisp Sunday afternoon! It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season, surrounded by friends and holiday cheer, while enjoying delicious food and drink in the most festive of settings. Kudos to Lisa Perich and her team for organizing such a memorable holiday celebration! And our thanks to Mike Roeder for capturing the merriment in these photos!
October 29, 2024: Fall General Meeting
San Diego Chapter founders Karen Bowden and Pattie Wellborn were among the 80+ ARCS members, guests and Scholars applauding 24 new ARCS Scholars, who presented an overview of their groundbreaking research at the Fall General Meeting on October 29th at the La Jolla Country Club.
“We have raised almost $13 million to support ARCS Scholars since our inception,” said Chapter President Leslie Bruce.
As a member driven organization, ARCS depends on its board, committee chairs and members to continue its mission of advancing science and technology in the U.S. by providing financial assistance to gifted STEM graduate students who are U.S. citizens.
We heard from Laurie Roeder (membership), Robin Luby (member giving campaign), Paulette Roberts (administration), Janet Roemer (finance), Kristin Boyd (fund development), Rachel Collins (meetings, field trips and social events), Catie Madani (university relations), and University Relations liaisons Pam Werner, Sue Kalish, Cathie Atkins, Caroline Etland, and Cindy Wollaeger.
Please consider joining a committee so that you can engage more fully in delivering our mission, it’s also a great way to meet other members. “I loved the love that came at me at a stressful time in my life,” said former Scholar Catie Madani, VP, University Relations.
In presenting an overview of their research, it was clear that the 24 ARCS Scholars are intelligent, engaged, curious and committed to making the world a better place. Their research focus is diverse and includes drug development (ALS, cancer, pneumonia, and others), stormwater management, better treatments for veteran post-traumatic stress disorder, and cybersecurity.
A few of the women Scholars commented on how inspiring it was to be in a room of powerful women and to be supported by an organization that was started by women and is run by women.
Outside of their research, the Scholars have diverse interests including chess, backpacking, scuba diving, ultimate frisbee, rock-wall climbing, playing the piano and painting.
Our thanks to ARCS Member Laurie Roeder for snapping these photos from the event!
September 19, 2024: Field Trip to Scripps Institution of Oceanography
To close out the summer season, seventeen ARCS members and guests were treated to back-to-back talks by two leading scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), who are engaged in cutting-edge research surrounding the environmental disaster caused by sewage spilling from the Tijuana River into the South Bay.
Dr. Jeff Bowman, Associate Professor of Biological Oceanography, began with an in-depth account of his lab’s research into how ocean and estuary currents and contaminated wastewater are transported along the coast. He also shared their work on pathogen modeling, specifically for norovirus, which they hope to eventually make public so as to reduce human health risk on both sides of the border.
Next up was Dr. Kim Prather, a renowned atmospheric chemist at SIO, who has been sounding alarm bells about the toxic gasses emitted by this contaminated water. And who better to introduce her than Dr. Margaret Leinen, Director of SIO and our 2023 ARCS Scientist of the Year! Margaret explained that Kim could not give her talk in-person, because she and her team were still in the field testing the air quality at 22 sites along the Tijuana River.
After a few introductory remarks from Margaret, Kim proceeded to share with us, via video, her latest findings from the “hot spot” on the Tijuana River. She reiterated that the levels of hydrogen sulfide were “extremely high” and a “serious public health concern.” Hydrogen sulfide is a great indicator of the presence of sewage and industrial waste, but there are hundreds of other gases and aerosols, which will take longer to quantify. Nevertheless, Kim revealed that her recent research findings were about to hit the news and will hopefully finally prompt some government action to clean up the mess.
As depressing as these revelations were to all of us in the audience, we were in awe of the commitment and determination of both these two scientists, and their respective teams, to fully investigate the problem, despite all the obstacles they faced.
Heartfelt thanks to Elizabeth Taft for arranging this incredibly interesting and informative visit to SIO!
April 27, 2024: Scientist of the Year Celebration
It doesn’t get any better than this! Simply put, the 2024 Scientist of the Year (SOY) Celebration knocked it out of the park!
For starters, we were all thrilled with the return of the Scholar poster sessions, which took place during the opening reception. Attendees were treated to a wonderful array of research posters presented by our Scholars in the JAI, while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails from Giuseppe Fine Catering, served in the Wu Tsai Courtyard. It was an ideal opportunity to meet with the Scholars and learn more about their research projects.
Soon it was time to move into the Baker-Baum Concert Hall for the main program, where our intrepid leader, Kathe Albrecht, welcomed the audience. We then enjoyed the traditional Scholar processional, accompanied by Kevin Yturralde on the trumpet, followed by a video collage introducing this year’s Scholars and a short presentation by Scholar alumnus Dr. Randall Kelley, also via video. Next it was time for our SOY’s keynote speech. ARCS member and SOY chair Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins had the honor of introducing Dr. Terry Sejnowski and took the time to describe the SOY selection criteria and why Dr. Sejnowski was such a clear choice for the SOY distinction. Dr. Sejnowski proceeded to deliver an engaging and insightful account of the perils and promise of AI technology. Not surprisingly, many hands were raised with questions following his talk. Finally, it was time to move back into the courtyard for some dessert and conversation with our members, Scholars, friends, and our SOY.
Heartfelt kudos to the SOY Committee for organizing such an inspiring and successful event! In addition to Ingrid as chair, committee members included Kathe Albrecht, Barbara Bry, Rachel Collins, Doris Ellsworth, Holly Heaton, Lisa Perich, Laurie Roeder, Marla Shepard, Gwynn Thomas, Pam Werner, and of course, our master of technical support, Rob Healey.
Thanks also to Gordon Perkins and Michael Roeder for snapping these record shots of the event!
February 22, 2024: Field Trip to Sharp Prebys Innovation & Education Center
Thanks to Jayne Lindberg and the Field Trips Subcommittee, eighteen ARCS members were able to tour the Sharp Prebys Innovation and Education Center (SPIEC) on February 22, observing in amazement the beauty of the building’s various facilities, especially its various patient simulation labs. Past San Diego ARCS president Holly Heaton, also a board member of the Sharp Foundation, greeted ARCS members and introduced Foundation CEO Bill Littlejohn who gave a history of Sharp HealthCare and the SPIEC. Bill then introduced the group to former ARCS Scholar Laurie Ecoff, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNL who runs the Terrence and Barbara Caster Institute for Nursing Excellence which is housed at the SPIEC. Laurie shared her career journey with the group, expressing her gratitude for the support from ARCS when it mattered most. After the fascinating tour, many members stayed for lunch, conversation and good company at the Modern Recipe Café on site. Our thanks to Laurie Roeder for snapping these photos for all to enjoy!
January 30, 2024: Winter General Meeting
After hearing report highlights from President Kathe Albrecht, Member Giving Director Robin Luby and SOY Chair Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins, the much anticipated moment arrived...the revelation of this year’s ARCS Light award recipient! Holly Heaton gave a warm and heartfelt tribute to this year’s ARCS Light honoree, Kimberly Miller, who has touched us all with her kindness, thoughtfulness, and dedication to ARCS. Brava, Kimberly, we salute you and thank you for your longtime support of ARCS!
Next, Leslie Bruce, VP of Meetings and Social Events and President Elect, introduced our guest speaker, and for the next half hour, we were enthralled by the exciting and promising research that Dr. Brewer is leading in regard to the early detection of Alzheimer’s and the efficacy of new drugs under development. After a few questions from the audience, it was time for a delicious lunch and pleasant conversation with fellow ARCS members and guests.
Kudos and thanks to Leslie Bruce and her team for organizing such an interesting and enjoyable meeting!
November 2, 2023: Field Trip to Sally Ride Research Vessel
Several ARCS members and friends were treated to a fascinating tour of the Sally Ride Research Vessel in Point Loma in early November. Kudos to Leslie Bruce, Jayne Lindberg, and Elizabeth Taft for organizing this field trip, and many thanks to Mike Roeder for taking these photos for all of us to enjoy!
R/V Sally Ride is operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography under a charter agreement with the Office of Naval Research. Part of America’s Academic Research Fleet, the Sally Ride is a shared-use research facility within the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS), serving scientists and students from across the United States.
October 24, 2023: Fall General Meeting
On a beautiful autumn morning, 44 ARCS Members and 13 new Scholars gathered at the La Jolla Country Club for our Fall General Meeting; a particular favorite for our members, because much of it is devoted to meeting our new Scholars.
Our President, Kathe Albrecht, presided over the meeting, which began with an introduction of our new members by Laurie Roeder (VP, Membership) followed by brief “elevator speeches” from all of our VP’s in which they described their roles and the make-up of their committees. Next, Robin Luby gave a pitch for the Member Giving Campaign with the goal of 100% member participation. And finally, Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins (VP, Marketing & Communications), revealed our 2024 Scientist of the Year Honoree – Dr. Terry Sejnowski – and invited everyone to the 2024 SOY Celebration, which is set for April 27, 2024 (4-8 pm) at The Conrad Performing Arts Center in La Jolla.
Then the fun began when Catie Madani (VP, University Relations) invited the University Liaisons to step forward one-by-one and introduce the new Scholars from our four academic partners (SDSU, Scripps Research, UCSD, and USD). For the next 45 minutes we got to hear from each Scholar; a bit about their research and a bit about their personal lives. Their dedication to their research and their desire to give back to society at such a young age inspires us all!
We were then treated to a delicious lunch of macadamia-crusted chicken with rice and asparagus, followed by a traditional apple pie. Members and Scholars continued to mingle well after the conclusion of the meeting and we all went home feeling uplifted and proud to be an ARCS member!
Kudos and thanks to Leslie Bruce, Sue Kalish, Alexis Lasheras, and Barbara Doren for organizing such a memorable meeting!
August 31, 2023: Field Trip to UCSD Shake Table
On a beautiful Thursday morning in August, seventeen of our members went on a field trip to the Englekirk Structural Engineering Center at UC San Diego, better known as the “UCSD Shake Table”!
Our hosts and tour guides were Koorosh Lotfizadeh, PhD and Director of the Center; Abdullah Hamid, R&D Engineer and Site Supervisor; and Robert Beckley, IT specialist and photographer. We toured the facility for two hours. The site is a multi-acre area east of I-15, that has the feel of a military or high-security facility. We donned hard-hats, were reminded to watch out for rattle snakes and learned more about engineering than many of us thought possible!
The UC San Diego shake table/earthquake simulator is the largest outdoor shake table in the world and is unique and iconic. Visitors come from around the world to see and watch it, study its data and learn.
The Table was designed in 2001-2002 by UCSD engineers in collaboration with MTS Systems Corp. and the Center opened in 2004. The Center tests the structural and nonstructural effects of natural disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters. The goal is to advance science and practices surrounding natural hazards and educate future generations of engineers and other scientists. The Center also promotes student learning and opportunities to make STEM more accessible to students. The Center has various academic partners and also commercial partners. Part of its funding comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The Table is undoubtedly the premiere focus of the Center but the Center also has one of the country’s largest facilities for testing soil structure reactions to earthquakes and other disasters.
Our thanks to Sue Kalish for her diligence in working with UCSD and the Center and scheduling our trip. Jayne Lindberg also deserves kudos for finding the best lunch spot in the Poway-RB area and simplifying the ordering and payment processes. Thank you to both of you and also to Leslie Bruce for her leadership! We appreciate all of you!
June 6, 2023: Summer General Meeting
The June 6 General Meeting was a huge success, with 57 members in attendance. It was a celebratory meeting as we closed an ARCS year full of accomplishments, successes, and wonderful learning experiences. President Kathe Albrecht commended the entire chapter for their important roles in making these successes possible.
We began with an informative business meeting which summarized the chapter’s activities this year. As part of the meeting, the membership voted on the 2023-2024 slate of officers and Kathe thanked the current board for their hard work on behalf of the chapter. She presented small gifts to each of the outgoing board members: Rachel Collins, Holly Heaton, Pat Judd, Robin Luby, and Helga Moore.
After the meeting and before lunch was served, members had a few minutes of informal time to catch up with old friends, new members, and guests. We then heard from our two speakers. Dwayne Roach explained the important research that his lab is conducting on phage therapies, a ground-breaking treatment that tackles tough antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases. It was eye-opening to hear about new developments, and to learn about the short time frame scientists work in to stay ahead of infections that are developing resistance to existing therapies.
Dwayne then introduced our ARCS Scholar Tiffany Luong, one of the doctoral students working in his lab. She spoke about the application of the phage therapies, the process the lab goes through in order to get the innovative therapies to the patients. Dwayne and Tiffany fielded questions from the audience afterward.
The ARCS members and guests would have kept them there for longer, but it was time to adjourn our culminating general meeting of the year.
Heartfelt thanks to Laurie Roeder for capturing these record shots from the meeting!
May 7, 2023: Scientist of the Year Celebration
What a joy to be back in person to celebrate our 2023 Scientist of the Year (SOY) and our 2022-2023 Scholars...in the warm and intimate setting of The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla, no less!
The event began with hors d’oeuvres and drinks in the Wu Tsai Courtyard and the JAI, and then moved into the main Baker-Baum Concert Hall where President Kathe Albrecht welcomed the audience with some opening remarks, followed by the traditional Scholar processional, accompanied by trumpeter Kevin Yturralde. We were then treated to a wonderful video collage, created by Project Manager Extraordinaire Rob Healey, which introduced each of this year’s Scholars.
Next we heard a short talk by ARCS Scholar Alumnus, Dr. Forest Rohwer, a renowned marine microbial ecologist, who made a few humorous barbs about this year’s SOY selection. Mary Ann Beyster, whose family foundation is a longtime supporter of both ARCS and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, then introduced the 2023 Scientist of the Year, Dr. Margaret Leinen. For the next 20 minutes, we were enthralled by Dr. Leinen’s keynote speech, in which she reaffirmed the importance of ocean research for our future.
The event concluded with a selection of tasty desserts in the Wu Tsai Courtyard, where guests had the opportunity to mingle with our speakers, Scholars, and friends. Many ARCS members remarked that it was “the best SOY event ever”!
Hearty congratulations go to the SOY Committee Co-Chairs Kristin Boyd and Gwynn Thomas and committee members Kathe Albrecht, Cathie Atkins, Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins, Rachel Collins, Toby Eisenberg, Doris Ellsworth, Susan Hylton, Karen Ludwig, Lisa Perich, and Laurie Roeder!
To watch the Scholar video highlights enjoyed at the SOY Celebration (11 Minutes), click HERE
For the Full Versions of the Scholar Videos (23 minutes), click HERE
April 12, 2023: Field Trip to San Diego Botanic Garden
Kudos to Elizabeth Taft for organizing a delightful field trip to the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas! Members first heard presentations from three of their lead scientists: CEO Ari Novy, PhD; Director of Medicinal Plants Research, Ben Naman, PhD; and Senior Director of Science and Conservation, Colin Khoury, PhD, followed by a walking tour of the gardens. Afterward, several members gathered for a delicious lunch of pot pies, hand pies and salads at Elizabethan Desserts & The 50’s Cafe.
January 24, 2023: Winter General Meeting
Nothing is more gratifying than following the “career arc” of one our esteemed Scholar alumni. On a beautiful January afternoon, at our Winter General Meeting, 50+ ARCS San Diego members were treated to a passionate and informative talk on ‘Palliative Care: A Public Health Priority’ delivered by Caroline Etland, PhD, RN, ACHPN, who received her ARCS Scholar Award in 2006-2008 at USD’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science.
Dr. Etland’s presentation was followed by several chapter highlights such as new member introductions, member giving totals, Scientist of the Year Celebration planning, and the 2022-2023 ARCS Light Award, which went to past president Holly Heaton. We are all so grateful for Holly’s commitment, leadership, and support of ARCS, which is now a model for other chapters across the country!
We also heard some wonderful reminiscences from two of our founders – Karen Bowden and Barbara McColl – and several of our Charter Members, while enjoying a delicious lunch at the La Jolla Country Club. Everyone went home feeling uplifted and proud of ARCS San Diego, its amazing members, and its impressive impact on STEM research and education!
October 25, 2022: Fall General Meeting
49 ARCS Members and 13 new Scholars arrived at the La Jolla Country Club (LJCC) for our Fall General Meeting. It was so wonderful to see friends and catch up. The doors opened to table settings and centerpieces in glorious fall colors.
Our President, Kathe Albrecht, was the M.C. She thanked Barbara Doren whose membership allowed us to use the LJCC and Priscilla Moxley and her committee for the meeting arrangements. She then greeted us with news from the recent National Meeting in Atlanta.
Ellen Moxham, our ARCS Light, shared her experience of being honored with other "Lights" from different branches. Pat Judd, VP of University Relations, introduced the Liaisons from our 4 schools, UCSD, SDSU, USD and Scripps Research. They in turn introduced their Scholars each of whom spoke briefly about their research projects. This was the highlight of the luncheon as each one gave a brief talk about their research projects.
The delicious cornucopia salad was then served with a rich chocolate brownie with caramel sauce and ice cream for dessert.
The ambiance was in full swing with many lingering after the luncheon to visit. The weather was gorgeous as was the setting of the room at the LJCC.
September 28, 2022: Field Trip to La Jolla Institute for Immunology
ARCS San Diego was treated to an amazing guided tour of several labs at La Jolla Institute for Immunology with two ARCS Scholars leading the way: Gabriel Ascui-Gac and Sonya Haupt. We also had a quick introduction to the newly opened John and Susan Major Center for Clinical Investigation, which has greatly expanded the Institute’s capacity to collect human blood samples, which are vital to study allergies, vaccines as well as infectious, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.
Our visit was capped off by a fascinating talk by none other than Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire, our 2021 Scientist of the Year, about women’s health research.
Heartfelt thanks to Kelsey Dale, Vice President of Advancement, and her team, for the warm welcome and for organizing this inspiring tour!
June 9, 2022: Summer General Meeting
What a joy to close out the fiscal year in person at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club for the Summer June General Meeting! 52 ARCS members and guests signed up for the luncheon and Holly Heaton presided over the final meeting of her 3-year tenure.
Laurie Roeder began by introducing our newest members. Holly then proceeded to thank members of the Board of Directors who had worked alongside her over the past few years, while repeatedly exclaiming that “it takes a village”! Next she introduced the 2022-2023 Slate of Officers, who were unanimously approved by the group. Rachel Collins followed with a surprise tribute to Holly and presented her with a beautiful orchid and Swell bottle, adorned with the ARCS logo, in thanks for her dedication and leadership. Everyone applauded enthusiastically!
After the business portion of the meeting, we moved to the science presentations. Sonya Haupt, 2021-2022 ARCS Scholar at UCSD/LJI gave us a crash course in evaluating HIV vaccine strategies in mice and then expressed her sincere thanks for the critical support she had received from ARCS this past year.
Next up was Dr. Ivor Royston, CEO of Viracta Therapeutics and our 2006 Scientist of the Year. who took us back to 1978 when he founded Hybritech, San Diego’s first biotech company. He then compared and contrasted the biotech scene in San Diego today, 44 years later. He emphasized the need for three core pillars of strength in order to be a successful biotech company: capital, management, entrepreneurship.
It was then time to for a delicious 3-course lunch and friendly conversation with fellow ARCS members. We all remarked how much more enjoyable it was to meet in person versus on Zoom!
April 24, 2022: Scientist of the Year Virtual Event
Our third virtual gala event spotlights our esteemed Scientist of the Year, Dr. Ardem Patapoutian, while highlighting our Scholars, Scholar Alumni and wonderful sponsors. If you missed the live stream or would like to see it again, please visit the Event Landing Page to watch the recorded event and view the program material.
February 23, 2022: Music, Evolution, and Animal Responses to Music
Is human musicality an innate ability or a cultural invention? This was one of many intriguing questions Dr. Aniruddh (Ani) Patel, Professor of Psychology at Tufts University, explored with us during his fascinating 1-hr talk, which focused on the cognitive, neural, and evolutionary foundations of music. A lively Q&A followed, moderated by our own Sue Dramm.
For those who missed this special event, you can view the entire recording HERE:
January 31, 2022: Winter General Meeting
The Winter General Meeting of the San Diego chapter of ARCS was hosted by president Holly Heaton. New members were introduced by Laurie Roeder. Our two guest speakers were Annika Nelson, manager of the new UCSD Craft Center, and our current Scholar, Hailee Perrett, who describes her work at Scripps Research in "Science Communication through Visual Media". Following the introductions and presentations, we come to the highlight of our meeting, the ARCS Light award presented by June Chocheles. Watch to find out who the 2021 ARCS Light Member is. A brief business meeting wraps up the gathering after discussion about Joan Evangelou, who passed away this month. She was a dear friend and inspiring ARCS member for many years, recently highlighted in an ARCS news article. Her connections throughout the membership were shared by all.To watch the business portion of the meeting CLICK HERE.
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| To view Annika Nelson's presentation, CLICK HERE. | To view Hailee Perrett's presentation, CLICK HERE. |
December 5, 2021: Holiday Party
Major kudos to Margaret Dudas and her team, Doris Ellsworth, Toby Eisenberg, Priscilla Moxley and Joy Frye for planning and executing our Holiday Party at the San Diego Yacht Club. The setting, food, and especially the in-person camaraderie were perfect, especially after almost two years of remote living! It was the second wonderful in-person event that Margaret and her team provided in the past four months at a time that being together was so special and appreciated. Thank you!!
November 18, 2021: COVID's Toll on Taste and Smell
One of the many mysteries surrounding COVID-19 is the peculiar side effect of patients losing their sense of taste and smell. In the medical field, it’s called anosmia. A less publicized side effect that follows many COVID-19 patients is parosmia which is when scents and flavors become distorted, e.g., lemons may taste like sewage! There's been relatively little research into anosmia and parosmia, which until the recent pandemic have been exceptionally rare. That's left the thousands of patients experiencing these symptoms feeling confused, isolated and hopeless. To learn more about what’s being done for sufferers and what they can do for themselves, ARCS San Diego is thrilled to invite you to a special virtual “field trip” to UC San Diego on Thursday, Nov 18 from 10:30 - 11:45am Pacific where Dr. Carol Yan, a physician and researcher at UC San Diego, and Julie Carty, one of her patients, tell the story.CLICK HERE to watch the Virtual Field Trip.
October 18, 2021: Fall General Meeting
The Fall General Meeting is a particular favorite for ARCS members, because much of it is devoted to meeting our new Scholars. Given the ongoing pandemic, we had no choice but to hold the meeting via Zoom, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm and excitement among those who attended. This year we were delighted to hear from 32 new Scholars (SDSU-7; Scripps Research-5; UCSD-18; USD-2), each of whom gave a brief overview of their research and personal interests. As always, we were so impressed by their many accomplishments, their desire to give back to society, and their balanced approach to a healthy life. We look forward to getting to know them better during the year ahead.
For those who missed the meeting, you can still view the Scholar presentations HERE.
September 28, 2021: Cyber Security - Best Practices
Mark Rotarius is the Operations Manager and Senior Engineer at Fortress Networx and he treated us to a 1-hour Zoom presentation on the important and timely topic of “Cyber Security: Best Practices for Personal Computers and Devices.” We learned about phishing attacks, data protection, malware, creating strong passwords and more.CLICK HERE to watch the Virtual Field Trip.
Mark was also kind enough to include a handout (The 8 Layers of Defense Checklist) which you may download by clicking HERE.
June 8, 2021: Summer General Meeting
ARCS San Diego closed out the fiscal year with a full business agenda and a healthy dose of science...via Zoom, of course! After introducing our three new members - Sue Dramm, Sharon Lerner, India Mittag - and voting in the slate of officers for 2021-2022, pictured HERE, we were treated to two wonderful presentations from a Scholar alum and current Scholar, both at Scripps Research:
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We closed out the meeting with several updates on past activities, including the incredibly successful SOY Event, Membership Giving Campaign, and Scholar Picnic. Holly reiterated how proud she was of all that was accomplished during this exceptionally challenging year. Congratulations, all around!
If you who missed the meeting, you can still view the Scholar presentations HERE.
May 20, 2021: A Virtual Visit to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Curtis Padgett, Supervisor for the Perception Systems Group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and ARCS Scholar at UC San Diego back in 1992, guided us on our final virtual field trip of the year. He provided a wonderful overview of recent research in the Perception Area of the Robotics Section at JPL, including technology development for aerial, sea surface, and future sensing applications. After a half-hour Q&A, moderated by Holly Heaton, our time was up and we all went away feeling awed and inspired by the advanced technology at JPL. We were also delighted that several ARCS members from other chapters, as well as several ARCS Scholars, joined us for this special presentation.
May 13, 2021: A Virtual Visit to Sharp Hip Preservation Center
ARCS San Diego was honored to host a special virtual presentation on “Hypermobility: The High Price of Being Very Flexible,” by Dr. Richard Santore, an esteemed orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. Dr. Santore told us about the often misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition of hypermobility. He explained how this seemingly innocuous ability dramatically impacts lives for better and for worse, while discussing strategies he has been developing for resuming a normal life. We also heard from two of Dr. Santore’s patients, who literally “got their lives back” thanks to Dr. Santore’s ground-breaking treatment.
Click on the video below to watch the entire presentation, including the Q&A, on YouTube.
April 25, 2021: Scientist of the Year Virtual Event
Our second virtual gala event spotlights our esteemed Scientist of the Year, Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire, while highlighting our Scholars, Scholar Alumni and wonderful sponsors. If you missed the live stream or would like to see it again, please visit the Event Landing Page to watch the recorded event and view the program material.
February 25, 2021: A Virtual Visit to Scripps Institution of Oceanography
ARCS San Diego embarked on its second virtual “field trip” via Zoom in late February. This time we were treated to an inside peek at ARCS Scholar Jessica Ng’s work at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in the lab of Jeff Severinghaus, which is part of the Geosciences Research Division at SIO.
Jessica’s research reconstructing past groundwater levels has taken her to the Andean Highlands of Chile and Argentina, where lithium mining for electric vehicle batteries is threatening limited water resources and Indigenous communities, and eastern Oregon, where local communities and tribes are seeking sustainable water use in the face of industrial agriculture. Jessica talked about some of her experiences in the field and also showed us some of the instrumentation she uses in the lab. She then answered a number of questions posed by ARCS members and Scholars, and closed with a few personal insights on her activities outside of work.
Click the Video Below to Watch
January 25, 2021: Winter General Meeting
To kick off our Winter General Meeting, we invited two ARCS Scholars to talk about their ocean research. Dr. Jeffrey Drazen (1997 ARCS Scholar at UCSD/SIO), currently professor of oceanography at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa in Honolulu, presented a 1/2-hr talk on “Understanding the Environmental Risks of Deep Sea Mining.” We learned just how little is known about the deep sea, much less the potential destruction to the ecosystem as a result of deep sea mining. Dr. Drazen showed us many slides of creatures never before seen by man, which are now at risk. He also played a short video which demonstrated the use of remotely-operated vehicles (ROV) that he and his team use to capture and examine specimens at the bottom of the ocean.
Channing Prend (2020-2021 ARCS Scholar at UCSD/SIO) followed with a short presentation about his work with robotics and autonomous systems to collect data from the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. Channing tuned in from Paris, where he was working with collaborators at LOCEAN (Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques) to prepare for a research cruise to the Southern Ocean. In fact, he spoke to us just two days before his departure!
Each talk was followed by a lively Q&A and we all went away feeling enlightened and enriched. For those of you who missed these fascinating talks about the ocean, you can view them both on YouTube.
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December 18, 2020: Virtual Home for the Holidays Event
The holiday spirit was alive and well among the members of ARCS San Diego despite the coronavirus pandemic. This year, with Rachel Collins as our guide, we gathered online to share our holiday traditions, our favorite holiday recipes, our favorite Bûche de Noël (with demonstrations), our most outrageous ugly Christmas sweaters, and some holiday greetings from our newest members.
Click the image below to relive the fun:
November 16, 2020: Removing Disease as a Roadblock to Conservation
Three scientists, all former ARCS Scholars, who now work for the Disease Investigations Group at the San Diego Zoo Global, will guide us through their efforts to remove disease as a roadblock to wildlife conservation. Presenters: Patricia Gaffney, DVM, PhD, MPVM, DACVP, Steven Kubiski, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Caroline Moore, DVM, PhD.
Click the Video Below to watch the Tour
September 20, 2020: Scientist of the Year Virtual Event
This was our first virtual event and we thank everyone for making it such a success. Please visit the Event Landing Page to see the event program and watch the full recorded event celebrating our 2020 Scientist of the Year, Dr. Paul Schimmel.
Photos from Past Events
