To commemorate Coastal Carolina University’s 50th anniversary, the university’s College of Natural and Applied Sciences is scheduling a series of 50 public discussions, called “Science for Coastal’s Community,” led by CCU faculty during the 2004-2005 academic year.

The talks, covering a wide variety of topics from biology to sociology, will begin Tuesday, Oct. 12 with five events that will take place simultaneously throughout Horry and Georgetown counties. All events begin at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

During the following four weeks, the participating professors will repeat lectures but in different locations. There will be a question and answer session at each event. The series will resume in late January 2005. By the end of the series in March 2005, a total of 50 talks will have been given by 10 professors at five area locations.

“This is a great way to introduce many of our very talented faculty members to the surrounding community so that they can share their expertise in a variety of areas, many of which have a direct applicability to vital local issues,” said Douglas Nelson, dean of Coastal’s College of Natural and Applied Sciences.

The schedule for the fall 2004 semester is as follows:

Conway, CCU Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, room 253

Oct. 12: “The Unique Galapagos Island: See What Darwin Saw” led by Richard Koesterer

Oct. 19: “Something’s in the Air: Global Climate Changes and You” led by Varavut Limpasuvan

Oct. 26: “What You Still Don’t Know About Hurricanes” led by Louis Keiner

Nov. 9: “The Bus from Hell Hole Swamp: Commuting to Work in Myrtle Beach” led by Susan Webb

Nov. 16: “Fins, Flippers and Flukes: Dolphins in South Carolina” led by Rob Young

Myrtle Beach, Collins Law Enforcement Center

Oct. 12: “Something’s in the Air: Global Climate Changes and You” led by Varavut Limpasuvan

Oct. 19: “Mercury: Is It on Our Dinner Plates?” led by Jane Guentzel

Nov. 9: “Icebergs, Whales, Penguins and More: An Introduction to Antarctica” led by Steve Berkowitz

Nov. 16: “What You Still Don’t Know About Hurricanes” led by Louis Keiner

North Myrtle Beach Recreation Center

Oct. 12: “Managing Our Watershed: Strategies for maintaining water quality and natural habitats” led by Susan Libes

Oct. 19: “Swimming Advisories on Grand Strand Beaches: What Causes These?” led by Joe Bennett

Oct. 26: “Something’s in the Air: Global Climate Changes and You” led by Varavut Limpasuvan

Nov. 9: “Mercury: Is It on Our Dinner Plates?” led by Jane Guentzel

Nov. 16: “The Unique Galapagos Island: See What Darwin Saw” led by Richard Koesterer

Loris, Center for Health & Fitness

Oct. 12: “Fins, Flippers and Flukes: Dolphins in South Carolina” led by Rob Young

Oct. 19: “Designing Your Next Generation of Medications” led by Paul Richardson

Oct. 26: “Managing Our Watershed: Strategies for maintaining water quality and natural habitats” led by Susan Libes

Nov. 9: “Swimming Advisories on Grand Strand Beaches: What Causes These?” led by Joe Bennett

Nov. 16: “Something’s in the Air: Global Climate Changes and You” led by Varavut Limpasuvan

Litchfield, Waccamaw Center for Higher Education

Oct. 12: “What You Still Don’t Know About Hurricanes” led by Louis Keiner

Oct. 19: “The Bus from Hell Hole Swamp: Commuting to Work in Myrtle Beach” led by Susan Webb

Oct. 26: “Fins, Flippers and Flukes: Dolphins in South Carolina” led by Rob Young

Nov. 9: “Something’s in the Air: Global Climate Changes and You” led by Varavut Limpasuvan

Nov. 16: “Managing Our Watershed: Strategies for maintaining water quality and natural habitats” led by Susan Libes