Our primary focus in this seminar will be to discuss contemporary topics in science that are of interest to the area and discuss research in progress from different students and faculty in the area. Each week, a student (or faculty member) will give a talk on ongoing research they are conducting, a research proposal idea, practice conference presentation, an interesting paper that just came out, etc. The purpose is to get practice speaking and discussing research, while also receiving important feedback on research ideas from other students and faculty in the department. This is also a way to foster interdisciplinary collaborations within the department. This course will also be tied to the monthly Departmental Colloquium Series where we invite select speakers out to give a talk (including job talks), which could be proposed by the class, and then voted on by the colloquium committee members. The attendance is required. Reasonable conflict of schedule is acceptable, but not exceeding 20% of the time.