Science Café: Pollution and NC's Tiniest Fish

Join us for our monthly Science Café hosted by Chris Smith! 🌟 Enjoy a bite from the Daily Planet Café, open from 5–8 PM, while engaging in an informal presentation and discussion about current science topics with guest experts.

Tonight's Topic

We'll hear from Dr. Alexandra Duffy at NC State University, who studies our tiniest fish to learn about genetic diversity and their adaptations in response to pollution in the lower Cape Fear River system. The least killifish, one of the smallest vertebrates in the world, gives birth to live young and reaches a maximum length of only 36 mm (1.4 inches). This fish is found only in Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick counties and is listed as a state Special Concern species due to its limited distribution and potential human impacts on its habitat.

Tonight’s Expert

Dr. Alexandra (Alli) Duffy is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University. Her research integrates evolutionary biology, animal behavior, sensory ecology, and environmental health, focusing on how selective pressures shape phenotypic and genetic diversity.

📺 Join us in-person or watch the livestream on YouTube.