Duke on Demand

Duke biologist Sönke Johnsen plunges deep into the ocean to understand how creatures on the seafloor see. In a live "Office Hours" webcast interview at noon Friday, March 22, Johnsen will discuss how the animals produce and detect light far underwater -- where there's little sunlight. Watch the interview live on this webpage or on Duke Today. To pose a question to Johnsen, email live@duke.edu, Tweet at @DukeOfficeHours or post to the Duke Office Hours Facebook page. For his research, Johnsen has received a multi-million dollar grant from the Navy to investigate underwater camouflage. He has studied the eyesight of deep-sea crabs and giant squid. And he has a new book out called "The Optics of Life: A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature." On his lab's website, Johnsen describes his own meandering path -- via carpentry, dance instruction and teaching kindergarten -- to his career as a biology professor, and offers advice to potential graduate students. "Do not go to a high-powered lab that you hate assuming that this will promise you long-term happiness," he writes. "Deferred gratification has its limits." "Office Hours" is Duke's live webcast series for the university community, and others, to engage with professors about their research and scholarship.

Cardinals of the Catholic Church are gathering at the Vatican to elect the next pope, at a time when reports of sexual molestation by priests continue to plague the church. In a live "Office Hours" conversation Friday, March 8, the Rev. Michael Martin, director of the Duke Catholic Center, will discuss what the leadership transition could mean for the church and wider world. In a recent post on his @TheDukePriest Twitter account, Martin commented on the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI: "Ben16 resignation reminds me of St. Francis of Assisi-gave up leadership of his Order allowing others to run show #GoodExample #PopeTweets" Watch the interview live on this webpage or on Duke Today. Send in a question for Martin on Twitter using @DukeOfficeHours, on Facebook on the Duke Office Hours page or by email to live@duke.edu. Martin stands out on campus, wearing a brown habit as a member of the Conventual Franciscan Friars. He arrived at Duke in 2010 from Baltimore, where was president of Archbishop Curley High School. In 2007, he received the Pro Eccelsia et Pontifice medal for service to the church from Pope Benedict XVI. He recently led Duke Catholics in the celebration of Ash Wednesday at the Yoh Football Center for the convenience of students tenting out for basketball at Krzyzewskiville. "Office Hours" is Duke's live webcast series for the university community, and others, to engage with campus experts about their research and scholarship.

Even though the United States could possibly become the world's largest oil producer by 2020, America would still not be "energy independent." U.S. energy production would continue to be tied to global markets and climate concerns, according to professor Richard Newell, director of Duke's Energy Initiative. In a live "Office Hours" webcast interview at noon on Feb. 22, he will discuss advances and limits in American energy production.

The fabled city of Timbuktu has recently been a center of conflict between the French military and Islamic militants. Complicating the clash are tensions within Mali among the country's ethnic groups. In a live "Office Hours" webcast interview Feb. 8, Duke professor Bruce Hall explains some of the historical and cultural context of the conflict. Watch the interview live on this webpage or on Duke Today. Post a question for Hall on Twitter using @DukeOfficeHours or the Duke Office Hours Facebook page. "There is nothing 'less racial' about the situation in Northern Mali because of a history of 'mixing' than anywhere else," Hall told the International Business Times in an article published last week. "Race is not about the biology; it is about the ideas and practices that link biological traits to value which are claimed to be transmissible inter-generationally. Joining Hall is Duke senior Jennifer Denike, who completed a study abroad program in Mali in the fall of 2011. "In fact, in the absence of a strong international security presence, it seems very likely to me that racialized violence will occur on a much greater scale than it has so far," he said. Hall is the author of "A History of Race in Muslim West Africa, 1600-1960.″ At Duke, he is an assistant professor of history and African and African American Studies. This year he is a visiting scholar at Stanford University and is scheduled to participate in Friday's interview via Skype. "Office Hours" is Duke's live webcast series for the university community, and others, to engage with professors about their research and scholarship.

In the wake of last month's deadly shootings in Newtown, Conn., President Obama said the U.S. must consider new ways to combat gun violence. Public policy professor Philip J. Cook, who has long studied the effectiveness of gun control efforts in this country, participates in this live "Office Hours" webcast interview on the topic at noon Friday, Jan. 11, 2013.

A recent article in the (Raleigh) News and Observer describes the many media interviews Cook has done in the wake of the Newtown killings.

He is co-author of the book "Gun Violence: The Real Costs." His recent scholarly articles include "Q&A on Firearms Availability, Carrying, and Misuse" and "The Economist's guide to crime busting." He has served as a consultant to the Department of Justice and been vice chair of the National Research Council's Committee on Law and Justice.

"Office Hours" is Duke's live webcast series for the university community, and others, to engage with professors about their research and scholarship.

Luke Bretherton is new to Duke from England. A professor of ethics in Duke's Divinity School, he writes on a contentious topic -- how Christians should engage in politics.

"Politics without piety is pitiless; piety without politics is pitiful," he writes in his latest book "Christianity & Contemporary Politics."

In this "Office Hours" interview, he identifies key Christian voices on politics, describes virtues of the Southern Populist Movement, and lists strengths and weaknesses of the two American political parties.

Read his blog at http://christianitycontemporarypolitics.blogspot.com. Follow him on Twitter @WestLondonMan.

Duke University Professor Eric Meyers says archaeology in Israel and Palestine can give context for biblical narratives. In his new book, "Alexander to Constantine," co-authored with Mark Chancey, Ph.D. '99, he argues that Hellenism gave Judaism, and later Christianity, a cultural vehicle for expressing the faiths to worldwide audiences. Learn more at http://religiondepartment.duke.edu and http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300141795.