Indiana University South Bend will have a biological sciences open house from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, March 18, in the first floor north wing of Northside Hall. The open house is part of an IU system-wide series of events this spring semester focus on the university’s work and discoveries in life sciences.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is geared for high school students, parents, teachers and counselors who are making choices about higher education and science careers.

IU South Bend’s event will feature a variety of demonstrations from several faculty members on their research in areas ranging from microbiology and animal development to DNA and cardiovascular physiology. There will be a tour of the greenhouse as well as a chance to look at bacteria.

There also will be poster presentations from students who will take questions about their work.

Following the open house, there will be two lectures at 5 p.m. Andrew Schnabel will present, “Who’s Your Daddy? Studies of Pollination and Paternity in the African Savanna” in Northside 152. Schnabel, an associate professor of biological sciences, won a four-year National Science Foundation grant last year for the work.

Ann Grens will present “Stem Cells: The Science Behind the Hope and the Hype” in Northside 125. Grens is an associate professor.

Both presentations will be about 25 minutes in length with time for questions.

For more information about the event, contact Grens at (574) 520-4426.