Oct. 30, 2025: Science on Tap: The Ancestry of Cancer: Tracing How Cancer Evolves

October 30, 5:30 p.m. : The Ancestry of Cancer: Tracing How Cancer Evolves

Join Palash Sashittal, assistant professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Computer Science, for a hands-on exploration of the evolutionary history of cancer — how tumors grow, adapt, and resist treatment.

Cancer isn’t a single disease; it’s a process of evolution within our bodies. At this month’s Science on Tap, participants will use a dice-based game to see evolution in action — watching genetic changes accumulate over time. You'll then piece together how cancer evolves, using the same reasoning scientist's use to uncover cancer's evolutionary history. 

Come join the community, roll some dice, and see how exploring evolution helps us better understand disease!

Free and open to the public. Hosted by the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech's chapter of Sigma Xi.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Erin Smith at erinsmith@vt.edu during regular business hours least ten days before the event.