If you would like to post your event, please e-mail Joseph Caputo at jcaputo@sciencemetropolis.com.
Friday, October 17
8:30 p.m.
PERFORMANCE
All Asia, Cambridge, MA
Scientist Pardis Sabeti’s band “Thousand Days”
Live Friday night at All Asia. Playing with Electric Laser People, Glen Michael, and The Wrong Noises.
Monday, October 20
7:30 p.m.
LECTURE
Harvard Book Store @ First Parish Church Parlor Room | 3 Church St.
“Fred Pearce - Confessions of an Eco-Sinner: Tracking Down the Sources of My Stuff”
Cambridge Forum is pleased to Fred Pearce, a former news editor at New Scientist. Currently that magazine’s environment and development consultant, he has also written for Audubon, Popular Science, Time, the Boston Globe, and Natural History.
Tuesday, October 21
7:00 p.m.
LECTURE
2008 University Lecture
Boston University, Tsai Performance Center
The 2008 University Lecture will be held on Tuesday, October 21st at 7:00pm in the Tsai Performance Center (http://www.bu.edu/provost/news/lecture.html). The University Lecture was established in 1950 to allow one member of the faculty to present his or her research to the entire Boston University community each year. This year’s lecturer will be James J. Collins, Professor of Biomedical Engineering. His topic, “Biology by Design” will explain the basis of synthetic biology.
Wednesday, October 22
6:00 p.m.
LECTURE
MIT Museum
“Soap Box”
With Henry Jenkins, Director of the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program and the Peter de Florez Professor of Humanities. What is Civic Media?
Free admission, refreshments served
Visit the Soap Box Homepage.
Thursday, October 23
7:00 p.m.
LECTURE
New England Aquarium
“Midway Atoll and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument”
Wayne Sentman, biologist and field naturalist, Oceanic Society
The only accessible wildlife refuge within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Midway offers one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles in the world. Similar to the Galapagos, much of the wildlife of Midway has remarkably little fear of humans. Few places on the planet allow visitors such close contact with seabirds.
Wayne Sentman has a B.S. from the University of Delaware and has completed graduate courses in Wildlife Management. He has worked as a naturalist and field biologist for the Oceanic Society since 1998.
Monday, October 27
7:00 p.m.
LECTURE
New England Aquarium
“Vernal Pool Conservation”
Dr. Aram Calhoun, Associate Professor, University of Maine
Take a look at the science behind vernal pool conservation and explore creative ways to effect conservation at the municipal level. Aram Calhoun’s research focuses on forested wetlands, vernal pools, amphibians and aquatic invasive plants.
Dr. Aram Calhoun recently co-edited “Science and Conservation of Vernal Pools in the Northeastern Parts of North America,” a practitioner’s guide to vernal pool ecology, stewardship and regulations.
Wednesday, October 29
6:00 p.m.
LECTURE
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Future(s) of Conservation
Lecture by Dr. Steven Sanderson
The case for wildlife conservation is losing ground to economic growth and a variety of other social concerns. Sanderson, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society, will discuss how this came to pass, and what important new forces will shape the future(s) that might evolve. This lecture is cosponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Thursday, October 30
7:00 p.m.
BOOK TALK AND SIGNING
Harvard Coop
“Sustaining Life” by Eric Chivian
The Earth’s biodiversity-the rich variety of life on our planet-is disappearing at an alarming rate. And while many books have focused on the expected ecological consequences, or on the aesthetic, ethical, sociological, or economic dimensions of this loss, Sustaining Life is the first book to examine the full range of potential threats that diminishing biodiversity poses to human health.
Wednesday, Novemeber 5
6:00 p.m.
LECTURE
MIT Museum
“Soap Box”
With Dayna Cunningham, Executive Director of the Community Innovators lab at MIT’s Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning: Technologies and Communities Changing Each Other. Technologies and Communities Changing Each Other.
Free admission, refreshments served.
Visit the Soap Box Homepage.
Monday, November 10
7:00 p.m.
LECTURE
New England Aquarium
“Journey With a National Geographic Photographer”
Brian Skerry, National Geographic photographer and New England Aquarium Overseer
“The oceans are in trouble. As a photo-journalist, I feel a sense of urgency to tell that story,” Brian Skerry says. “It’s hard for people to understand. The ocean is so vast and deep, and from the surface, from the beach, from the fully stocked seafood restaurants, it looks healthy.” Underneath the waves, however, lies a completely different story. Come hear from this photographer who has traveled all over the world and see some of his breathtaking photographs.
Tuesday, November 18
6:00 p.m.
LECTURE
MIT Museum
“Soap Box”
With Ellen Hume, Research Director of MIT’s Center for Future Civic Media. The Future of the News.
Free admission, refreshments served.
Visit the Soap Box Homepage.
Thursday, November 20
7:00 p.m.
LECTURE
New England Aquarium
“Using Technology to Help Protect the North Atlantic Right Whale”
Kerry Lagueux, Associate Scientist, New England Aquarium
The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is one of the most endangered large whales in the world, with fewer than 400 individuals. New England Aquarium’s research department is employing mapping technology to help understand the patterns of risk for these cetaceans. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is being used to visualize right whale distribution, analyze potential conflicts with humans, and assess the compliance of current regulations to protect this species. Come explore right whale habitats in 3D, visualize ships moving in right whale habitats, and understand the spatial conflict between fishing and right whales.
7:30 p.m.
LECTURE
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
“The Truth About Black Holes,” Dan Evans, Harvard/MIT
Black holes get a bad rap. Too often seen as cannibalistic bullies, they are, in fact, crucial to the formation and evolution of the Universe. Tonight, Dr. Evans will discuss using the X-ray eyes of the Chandra X-ray Observatory to detect and study the properties of supermassive black holes in so-called “active” galaxies. Then, he will describe how astronomers use those observations to test Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity in the most extreme environments. Finally, Evans will present Chandra’s latest discovery - the “Death Star Galaxy” - and discuss the fact that while you might want to avoid this destructive black hole at present, it ultimately might not be a bad neighborhood in our Universe in which to live.
Thursday, December 18
7:30 p.m.
LECTURE
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
“Gems of the Winter Sky,” David Aguilar, CfA
While Cygnus the Swan glides over the western horizon, the Seven Sisters look on as Orion the Hunter stands up to Taurus the Bull in the clear skies of winter. On these brisk, cold nights, stars sparkle like brilliant diamonds overhead as the Earth turns away from our Milky Way galaxy. Join us as we reveal some easy-to-identify winter constellations and explore the deep-sky jewels hidden among them, like the Great Nebula in Orion - the ultimate stellar nursery. Gaze upon the double star Almaak - a solar system with two orange suns. Or David’s favorite, the dazzling double star cluster in Perseus - no stellar treasure hunt would be complete without it!