What matters to you.
Sign Out
Play Live Radio
0:00
0:00
NEXT UP:
 
Top

Forum Network

Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

Funding provided by:
sftp_logo.png

Science for the Public

Science for the Public is a grassroots nonprofit organization committed to the promotion of adult science literacy. The organization hosts public presentations by scientists at Boston Public Library, a community science TV series, and online science resources. Citizen participation is actively encouraged in the development of our programs and resources. Today, many of the most pressing issues of modern life require the expertise of scientists. Citizens must therefore have a reasonable understanding of science in order to function as responsible members of society. Further, as the pace of scientific discovery accelerates, modern citizens must be able to grasp new concepts and information that are reshaping our perspectives. Although the issue of science literacy is now being addressed at the K-12 level, there is no science curriculum for the adult population. And it is the adult population that votes, pays taxes and raises children.

http://www.scienceforthepublic.org/

  • cumulus.jpg

    Atmosphere: Earth and Elsewhere

    Tue, Apr 25, 2017
    In this mini-documentary, Dr. Daniel Cziczo explains what atmosphere is, what it does, how it changes, why it needs our care on Earth. He also explains terraforming, geoengineering, and the search for atmospheres on certain moons and even exoplanets.
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public
  • medic-563425_960_720.jpg

    Nanotechnology in Medicine

    Thu, Apr 20, 2017
    Professor Sonkusale’s Nano Lab at Tufts University is a leader in medical applications for nanotechnology. In this tour of the Nano Lab, he shows how nano-devices such as magnetic nanorobots, smart threads, and an electronic nose are improving modern medicine. (Image: Pixabay)
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public
  • Screen_Shot_2017-02-23_at_2.41.33_PM.png

    Plankton: The Humble Base of Ocean Ecosystems

    Tue, Feb 14, 2017
    Plankton represent the foundation of the marine food chain. As such, their vitality determines the health of the ocean ecosystems in general. For this reason, there is much concern and interest in the impact of climate change and environmental pollution on the global ocean. Dr Bowler studies the genetic effects of environmental changes on ancient diatoms in an effort to predict the ability of today's plankton to adapt to anticipated stress caused by climate change. To analyze the evolutionary record he gathers plankton fossils from deep ocean deposits around the world.
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public
  • E_coli_at_10000x_original.jpg

    Microbes Matter! From Healthy Soil to Your Healthy Gut

    Wed, Feb 8, 2017
    The husband-wife authors discuss their outstanding book, _The Hidden Half of Nature_ on how the microbial world sustains the planet and its life. They describe how a project to restore their backyard soil so they could grow a garden led to an investigation of microbes. They found that healthy soil depends on abundant microbes. The careful restoration of their soil led to a vibrant garden that became the base for an entire ecosystem: from microbes to organisms that thrived in the soil, to birds, bees and butterflies that thrived on those organisms. And that's not all! The revitalized soil produced very high quality vegetables and fruits with no artificial fertilizers. They considered then the relationship between high-quality produce and human health. Microbes in the gut extract the elements that simultaneously nourish us and strengthen the immune system. They also discuss the large scale destruction of the soil by modern agricultural practices, and how restoration of the soil can save the planet and our health. By Photo by Eric Erbe, digital colorization by Christopher Pooley, both of USDA, ARS, EMU.
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public

  • Reconstructing the Evolution of Stars

    Fri, Jan 27, 2017
    Dr. Simcoe explains how the universe became transparent, how the first stars probably formed and how subsequent generations evolved. We learn how today's sophisticated optical telescopes penetrate billions of light years to the early universe and how astronomers distinguish "early" from "recent" stars and galaxies.
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public
  • 930321641_56394fd9d1_b.jpg

    The Vital Role of Seagrasses in Marine Ecosystems

    Tue, Jan 10, 2017
    Seagrasses are fundamental to the health of marine ecosystems, providing food and shelter to many organisms. Dr. Daru explains the vital role of seagrasses in maintaining marine life, and how different seagrass varieties vary in the ability to adapt to changing ocean environments around the world. This area of research is very important in the urgent effort today to save marine biodiversity. (Photo: Flickr/prilfish) NOTE: minor error at about 4:01 Dr. Daru meant to say marine plants evolved about 100 million yrs ago (not 100 yrs ago).
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public

  • Astrophysics Knowns and Unknowns

    Tue, Dec 20, 2016
    **Dr. Priyamvada Natarajan** discusses fundamental knowns and unknowns of astrophysics --and what is most important for the public to understand. In addition to her research, Dr. Natarajan is seriously committed to improving public understanding of science. This effort is represented in her many public talks and interviews, her 2016 book, Mapping the Heavens, and numerous articles and book reviews for the general public. In a July 2016 visit with Science for the Public, Dr. Natarajan talked about the historical resistance to a number of concepts and discoveries in astrophysics --all of which are fully accepted today-- as described in her book, Mapping the Heavens. Photo: [Lagoon Nebula](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3075995 "nebula") [By ESO/VPHAS+ team](http://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1403a/ "") - CC BY 4.0,
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public

  • The Large Hadron Collider 2016 Update

    Mon, Nov 7, 2016
    **Tulika Bose** describes the findings so far in this year's testing - at the highest energy ever - at the LHC, and also the search for new physics. She recently completed a two-year term as CMS trigger coordinator for the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (the trigger sets the data selection process). She now heads a CMS physics group that searches for new physics.
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public

  • Troubled Waters: Fewer Fish, Increasing Malnutrition

    Tue, Oct 25, 2016
    In recent years a combination of climate change, massive depletion of fish stocks by commercial fishing fleets, and exploitative trade policies are together creating nutritional crises in many poor nations. **Christopher Golden** explains the impact of these conditions on the health of millions of people. He also provides important facts about the nutritional differences between wild and farmed fish.
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public

  • Exploring the Dark Matter of the Microbial World

    Tue, Oct 18, 2016
    Microbes are virtually everywhere on the planet and all life depends on this microbial foundation. However, 99 percent of these microbes – the “dark matter” have not been identified. **Dr. Slava Epstein** explains why it is so difficult to isolate and identify microbes in general, and why there is an urgent search for bacteria for developing antibiotics.
    Forum Network
    Partner:
    Science for the Public
Load More