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Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

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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/

  • Energy Revolution!

    Thu, May 21, 2015
    The United States wastes two-thirds of its energy, including 80 percent of the energy used in transportation. This waste is unnecessary. As Dr. Prentiss demonstrates in Energy Revolution: The Physics and Promise of Efficient Technology, conversion to wind and solar power could generate 100 percent of the United States average total energy demand for the foreseeable future. She discusses how these technologies work and how they can be phased in quickly. Her book provides clear facts and explanations, and she makes a compelling argument for making the changes now.
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    Corporate Science and Genetically Modified Foods

    Wed, Apr 15, 2015
    Dr. Sheldon Krimsky addresses the long-term effects of genetically modified foods on health. Dr. Krimsky is Chairman of the Board for the Council for Responsible Genetics. Since 1983 the Council has had leading scientists, activists, science writers, and public health advocates researching and reporting on a broad spectrum of issues, including genetically engineered foods, biological weapons, genetic privacy and discrimi- nation, reproductive technologies, and human cloning. Dr. Krimsky is Lenore Stern Professor of Humanities & Social Sciences, Department of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning, Tufts University; Adjunct Professor, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts School of Medicine. [Photo Credit: By: Harald Bischoff, No Changes Made](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calvados_Apfel_0596.jpg "")
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    Breakthrough in Antibiotics Resistance

    Tue, Mar 24, 2015
    An innovation in the development of antibiotics at the Kim Lewis Lab at Northeastern University is generating global excitement. **Dr. Kim Lewis** explains how bacterial resistance to our current antibiotics has reached a critical point. He describes the traditional method of developing antibiotics and then the unique method he and his colleagues pioneered that has led to a major breakthrough. The first result is a new antibiotic, teixobactin, which is in the early stages of testing, but is already making headlines around the world.
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  • Looking for Signatures of Life on Mars

    Tue, Mar 17, 2015
    **Professor Roger Summons** describes how he and other scientists on the NASA Mars team search for and analyze possible bio-signatures on Mars. We learn also how his discoveries of extremely ancient bio-signatures on Earth are applied to the Mars investigation. Dr. Summons is distinguished for his technical analysis of sediments of the Precambrian age and modern microbes, and this expertise is crucial for the identification of organic remains in the Martian geology. Dr. Summons has received many awards for his work. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the American Academy of Microbiology, and the Australian Academy of Science.
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  • How Plankton Blooms Absorb CO2

    Tue, Feb 24, 2015
    Microscopic plankton play a vital role in the ocean’s absorption of atmospheric CO2. And since that absorption represents about one third of the planet’s CO2, scientists are keen to understand this very complex cycle. **Dr. Amala Mahadevan** explains how ocean eddies shift layers of warm and cold water, so that the phytoplankton are exposed to sunlight, and then begin to photosynthesize much like plants on land. The process leads to enormous “blooms” that can be seen from space.
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  • What Happened to the Honeybees?

    Tue, Jan 20, 2015
    Dr. Lu's study of the massive loss of honeybees over the last decade (Colony Collapse Disorder) established a clear link between CCD and a neonicotinoid insecticide found in the fructose that is fed to honeybees. He has worked to make the public aware of the dangers of this group of insecticides, which are used in GMOs, agriculture. gardens/lawns, and for general insect control. In this video he also discusses the difficulties scientists encounter when they attempt to do the necessary research on this subject.
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  • Coastal Ecosystems and Climate Change

    Wed, Dec 17, 2014
    The vitality of coastal ecosystems is of critical importance to life on Earth. Professor Brian Helmuth's lab carries out very complex investigations of these ecosystems. He discusses this fascinating area of science, his role in the international effort to sustain the coastal ecosystems, and how this work is used by policy makers.
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  • Harnessing the Bioelectric Potential of Cells for Regeneration

    Tue, Feb 21, 2012
    Professor Michael Levin and his colleagues at the Tufts Center for Regeneration and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, have demonstrated that manipulation of voltage gradients in embryonic cells can alter physical structure. For example, such manipulation can produce functional eyes in odd places like the tadpole gut and regenerate tissue where that capacity is thought to be lost. The Levin Lab investigates how cells store and process the information and patterns that produce a complex 3-dimensional organism. A central feature of that research involves the study of the broad potential of voltage gradients in cells. Progress in these areas suggests a range of potential benefits for medicine, including the possibility of regenerating organs, limbs and tissues, and curing numerous diseases such as cancer.
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  • Renaissance Roots of Modern Science

    Tue, Mar 6, 2012
    Toby Lester, author of widely acclaimed books on two of the great achievements during the Renaissance, visits with *Science for the Public* to discuss important discoveries, and rediscoveries, that brought about the first map to show America (*The Fourth Part of the World *(2009), and Da Vinci's iconic Vitruvian Man (*Da Vinci's Ghost*) (2012). Both of these accomplishments reflected an intellectual shift over centuries that led to modern science.
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  • The Core of the Moon

    Wed, May 9, 2012
    "A key unknown in lunar science is to what extent the Moon is layered like the Earth, or an unmelted relic of the early solar system like many asteroids. In particular, did the Moon form a metallic core and an ancient magnetic field? The answer will shed light on the origin and evolution of the Moon as well as other small bodies throughout the solar system. Professor Weiss explains how a new era of intensive lunar investigation is settling the debate about the Moon's evolution, and why this information is crucial to our understanding of the formation of the solar system. The very recent research has synthesized new results from spacecraft observations and studies of lunar rocks returned by the Apollo missions. Professor Benjamin Weiss conducts laboratory magnetic studies on rocks from Mars, the Moon, and Earth to understand the evolution of planets, magnetism, and life. He uses SQUID microscopy, a new technique several orders of magnitude more sensitive than standard SQUID moment magnetometry that makes high-resolution magnetic maps of room temperature samples."
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