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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/

  • The Dark Age of the Universe

    Tue, May 12, 2015
    Lincoln Greenhill describes the time period between the Big Bang and emergence of the first stars and galaxies, and particularly a period of about one hundred million years when the universe became transparent but there was no light. This is known as the "Dark Age" of the universe. In this presentation, Dr. Greenhill discusses what astronomers today know about this important phase in the evolution of the cosmos and the radio telescopes that astronomers have recently begun to use to test their theories for the first time. He describes one facility that his team has helped build in California's Sierra mountains. He shows examples of the radio telescopes used by his team and also real-time radio astronomy data.
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  • Evolution and Environmental Toxins

    Wed, Apr 22, 2015
    4/22/15 Science for the Public Spring 2015 Lecture Series. Emily Monosson, Ph.D., Toxicologist, Author, Adjunct Professor UMass-Amherst. All of life today is exposed to an unprecedented environmental challenge: the need to adapt quickly to hundreds of human-produced toxins. Extinctions are becoming commonplace, but some species manage to adapt. Although many of those survivor species are predominantly the “pest” types (monster weeds, mosquitoes, bedbugs, etc), toxicologist Emily Monosson suggests those organisms might be a source of valuable information.
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  • 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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  • Joan Najita: Formation of Planetary Systems

    Tue, Mar 11, 2014
    How do solar systems get started? Modern astronomers are still working to figure this out, and there is nothing they like better than a big challenge like this one. Dr. Najita, who is a prominent researcher in this field, discusses why planetary system formation is such a big question. She describes how astronomers investigate the formation of stars, their disks and their planetary systems. And she considers what astronomers are certain about today and why there are still many puzzles.
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