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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/

Power Plants and the Freshwater Crisis

Tue, Jun 25, 2013

Freshwater is a critical resource and the supply is rapidly dwindling in an era of climate change. The demand for water far exceeds the rate of natural replenishment, leaving a seriously depleted water table and increased conflict over water rights in many regions. The bulk of our freshwater use is for cooling in power plants and irrigation in large-scale agriculture. In this discussion, John Rogers focuses especially on the problem of power plants. In the United States, 90 percent of electricity comes from conventional thermoelectric power plants' coal, nuclear, natural gas, and oil, and such technologies depend on freshwater cooling. Much of that freshwater is wasted. In a time of critical loss of freshwater, the deployment of alternative energy systems cannot be postponed.

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Antarctic Fishes: Models for Climate Change and Human Disease

Tue, Jul 9, 2013

The notothenioid icefishes of Antarctica are among the most interesting examples of evolution. When the Southern Ocean formed, the blood of the icefish evolved unique 'antifreeze' properties that enabled them to survive the extreme cold of the Southern Ocean (temperatures of '1.8 to +1°C). In addition, the icefish skeletal structure changed, becoming much lighter in weight. These two adaptations ensured the survival of icefish while many other organisms became extinct at the time of the ocean temperature change. Dr. Detrich explains why the icefish were able to adapt while most other organisms in the Antarctic area became extinct when the Southern Ocean formed. He also discusses how blood and skeletal changes that were survival features for the icefish are features of disease 'anemia and osteoporosis' in humans. Professor Detrich brings to his research a broad and deep background in biochemistry, molecular biology and genomics. His work is providing significant insights into both climate change biology and medicine. Dr. Detrich has spent more than twelve field seasons in Antarctica, at Palmer Station and McMurdo Station and he describes, in this lecture, the excitement of 'research on the ice' and the climate changes in Antarctica he has witnessed over two decades. H. William Detrich, III, Ph.D., Professor, Marine Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Northeastern University; Principal Investigator for the United States Antarctic Program since 1984.

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Mario Livio, Ph.D.: His Astrophysics, His New Book (Brilliant Blunders), His Other Books

Wed, Sep 25, 2013

"Mario Livio, PhD, Senior Astrophysicist at the Space Telescope Science Institute. Dr. Livio's research in astrophysics includes supernovae (type 1a), acceleration of the universe, dark energy, and black holes. He is the author of hundreds of scientific papers and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In this program, he discusses astrophysics, his newest book, Brilliant Blunders, his other books 'and his passion for art. Dr. Livio's career as an astrophysicist is coupled with his commitment to making science accessible to the public. He has given public seminars and presentations at the Smithsonian Institution, the Hayden Planetarium in New York, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Glasgow Planetarium, among other institutions. He has appeared on TEDxMidAtlantic and numerous television programs, including 60 Minutes. Dr. Livio is the author of a number of best-selling science books for the general public. The newest title, Brilliant Blunders presents significant errors made by several of our most famous scientists. And in each case, an error led to subsequent important discoveries. The book really illuminates the scientific process and demonstrates how science advances by trial and error. His book awards include the 2003 Peano Prize and the International Pythagoras Prize (for The Golden Ratio)."

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Reading the Clouds to Understand Climate Change

Tue, Oct 22, 2013

Professor Cziczo discusses the science of clouds, particularly the cirrus clouds found at very high altitudes. He explains how particles (aerosols) in the atmosphere trigger cloud formation and what the presence of particular aerosols recently discovered suggest for a better understanding of climate change. This video includes footage from the Cziczo Lab in which Dr. Cziczo demonstrates how aerosols trigger cloud formation, and researchers in the lab explain how particles are collected and analyzed. Daniel Cziczo, PhD is the Victor P. Starr Career Development Associate Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Sustainability Science: Biodiversity and Community

Tue, Oct 15, 2013

"Professor Bawa, recipient of the 2012 Gunnerus Award for sustainability and former Ruffolo Giorgio Fellow in Sustainability Science and Bullard Fellow at Harvard University, is an international leader in preservation. Dr. Bawa's outstanding research focuses on rainforest populations and the spectacular biodiversity of the Western Ghats in India (a UNESCO site), the Himalayas and Central America. The unique institute he founded, the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), is globally recognized for its leadership in preserving both biodiversity and human communities. Meet Kamal Bawa In this program, Dr. Bawa discusses his famous discoveries in biodiversity, his progressive strategy of combining preservation of biodiversity with community development and participation 'as reflected in the programs of ATREE' and his beautiful 2013 book with photographer Sandesh Kadur, Himalaya: Mountains of Life. He also discusses his new course at Boston University that captures his work and perspective: Sustainability Science: Environment, Economics, and Equity. Kamaljit S. Bawa, PhD., Distinguished Professor of Biology, University of Massachusetts-Boston"

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Infant Fossil Teeth: Clues to Ancient Human Development

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

Your dentist knows a lot about your diet and your habits just by examining your teeth. Evolutionary scientists value teeth too, but their interest lies in the potential of fossil teeth as biomarkers, a record of species development. Infant teeth are especially important because they provide a clear record of weaning patterns, and weaning patterns are important indicators of species development. **Professor Tanya Smith** analyzed infant fossil teeth to reconstruct the weaning patterns of Neanderthal and early humans. In this video, _Science for the Public_ visits Dr. Smith's lab to learn what makes fossil teeth great evolutionary biomarkers. We examine some ancient teeth and record a demonstration of the advanced technology that makes an accurate analysis of ancient teeth possible. Dr. Smith also explains the significance of this type of research.

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Clive Hamilton Talks about the Geoengineering Issue

Mon, Oct 28, 2013

"Clive Hamilton, PhD is is Vice-Chancellor's Chair and Professor of Public Ethics at the Center for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE), Charles Sturt University in Australia. He was the Founder and for 14 years the Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Australia's leading progressive think tank, which is a joint center of Charles Sturt University and the University of Melbourne. Dr. Hamilton has held a number of visiting academic positions, including the University of Cambridge, Yale University and the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and in June 2009 was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to public debate and public policy. In 2012 he was appointed by the Federal Government to the Climate Change Authority. Clive Hamilton is the author of a number of best-selling books, the most recent of which is Earthmasters: The Dawn of the Age of Climate Engineering (2013)."

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Environmental Contaminants and Autism

Tue, Jul 23, 2013

"Environmental epidemiology is among the most exciting fields in modern science, in part because of the great range of neuro-cognitive impairments the research covers, the possibility of preventive efforts to protect neurological function, as well as understanding the etiology of these conditions with an eye toward cures. Dr. Weisskopf's work is also particularly important because of the need to understand how environmental contaminants of many sorts are affecting the brain across generations. Marc Weisskopf, Ph.D., ScD., Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health. Professor Weisskopf investigates the epidemiology of a range of neurological disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, and autism. He focuses on the effects of exposures to environmental toxicants in the environment."

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Journey to the Center of the Earth

Tue, Nov 5, 2013

"When Jules Verne published his classic Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1864, practically nothing was known about the Earth's interior. By this time, Charles Darwin had published On the Origin of Species, weather maps had become available, and Maxwell's equations for electromagnetic waves were used. In contrast, views of the Earth's interior did not emerge until well into the 20th century. How did the Earth, which seems so accessible to humans, remain a mystery for such a long time? In this presentation, Professor Ishii discusses challenges and techniques for studying the deep interior, and takes the audience on a modern journey to the center of the Earth. Miaki Ishii, PhD, Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, and member of the Harvard Seismology Group."

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How TB Bacteria Evade Treatment

Tue, Dec 10, 2013

"Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest diseases in our crowded world, and by far one of the hardest diseases to conquer because TB bacteria are exceptionally clever at outwitting the antibiotics designed to arrest the disease. Professor Bree Aldridge has pioneered research that illuminates the mechanisms used by mycobacteria (TB) to evade medication. Scientists are now beginning to understand that identical cells are like identical twins: although genetically identical, individual cells can have surprisingly different characteristics. The Aldridge Lab studies the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. These cells vary in their response to antibiotic therapy, even in controlled laboratory conditions. The Aldridge team uses live-cell imaging and mathematical modeling to understand how TB cells differ from one another and how individual distinctions affect the response to antibiotics. In doing so, Dr. Aldridge and her group address a major obstacle in controlling tuberculosis, which is the lengthy multi-drug therapy currently required to effectively cure the disease. By understanding how some bacteria behave differently, they hope to identify more effective treatments. Bree Aldridge, PhD, Bree Aldridge, PhD, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Microbiology at Tufts University School of Medicine; member of the Molecular Microbiology and Immunology program faculties at the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts School of Engineering."

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