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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/

A Front-Row Seat at the Big Bang: The Large Hadron Collider at CERN

Tue, Jan 25, 2011

Dr. Nahn explains how the Large Hadron Collider probes the fundamental structure and forces of the universe. He describes the search for the Higgs Boson, extra dimensions, and mystery particles that might explain dark matter.

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Understanding How Life Began

Fri, Apr 2, 2010

Dr. Alonso Ricardo of the Szostak Lab at Harvard University explains how some of the molecules in our DNA are identical to molecules brought to Earth on meteorites, and he describes how elements in "stardust" may have met with conditions on Earth to lead to the emergence of life. Dr. Ricardo's lecture includes animations and other graphics that help to make clear the very complex chemistry involved in the emergence of life. He shows how scientists are unraveling the steps toward the development of the cell, and why scientists concerned with that mystery are also concerned with the creation of a synthetic cell. Both processes are of great importance to science and medicine today.

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Groundbreaking Research on the Origins of Life

Sat, May 1, 2010

Two researchers at the famous Szostak Lab at Harvard University describe their respective contributions to scientific understanding of the emergence of life. Two essentials of life are (a) self-replication and (b) a membrane. Dr. Matthew W. Powner, a Research Fellow at the Szostak Lab, explains the breakthrough he and his colleagues made in the reconstruction of the origin of nucleotides, the basic material of self-replication. Itay Budin, a doctoral candidate in the Szostak Lab, explains the acclaimed model he devised for the development of lipid membranes on the early Earth. Both projects provide clues to the origins of the earliest stages of life.

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Psychotropic Drugs and Children

Tue, Jun 15, 2010

Robert Whitaker, author of *Anatomy of an Epidemic*, discusses the disturbing effects of psychotropic drugs prescribed for children. Such medications, used for ADHD, depression, and anxiety, for example, have become commonplace over the past 30 years. This practice profoundly alters the lives of the children, and so now we, as a society, urgently need to address this question: do the medications help the children thrive and grow up into healthy adults? Or does this practice do more harm than good over the long term. Robert Whitaker emphasizes two things: first, the need for an objective, evidence-based approach to evaluating these drugs; and second, the need for better public understanding of how these medications work.

Mental Health Month

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The Youth Pill

Fri, Sep 10, 2010

David Stipp discusses his new book on the scientific and medical discoveries that will lead to greater longevity with good health. The author is critical of bogus remedies and promises of extended youth. He emphasizes instead the promising research, especially in genetics, that suggests the possibility of extending life without the decline in health and mental acuity. This lecture is a valuable resource in our era of aging populations.

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Dark Matter in the Universe

Tue, Sep 28, 2010

What is dark matter? Where is it? Do we need it? How much is there? Prof. Peter Fisher explains the problem of dark matter, the mysterious, invisible stuff that holds galaxies together. He also describes the current big hunt for dark matter and the unique project he and his collaborators have designed to identify it.

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Science for the Public