Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering
in the Boston Area

(Preferred URL:  http://www.BostonScienceLectures.com.)

There is a pretty impressive culture of lectures and lecture- based events (symposia, panel discussions, conferences, etc.) in Boston. (Aside from some patchy weeks when the schools are closed.) This list filters out a selection intended to be of interest to science and technology buffs. The intention is to advertise specific events and convey a general sense of where science and engineering is right now -- what the people doing the work are talking about.   However, selection criteria are entirely subjective.

There are two routes to this list. The first you see before you. You can also subscribe to a weekly schedule.  (Do note that this landscape is highly volatile: Important lectures appear, and important details change, at the last minute.  I do the best I can, but I strongly urge you to doublecheck the "Details" link before you head out.)

Please let me know if I ought to be monitoring somebody not on this list.

I would appreciate your informing people with compatible interests about this list.

The blue boxes represent events advertised as child-friendly; pink boxes indicate events that while not exactly lectures -- conferences, unconferences, panel discussions, debates, symposia, festschrifts, workshops, poster sessions, mini-courses, documentaries, roundtables, exhibitions, tech jams, demos, tours, meetups, etc., etc. -- seem of interest nonetheless.

-- Fred Hapgood

Selected Exhibits & Exhibitions
Selected Groups, Clubs, Societies, & Meetups
Experimental Subject Volunteering Opportunities:   Harvard    Tufts

Monday, July 13

July 13 & 20, 7 - 10p.   "Complete Welding Course."   Doug Moore.   Willoughby and Baltic:  W&B Fab Shop, 440 Somerville Ave., Somerville.   Registration required.   Details.

11a.   "Habitability and Cosmic Catastrophes."   Arnold Hanslmeier.   Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophyics: Pratt Conference Rm. (PG-04), 60 Garden St.   Details.

Noon.   "Autophagy: Molecular Machinery, Regulation, and Role in Disease."   Tamotsu Yoshimori.   Background Reading.   HMS:  Bldg. C, Cannon Rm.   Details.

4:30p.   "Genome-wide Association Studies: What Can Be Learned?"   Joel Hirshhorn.   Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center:  Sherman Auditorium.   Details.

7p.   "9 Billion People = 1 Planet = ?"   Andrew Revkin.   Jonsson Center:  Quissett Ave., Woods Hole.   Details.

12:30p.   "Statistical Resources: Finding Health Data."   Diane Sredl, data reference librarian, Harvard Numeric Data Services .   HMS:  Kresge (Bldg. 3) G3.   Details.

7p.   "Runaway Complexity Growth in Artificial Life."   EVENT RESCHEDULED FOR 7/14.   Adam Ierymenko.   Asgard Irish Pub at 350 Massachusetts Ave.   Details.

7p.   "Life at the South Pole of the Moon."   Jonathan McDowell.   The People's Republic, 876 Massachusetts Ave.   Details.

Tuesday, July 14

12:15p.   "The Houses of Ancient Israel."   Everyday Life in Mesopotamian cities circa 800 BCE.   Harvard:  The Semitic Museum.   Details.

12:30p.   "Mapping the Global Commons: A Quantitative Perspective on Free Cultural Practice."   A Berkman Luncheon.   Giorgos Cheliotis.   Webcast details.   Podcast details.   RSVP required for lunch.   Harvard Law School: Berkman Center for the Internet and Society, 23 Everett St., 2nd. Flr.   Details & Abstract.

12:15p.   "Humans as a Geomorphic Force; Earth's Global Anthrobiogeochemical Metal Cycles."   Jason Rauch.   Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute:  Clark 507.   Details.

6 - 9p.   "Open Hack."   Projects Feedback swapped.   A Dorkbot Boston Event.   True Grounds Coffee House, 717 Broadway, Somerville.   Details TBA.

7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11; 6:30 - 8:30.   "Introduction to Floral Structures."   Kanchi Gandhi.   Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway.   Details.

1p.   "Computational Methods for Physiological Data."   Zeeshan Syed.   MIT:  Stata Center (32) G882.   Details & Abstract.

7p.   "Runaway Complexity Growth in Artificial Life."   Adam Ierymenko.   Asgard Irish Pub at 350 Massachusetts Ave.   Details.

7:30p.   "Interactive Fiction: Virtual Reality You Read."   Nick Montfort.   AXIOM Art Center, 141 Green St., Jamica Plain.   Details & Abstract.

Wednesday, July 15

5:30p.   "Multi-Scale Science, New Theory and High-Performance Computing for Industrial Chemistry."   Samantha Jenkins, University West, Trollhattan, Sweden.   Harvard:  Maxwell Dworkin, 2nd. flr. lounge, 33 Oxford St.   Details.

4p.   "Mortal and Immortal DNA: Science and the Lure of Myth."   Gerald R. Weissmann.   Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute:  Grass Reading Rm., Lillie Bldg.   Details.

6p.   "How to Fold DNA Origami."   John Rinn.   Rinn Lab.   Background Reading.   Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center.   Details.

6 - 8p.   "What Is That Shrub? Why Should I Care?"   Michael Dosmann.   Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway.   Details.

6:30p.   "Another Look at MythTV and MythDora."   MIT:  E51 - 315.   Details.

6:30p.   Web Innovators Group   Royal Sonesta Cambridge, 40 Edwin H. Land Blvd.   Registration requested.   Details.

Thursday, July 16

7:30a - Noon.   "Dam Removal and River Restoration."   Emerging Enterprise Center, Foley Hoag Bay Colony Corporate Center, 1000 Winter St., Suite 4000, North Entrance, Waltham.   Details.

6 & 7p.   "Life's a Niche."   Luke Mahler.   Harvard Museum of Natural History.   Details.

Friday, July 17

7p.   Lone Frank will discuss her latest book Mindfield: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World.   Background Reading.   Harvard Coop, Level 3.   Details.

Saturday, July 18

10a.   "Urban Ecology Workshop."   Will Macfarlane.   Brookline Church of Christ, 416 Washington St.   Details.

Sunday, July 19

9 - 2p.   "The Flea at MIT."   Flyer.   Albany Street Garage, corner Albany & Main.   Details.

12:30p.   "Boston Underfoot Tour."   Faneuil Hall.  Details.

Monday, July 20

9a.   "Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing."   Museum of Science.   Details.

Monday July 20 - Friday July 24, 9 - 3p.   "Making Things and Making Things Happen."   Will Macfarlane.   Brookline Church of Christ.   416 Washington St.   Details.

7p.   Community discussion on science literacy.   Belmont Library, Belmont.   Details.

Wednesday, July 22

6p.   "Tackling the 'Undruggable'."   Angela Koehler.   Registration requested.   Broad Institute :  7 Cambridge Center.   Details & Abstract.

Thursday, July 23

Noon.   "The Silent Killer."   Part 3 of a film series on the heart.   Registration requested.   Brigham and Women's Hospital:  Kessler Library.   Details.

6p.   "The Anaerobic Way of Life."   Volker Müller, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University.   Harvard:   HUCE Seminar Room, 24 Oxford St., 3rd Flr., Cambridge.   Details.

Saturday, July 25

July 25 & 26.   "Wings & Wheels Spectacular & Aerobatic Airshow."   Owls Head Transportation Museum, Rt. 73, Owls Head, ME.   Details.

Sunday, July 26

2p.   "Exploring the Charles River Basin."   Nashua St. Park, 295 Nashua St.   Details.

Monday, July 27

Monday, July 27 - Friday, July 31; 9 - 3p.   "Exploring the Urban Wilderness."   Will Macfarlane.   Brookline Church of Christ.   416 Washington St.  Details.

7p.   "The Flat World: How Globalization is Transforming Science and Technology."   Ruth David.   Registration requested.   The J. Erik Jonsson Center, 314 Quissett Ave., Woods Hole.   Details.

8p.   "Nerdnite."   Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass. Ave.   Details.

Tuesday, July 28

2p.   "Dynamics of Consciousness: Complexity & Creativity."   Fortunato Tito Arechi.   BU:  Auditorium, Rm. B02, 677 Beacon St.   Details.

Wednesday, July 29

12:15p.   "The Houses of Ancient Israel."   Everyday Life in Mesopotamian cities circa 1200 BCE.   Harvard:  The Semitic Museum.   Details. 

3 -9p.   CloudCamp.   An unconfererence on Cloud computers.   Registration requested.   Microsoft New England R&D Center, One Memorial Drive.   Details.

6p.   "Taking Aim at TB."   James Galagan.   Registration requested.   Broad Institute :  7 Cambridge Center.   Details & Abstract.

Friday, July 31

9 - 5p.   "Alternative Approches to Open Digital Libraries / Google Books Settlement Open Workshop."   Registration requested.   Harvard Law School, venue TBA.   Details.

Monday, August 3

August 3 - 7, 9:30 - Noon.    "Speciman Study."   Harvard Museum of Natural History.   Details.

Tuesday, August 4

8:30 - 11:30a.   "Archaeology of Harvard Yard."   Harvard Yard Archaeology Project.   Flyer.   Peabody Museum, 11 Divinity Ave.   Details.

Wednesday, August 5

6 - 7:30p.   "Winds of Dune Blow East."   Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.   Boston Public Library:  Central Library, Rabb Hall.   Details.

Saturday, August 8

9:30p.   "Arlington Astronomy Nights '09."   Robbins Farm Park,   Details.

Sunday, August 16

9 - 2p.   "The Flea at MIT."   Flyer.   Albany Street Garage, corner Albany & Main.   Details.

END

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