Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering
in the Boston Area

Both these URLs point to the correct files:
http://www.BostonScienceLectures.com
http://www.BostonScienceandEngineeringLectures.com

Boston supports a pretty impressive culture of lectures and lecture-like events (conferences, unconferences, panel discussions, debates, symposia, festschrifts, workshops, poster sessions, mini-courses, roundtables, exhibitions, tech jams, demos, tours, meetups, etc.).   This list filters out a selection intended to be of interest to science and technology buffs. The idea is both 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, please note that this list is no sense comprehensive, and selection criteria are entirely subjective.

Blue boxes represent events advertised as child-friendly; pink boxes, multi-day events; the digit(s) at the end of each item has to do with error-checking.

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.  Plus I make the occasional error.  All in all 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.



-- Fred Hapgood

Email Website Last update: 20.1201 Archives Sources Other lists and sites Online Video

Selected Repeating Events: Exhibitions & Tours
Selected Groups, Clubs, Societies, & Meetups
Selected New England Museums
Experimental Subject Volunteering Opportunities:   Harvard    Tufts    Centerwatch

Friday, November 20

8:30a.   "Microbiology of Cultural Heritage Materials."   Nick Konkol.   Harvard Center for the Environment.   Details.   15

8:30 - 1p.   "Evolution of the Vertebrate Eye."   A symposium.   MIT:  Whitehead Auditorium.   Details.   16

10a.   "The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)."   Robert McGrath, Director for Science & Technology, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.   BU:  15 St. Mary’s Street, Room 105.   Details & Abstract.   15

Noon.   "Temporal Context in Human Memory: Past, Present, and Future."   Marc Howard.   BU:  Center for Memory and Brain, 2 Cummington Street, Room 109.   Details.   03

1 - 5p.   "Evolutionary Concepts in Medicine & Public Health."   A panel discussion.   BU:  The Castle, 225 Bay State Road (Music Room).   Details.   00

2p.   "Growing Up in an Era of Social Media."   Danah Boyd.   MIT:  Stata Center, Patil/Kiva (32-G449).   Details & Abstract.   14

2p.   "Dynamics of Distributed Cortical Processing."   Charles Gray.   BU:  Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Auditorium, Room B02, 677 Beacon St.   Details.  14

2p.   "Olin College: Reflections on Ten Years of Experimentation in Engineering Education."   Richard K. Miller, President, Olin College.   MIT:  3-133.   Details.   14

3p.   James Schwartz will read from and discuss In Pursuit of the Gene: From Darwin to DNA.   Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave.   Details.

3p.   "LIFE: Laser Inertial Fusion Energy Systems for Electric Power Production and Disposal of Nuclear Waste."   Erik Storm, Chief Engineer, LIFE Project, National Ignition Facility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.   MIT:  NW17-218.   Details.   14

3:30p.   "Enernet: Internet Lessons for Solving Energy."   Bob Metcalfe.   Harvard:  Maxwell Dworkin G-115.   Details &Abstract.  14

4p.   "Origins of Abstract Knowledge: Natural Geometry."   Elizabeth Spelke.   Background Reading.   MIT:  46-3002.   Details.  14

4p.   "Why do Butterflies have Eyes on their Wings?"   Antonia Monteiro.   Monteiro Lab.   Tufts:  Barnum Hall 104.   Details.   15

5 - 7p.   "Annual Engineering Systems Student Society Poster Session."   MIT:  Building 32G, 4th floor; outside of the R&D Pub.   Details.

5:30 - 7p.   The New England Chapter of the American Information Society will host a general discussion of social computing issues as addressed in Groundswell, by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff.   Andala Cafe, 286 Franklin St, Central Square, Cambridge.   Details.

7p.   "Logan's Run."   A CfA Sci-Fi movie night.   Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics:  Phillips Auditorium, 60 Garden St.   Details.


November 21 & 22.   "Music Hackday - Boston."   Schedule.   Registration required.   Microsoft New England Research & Development Center, One Memorial Drive.   Details.

Saturday, November 21

8 - 2p.   "Moving Toward a Smarter Electric Grid."   Poster.   Background reading.   MIT:  Stata Center (32) 123.   Details.  14

10 - 12:30p.   "Psychology Goes to the Movies."   Michael Fleming, BU.   Registration required.   BU:  725 Commonwealth Ave.   Details.  00

Monday, November 23

11:45 - 1:15p.   "Media Cloud and Quantitative News Media Analysis."   Hal Roberts and Ethan Zuckerman.   Harvard:  Maxwell Dworkin 119.   Details & Abstract.  07

Noon.   "Retrieving Properties of Exoplanetary Atmospheres."   Madhu Nikku, MIT.   Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astophysics:  Details.

4p.   "Autonomous Operations of a Space, Air, Ground, Marine Sensorweb."   Steve Chien.   MIT:  Stata Center, Star (32-D463).   Details & Abstract.   3

4:15p.   "A Quantum Computer Can Determine Who Wins a Game Faster Than a Classical Computer."   Edward Farhi.   Harvard:  Jefferson 450.   Details.   14

7p.   "Minimizing Vessel Strikes to Endangered Right Whales: A Crash Course in Conservation Science and Policy."   Moira Brown.   New England Aquarium:  Harborside Learning Lab.   Details. 08

Tuesday, November 24

Noon.   "The Body-Specificity of Language and Thought."   Daniel Casasanto.   Background Reading.   MIT:   46-3310.   Details.   4

2p.  "Introducing App Inventor for Android."   Hal Abelson,  Bill Magnuson,  and Ben Gleitzman.   Registration required.   Google Cambridge, 5 Cambridge Center.   Details & Abstract.   4

Friday, November 27

1 - 4p.   "The 12th Friday After Thanksgiving (F.A.T.) Chain Reaction."   Authur Ganson.   MIT Museum, 256 Massachusetts Ave. , Cambridge.  Details.  12

Monday, November 30

12:15 - 2p.   "Constructing and Deconstructing Disease in a Dish."   Kris Saha.   Harvard:  Program on Science, technology & Society, 124 Mt. Auburn St, Suite 100, Rm 106.   Details. 0

6p.   "Technology and Child Development."   Marina Bers.   Background reading.   MIT:  14E-310.   Details.

Tuesday, December 1

1:30p.   "Winterlight: Stars and Symbols of the Solstice."   The opening day of a new planetarium show.   Museum of Science.   Details.   11

4p.   "Compressed Sensing and Modeling of the Neocortex for Learning Applications."   Robert Gilmore.   MIT:  34-101.   Details.  07

4p.   "The Position Sense."   Patrick Cavanagh.   BU:  745 Commonwealth Ave, Rm 525.   Details & Abstract.   15

6:30p.   "Borrowing Nature's Blueprints: Biomimicry and The Art of Well-Adapted Design."   Janine Benyus.   Biomimicry Guild.   Harvard:  Piper Auditorium, 48 Quincy St.   Details.1

7p.   "Woodshop Fundamentals."   Meets for four Tuesdays, starting today.   Rick Caruso.   Willoughby and Baltic Studio, 13 Joy St, Somerville.   Details.   00

Wednesday, December 2

4p.   "Functional Biomimetics: Art and Science."   Joanna Aizenberg.   Harvard:  Radcliffe Gymnasium, 10 Garden St., Radcliffe Yard.   Details.

6p.   "Autism: What Do We Know? What Do We Need?"   Thomas Insel.   RSVP Requested.   MIT: 46-3002.   Details & Abstract.   03

6:30 - 9:30p.   "Spatial Boston."   Microsoft New England R&D Center, One Memorial Drive, Cambridge.  Details.

7p.   "Autoimmunity & Disease."   TBA.   HMS, Armenise Ampitheater.   Details.

7p.   "Intellectual Property Versus Prizes: A Policy Lever Analysis."   Benjamin Roin.   Harvard Law School:  Hauser Hall, Rm. 102,   Details.  15

Thursday, December 3

4p.   "Large Scale Structure and Galaxy Evolution."   Nick Scoville.   Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics :  Phillips Auditorium, Building D.   Details.   07

5p.   "Western Otaku: Games Crossing Cultures."   Mia Consalvo.   MIT:  4-291.   Details & Abstract.   08

Friday, December 4

3:45p.   "Species Invasions, Climate Change and Species Extinctions: Evaluating the Risks from Alternative Conservation Strategies."   Dov Sax.   Tufts:  Barnum 104.   Details. 15

Saturday, December 5

10a.   "Global Views on Global Warming."   Museum of Science, Cahners Theater.   Details.  08

Monday, December 7

1 - 5p.   "Darwinism Today: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives."   A panel discussion.   BU:  The Castle, 225 Bay State Rd.   Details.  15

7p.   "American Beauty."   A Science on Screen presentation.   Daniel Gilbert will discuss the pertinent issues.   Coolidge Theater, 290 Harvard Ave/   Details.

Tuesday, December 8

9 - 4p.   "The Library is dead. Long Live the Library!"   MIT:  Bartos Theater, Media Lab.   Details.

9 - 4p.   "The Future of Robotics."   Microsoft New England R&D Center, One Memorial Drive, Cambridge.   Tickets.   Details & Abstract.  08

11 - 4:30p.   "CS 50."   A campus-wide exhibition of final projects.   Projects shown last year.   Details.  15

4p.   "Our Emergence from the Sea."   Farish Jenkins.   MIT:  E19-623.   Details.  15

6 - 7:30p.   "Humans in Space."   Dava Newman.   MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave.   Details.   06

6:30p.   "Statistical Methods in Public Health: Case Studies in Influenza and BioSurveillance."   Stephen Thacker.   Buckingham Browne & Nichols: Upper School, 80 Gerry’s Landing Road, Cambridge.   Details.   03

Wednesday, December 9

4 - 5:30p.   "Virtual Work--Working in an Inter-Connected World."   Jack Hughes.   MIT:  5 Cambridge Center (NE25), Room 746, McClintock Room.   Details & Abstract.

6:30p.   "Thermonuclear Fusion Power Plants - the Ultimate Energy Source – Maybe."   Igor Alexeff.   University of Massachusetts -- Lowell, Ball 412.   Details & Abstract. 08

Thursday, December 10

7p.   "Task-Specific Search."   Michael Stonebraker.   MIT:  E51-315.   Details & Abstract.  15

6p.   "Six Years on Mars."   Andrew Knoll.   Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St.   Details.

Friday, December 11

11a.   "How Many Engineers Does it Take to Design a Light Bulb?"   Louis L. Bucciarelli.   BU:  110 Cummington St., Rm. 245.   Details 08.

5:30p.   "Debunking Hollywood's Holograms."   V. Michael Bove.   MIT Museum.   Details & Abstract.  08


December 12 & 13.   "Bicycle Frame Welding."   Registration required.   Willoughby and Baltic Studio, 13 Joy St., Somerville.   Details.  09

Saturday, December 12

7p.   "Spark: Art Technology New England."   Celebrating and Illustrating New England's Creative Spirit.   Tickets.   Mass Art Pozen Center, 621 Huntington Ave.   Details.

Sunday, December 13

2p.   "The Size and Shape of Nature."   L. Mahadevan.   Harvard Museum of Natural History.   Details.  15

Tuesday, December 15

6 - 8p/   "The Young Charles Darwin: Where Did He Get his Ideas?"   Keith Thomson.   Boston Athenaeum.   Details & Abstract.  15

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