The What

Science-related happenings in and around Philadelphia, PA

“Unlocking the Secrets and Powers of the Brain” at the Franklin, 11/18 7pm

Posted on | November 12, 2008 | 1 Comment

This one is a must-see for enthusiasts of good science writing and/or neuroscience. The Franklin Institute is hosting a meeting of the minds moderated by Carl Zimmer, whose hem I am unworthy to touch.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 · 7PM Franklin Theater

The Franklin, Discover Magazine and the National Science Foundation present a fascinating
symposium featuring five leading brain researchers who will debate the hottest issues in neuroscience,
from controlling memory to decoding consciousness.
Moderated by award-winning journalist Carl Zimmer, panelists include:

• Dan Levitin, best-selling author of “This is Your Brain on Music” and Associate Professor of
Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Music at McGill University.

• Michael Gazzaniga, Professor of Psychology and the Director for the SAGE Center for the Study
of Mind at the University of California Santa Barbara.

• Rebecca Saxe, Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at MIT.

• Sam Wang, Associate Professor of molecular biology and neuroscience at Princeton University
and co-author of “Welcome to Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys but Never Forget How
to Drive.”

• Ron Mangun, Interim Dean of Social Sciences, a Professor of Psychology and Neurology, and
the Director of the Center for Mind and Brain at the UC Davis

A book signing will follow
Admission is free with advanced
registration, please call 215.448.1254

Category: Uncategorized

HPV Vaccine Forum at The Franklin 10/30

Posted on | October 23, 2008 | No Comments

October 30, 2008
7:00 pmto8:30 pm

Direct from the press release…

The Franklin Institute and the Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy will co-host a public forum called “HPV Vaccines: Issues, Lessons, and Public Confidence in Vaccines” on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 7:00PM. The program will take place in the Franklin Theater at The Franklin Institute, and is the second in a series of forums exploring issues around vaccination. Tickets are free, but pre-registration is required. The forum’s featured speakers are: Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Paul A. Offit, MD, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Barbara Watson, MB ChB, FRCP (UK), FAAP, Medical Director for the Immunization Program at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health; and Rick Haupt, MD, MPH, Executive Director for Clinical Research at Merck Research Laboratories.

The program is part of an ongoing “Vaccination Exploration” series organized by The Franklin Institute in partnership with The Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy, a program of the Center for Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania; The Wistar Institute Vaccine Center; and The Vaccine Education Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The program will begin promptly at 7:00 PM and end at 8:30 PM, allowing sufficient time for Q & A. Tickets for this public forum panel discussion are free, but space is limited and registration is required. Make your reservations by calling 215.448.1254.

For more information, visit www.fi.edu/wellness or www.centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org

Category: Essential, Event, Medicine, Reservations

Tiktaalik News, fossil skull analyzed, Tiktaalik decreed inventor of the neck…

Posted on | October 16, 2008 | No Comments

…for land animals, at least.

Philly’s favorite missing link (well, now that Kruk’s retired), Tiktaalik roseae is in the news. Tiktaalik was discovered during an exhibition by the Academy of Natural Science’s Ted Daeschler. Their recent findings — an analysis of the internal structures of its head — demonstrate some of the evolutionary “fixes” Tiktaalik employed to breathe on dry land.

Full story at Wired science.

Category: Nifty

The Bicentennial Moon Tree

Posted on | October 16, 2008 | No Comments

If you didn’t already know, a space traveler is on permanent display in Washington Square. A sycamore seed that traveled along with Apollo XIV was grown into a wee sapling and given to the citizens of Philadelphia, not terribly far from where the first hot air balloon was launched in the US.

Astronaut Stuart Roosa and Woodsie the Owl planted the sycamore in the northwest corner of the park on May 6, 1975. NASA’s page on the topic is here.

And even if you were aware of the Washington Park moon tree, what you might not know is that there are five other moon trees in Pennsylvania, including one at Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia (right next to Bahama Breeze!) and Core Creek Park in Newtown.

Category: Environment, History, Ideas

Penn Science Café: Race and the Presidential Election 10/21

Posted on | October 16, 2008 | No Comments

October 21, 2008
6:00 pm

Looks like the cafe is now at La Terasse! Next Tuesday at 6pm.

WHO:
Dr. Rogers Smith, professor of political science and chair of the Penn Program on Democracy, Citizenship and Constitutionalism, will discuss the 2008 presidential election and the role race plays in American politics.

WHAT:
The Penn Science Café lecture series is free and open to the public.

WHERE:
La Terrasse
3432 Sansom St.
Philadelphia

WHEN:

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6 p.m.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Menu items available for purchase

DETAILS:

Join political scientist Rogers Smith just days before the presidential election and hear an expert’s opinion on the election, the campaigns and whether the nomination of Barack Obama means that we are moving to a “post-racial” era in American politics.

Dr. Smith’s research centers on American political thought and modern legal and political theory, with special interests in questions of citizenship, race, ethnicity and gender. He is currently working on a book-length study with an Oxford colleague on “racial orders” in American politics.

Category: Essential, Event, History, Ideas

Earth Charter Summit at the Philly Waterworks 10/11

Posted on | October 9, 2008 | No Comments

October 11, 2008
10:30 amto3:00 pm

Looking for something to do this weekend? It should be nice, if you aren’t walking in the woods or at your kid’s soccer game, you should check this out at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center.

The Philadelphia Water Department invites you to join us for the 2008 Philadelphia Earth Charter Summit, being held at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center on Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 30 cities from around the world will be attending free, public summits to discuss global climate change and exploring how we can work together to address its effects on the local level.

Philadelphia will be linked via web connection with the other participating cities enabling Summit attendees to see and hear each other and feel this powerful grassroots movement. In addition, the 2008 Philadelphia Summit will feature a panel of regional leaders who are developing and implementing creative and innovative approaches to address climate change in our part of the world.

There is no charge to attend the Summit, however, space is limited so registrations will be taken on a first-come first-served basis. Please plan to bring a bagged lunch. Complimentary beverages will be available throughout the day. To register, please call 215-685-0719.

Once you have registered, a detailed agenda for the 2008 Philadelphia Earth Charter Summit will be provided.

Category: Biology, Engineering, Environment, Essential, Event, Ideas, Reservations

Global Warming Forum at Beth David Reform in Gladwynn 11/9

Posted on | October 9, 2008 | No Comments

November 9, 2008
2:30 pmto6:00 pm

On Sunday, November 9, PennFuture & Beth David Reform (map), sponsors Global Warming: Making the Transition to a Just and Sustainable World

Sun Nov 9 2:30pm-6pm
at Beth David Reform
1130 Vaughans Ln, Gladwynne
Space is limited. Free but must preregister
717-214-7920 or 800-321-7775

-Dr James Hansen, NASA director, “The Threat to the Planet: Dark and Bright Sides of Global Warming” (one of the first scientists to warn about global warming, partly based on data obtained from ice core samples and satellite photos)
-Mark Alan Hughes, Director of Sustainability for the City of Phila
-experts on federal and state legislation, with a look to 2009
-venture capitalists discussing what’s hot on the investment scene

Limited onsite parking; shuttles from offsite parking until 2pm.

Category: Environment, Essential, Event, Free, Ideas, Reservations
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