If you are a regular reader of this column, you might know that I have something to do with the Center for Science Writings, or CSW, but you probably don’t know what the CSW is. Well, here’s a description from the Stevens website, http://www.stevens.edu/cal/csw:
“The Center, which is part of the College of Arts & Letters, sponsors free, public events at which prominent writers–including journalists, scientists, engineers, philosophers and other scholars–visit Stevens to discuss science-related issues.” The College of Arts & Letters just created a new program for Science Communication at Stevens. The CSW speakers provide both students and faculty with examples of science communication at its very best.
Over the past nine years, I’ve brought many of the world’s leading science authors to Stevens. They include psychologist Steven Pinker, biologist Edward O. Wilson, oceanographer Sylvia Earle, geographer Jared Diamond, neurologist Oliver Sacks, physicist Michio Kaku, economist Jeffrey Sachs, climatologist James Hansen, financial analyst Nassim Taleb, biographer Richard Reeves, and journalist Carl Zimmer. For the full list, see http://www.stevens.edu/cal/csw/pastevents.php.
I always worry that word about our events isn’t getting out to the Stevens community and beyond, so in this column I’ll tell you about our terrific fall line-up. I strongly advise you to rip out this column and tape it to your bathroom mirror or some equally prominent location. Here are the events:
“The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance.” A Talk by Investigative Journalist David Epstein. Wednesday, September 24, 3-4:30 p.m., Babbio Auditorium. Former “Sports Illustrated” writer and college speaker David Epstein talks about his bestseller “The Sports Gene,” which explores how nature and nurture contribute to athletic performance. Epstein’s book is so “engrossing,” The New York Times writes, “that readers may not realize they’re receiving an advanced course in genetics, physiology and sports medicine.” Epstein’s TED talk on sports and genetics has been viewed more than 1,700,000 times.
“Sexual Violence and Development.” A Talk by Journalist Madhusree Mukerjee. Wednesday, October 15, 3-4:30. Kidde Auditorium (room 228). Madhusree Mukerjee, who has a doctorate in physics and is the author of “Churchill’s Secret War” and other acclaimed books, presents evidence that industrial development in India, usually hailed as a success story, is exacerbating violent oppression of women. This talk is co-sponsored by my colleague Yu Tao, a professor of sociology, and the Stevens Gender and Cultural Studies Program.
“The Promise and Perils of Open Systems.” A Talk by Historian of Technology Andrew Russell. Wednesday, October 22, 3-4:30, Babbio Auditorium. One of the grooviest young(ish) professors at Stevens, Russell will discuss his acclaimed book “Open Standards and the Digital Age,” which challenges myths about the Internet’s origins. Vinton Cerf, a creator of the Internet, calls Andy’s book “remarkable” and gives it a five-star review on Amazon. That’s right, we’ve got some great science communicators right here at Stevens!
“Is Our Existence a Fluke?” A Talk by Astrophysicist Caleb Scharf. Wednesday, November 19, 3-4:30, Babbio Auditorium. Columbia University astrophysicist Caleb Scharf will talk about his new book, “The Copernicus Complex: Our Cosmic Significance in a Universe of Planets and Probabilities,” which explores scientific investigations into the probability of the Solar System, Earth, life and consciousness.
All CSW events are free and open to the public. For more information see the CSW website, http://www.stevens.edu/cal/csw, or contact me at jhorgan@stevens.edu. Hope to see you at our September 24 event on “The Sports Gene.”
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