Lectures
Local and national experts frequently come to the Museum to speak on topics ranging from ancient science to today's headlines. Here is a listing of upcoming lectures. Unless otherwise noted, events are free.
- Contact (Lecture)
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Science on Screen at the Coolidge Corner Theatre focuses on the possibility of life beyond Earth with a screening of Contact, the 1997 big-screen adaptation of Carl Sagan's novel of the same name.
In Robert Zemeckis's adaptation of the novel, Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Arroway (Jodie Foster) is a free thinker ... (details).
With: Paul Horowitz, astrophysicist and Harvard University professor.
This presentation is part of the ongoing Science on Screen Series.
December 01, 2008
- Light, Sleep, and Space (Lecture)
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A day on Mars last 24 hours and 37 minutes, but humans have not evolved to cope with the extra half hour. Using light, Dr. Barger works with NASA astronauts and space personnel to help them adjust to these unusual "space days." Learn about the genetics behind circadian rhythms and how we might prepare for a trip to outer space ... (details).
With: Laura Barger, PhD, associate physiologist, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital.
This presentation is part of the ongoing series Forces That Change Us.
January 11, 2009
- Facial Recognition: The Creation of Expertise (Lecture)
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Dr. Balas works with infants and children to learn how we use visual information to make complex decisions about the world we see. Listen as he shares his research on how humans develop an expertise in processing faces of different racial groups, ages, genders, and even species. (details).
With: Benjamin Balas, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School.
This presentation is part of the ongoing series Forces That Change Us.
February 08, 2009
- A Matter of Taste (Lecture)
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Ever wonder why you like salty or sweet foods but tend to avoid those that taste bitter? You're not being picky, you may be wired that way. Throughout human evolution, the ability to make these distinctions helped us to zero in on nutrients and stay away from toxins. Dr. Drayna discusses his recent research ... (details).
With: Dennis Drayna, PhD, chief, Systems Biology of Communication Disorders, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institutes of Health.
This presentation is part of the ongoing series Forces That Change Us.
March 08, 2009
- Aging: Can You Turn Back the Clock? (Lecture)
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Imagine a preprogrammed clock ticking away from the day we are born, aging us along the way. Is there a way to slow this process down? Do diet and exercise help? Dr. Tissenbaum reveals these answers — and more — based on her research into the aging process. Find out what controls how and why ... (details).
With: Heidi Tissenbaum, PhD, associate professor, molecular medicine, gene function and expression programs, University of Massachusetts Medical School .
This presentation is part of the ongoing series Forces That Change Us.
April 05, 2009
- The Ultimate Hitchhikers (Lecture)
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Did you know that not all bacteria are bad and that our health depends on having the right balance of these microorganisms within our bodies? Having too much Helicobacter pylori, for instance, can lead to stomach cancer, while having too little can cause chronic heartburn. Dr. Schauer discusses how our ... (details).
With: David B. Schauer, PhD, professor of biological engineering and comparative medicine, Department of Biological Engineering, MIT.
This presentation is part of the ongoing series Forces That Change Us.
May 03, 2009
