About the series
CAFE SCIENTIFIQUE (ARLINGTON)
"A Place to Eat, Drink and Talk About Science"
THIS MONTH: LIVE MUSIC! FEATURING BLUEGRASS MUSICIAN-SCIENTISTS AND TOPICAL LYRICS!
WHO: Computer Scientist George Strawn and Author Nancy Forbes
WHAT: Computing Conundrum: Whither the Future?
WHEN: Tuesday, July 10, 2007
WHERE: The Front Page - 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 22230
HOW: 6:00-6:30 Light hors d'oeuvres (buy your drink/meal)
6:30-8:00 Short presentation, followed by Q&A
- No science background required!
- Free and open to the public
ABOUT THE TOPIC
It sometimes seems that computers and IT run our lives. As a column in a national newspaper recently said: "The Internet is more important than it was five minutes ago." Yikes. Hardware, software, brain-ware...how do they intersect? When "things go wrong," is it operator error or designer error? Can computer scientists "save" us? What can biology and nature teach us about this conundrum? And what will happen next??? So many questions! Our speakers may not have the answers, but will have interesting and informed opinions. Strawn is former head of computer sciences at NSF, and now the Chief Information Officer. Forbes is a physicist and author of the book,"Imitation of Life: How Biology is Inspiring Computing." Together, they will discuss three mini-revolutions in computing...and a possible newcomer.
ABOUT THE CONCEPT
Cafe Scientifque flourished first in the U.K. (see http://www.cafescientifique.org) as a way for the public and scientists to mingle and discuss science issues in an informal setting. At least 35 cafés now exist in the U.S.
ABOUT THIS CAFE
The National Science Foundation initiated Café Scientifique (Arlington) and its occasional cousin in Washington D.C. in April 2006 to make science more accessible and accountable by featuring speakers whose expertise spans the sciences and who can talk in plain English. Generally held on first Tuesdays at the Front Page in Arlington. This month's event is co-sponsored with the Smithsonian Institution. To suggest topics or speakers, complete a survey on-site. To be notified of future events, see "Find Out More" at bottom.
2007
June - Human Origins Expert Rick Potts (Smithsonian Curator of Anthropology) - The Emergence of Humans: What Makes Us Different?
May - Entomologist Gary Hevel (National Museum of Natural History) - Backyard Science Survey: A Bugg Bonanza
April - Guy Beadie (Naval Research Lab) - See the Light! What Makes Lasers So Cool?
March - Electric Vehicle Experts Dave Goldstein & Charlie Garlow - The "Shocking" Science Behind Electric Cars
Feb - Cancer Researcher Robert Clarke and Oncologist Minetta Liu (Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University) - The Science of Breast Cancer: Making it Personal
Jan - Anthropologist Doug Ubelaker (National Museum of Natural History) – How Bones Talk to Us: Clues From Forensic Science
2006
Dec - Materials Scientist Andy Lovinger - Amazing Polymers & Plastics: From Electronics to Life Itself
Nov - Educational Psychologist Ray Brogan - The Science of Educational Testing: What Really Happens Behind the Scenes
Oct - Oceanographers David Evans (Smithsonian Under Secretary for Science) and Margaret Leinen (NSF Assistant Director for Geosciences) - Spring Vacation 2050: The Science Behind Climate Change
Sept - Chemist Joe Schwarcz - Quacks, Charlatans and Scientists: How to Distinguish Between Hocus-Pocus and Sound Advice
Aug - Geologist Tom Wager - From Dust to Us: A Brief History of the Earth and Moon
June - Neuroscientist Kathie Olsen (NSF Deputy Director) - Your Phantasmagorical Brain
May - Science Journalist Kathy Sawyer and NASA Mars Exploration Lead Scientist Mike Meyer - Are We All Martians? What We Know, Don't Know and Want to Know About Mars
Apr - Astrophysicist Mike Turner - Before the Big Bang: What We Know, and How We Know It, About How the Universe Began
FIND OUR MORE
To hear about upcoming cafés sponsored by NSF, subscribe to the NSF e-mail list. Send a message to lyris@lists.nsf.gov. In the text, write “subscribe cafesci.” Don’t add a signature. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
OTHER CAFE’s IN DC METRO AREA
Occasional cafe's are also hosted by the American Chemical Society (see http://science.meetup.com/62/) and Koshland Science Museum ( http://www.koshland-science-
