Discovery & Discussion
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Sundays 11:45 am
Except Potluck Sundays James Reeb Room 
Coordinator: Dave Nelson Moderator: Susan Eisman "We live in a world of rapid redundancy and disposability, a place where new quickly becomes old. We have to remember that at some stage all this common technology we have today- stuff like email, online shopping and cell phones - was called new and revolutionary." ~ Tom Chakley |
Join us and explore ideas and inventions that are new or radically different than we might have thought possible in the recent past.
Sometimes, we will show short videos by experts in the field. Sometimes, we will have live speakers. Always, we will have open discussion that follows.
Our focus will be on taking a closer look at emerging technologies and uncovering the impact potential they bring. Then the audience is free to share their thoughts and opinions as we engage in a discussion of what the consequences might be for ourselves and for our planet.
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” ~ Henry Ford |
Upcoming Programs
Sunday May 27 "Surprising Solutions to Ocean Plastics."
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How can plastic be recycled more efficiently? What are plastic-eating worms? Did scientists discover or re-engineer plastic-eating enzymes? What is social plastic? Join David Katz in a January 2018 TED Talk, and others as we look at the science behind some amazing solutions for ocean plastics and then discuss the potential consequences of these new technologies.
David Katz is a dynamic, inspirational speaker, described by many as “the best in the sustainability industry.” He is globally renowned for The Plastic Bank’s solution to make plastic waste a currency that transcends poverty while stopping the flow of plastic into our oceans. Salt Magazine’s list of The World’s Top 100 Compassionate Business Leaders recognized David as #4 between Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Elon Musk. Moderator: Susan Eisman. “Preventing ocean plastic could be humanity's richest opportunity." ~David Katz |
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Sunday June 3
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“Design at the Intersection of Technology and Biology”
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Neri Oxman, architect and designer, is also a professor at MIT, where she leads the Mediated Matter research group. She is widely known for creating art and architecture that combine design, biology, computing, and materials engineering. Many of her projects involve 3D printing and fabrication techniques.
Could her ideas spark the next building revolution— using products that transcend parts and assemblies? In this special TED Talk, Professor Oxman discusses her theory of "Material Ecology." Some of her works are included in permanent collections in museums worldwide including the MoMA, Centre Pompidou, the Boston MFA and the Smithsonian Institution. Moderator: Susan Eisman. "I believe that in the near future we will 3D print our buildings and houses." ~Neri Oxman |
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Sunday June 10
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No Discovery and Discussion today - Enjoy Potluck Sunday
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Recent Programs
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Sunday May 6
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“What is Palliative Medical Care and why you need to know about it?”.
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Speaker: Joelle Vlahakis, MD talked about improving Quality of Life with a specialized form of medical care specifically designed for people with serious illnesses.
Related Resource Documents:
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Sunday April 29
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“De-Extinction Chapter 2: How Close Are We Now?”
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A revolutionary new technology known as "precise genome editing" is now making De-extinction possible with gene editing tools like CRISPR Cas9, TALEN, and megaTAL, which could allow scientists to repair ancient DNA. But, what about the ethical considerations of reintroducing extinct animals? Why is Seoul, South Korea, the current epicenter of cloning research?
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Sunday April 22
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"Reversing Animal Extinction" - Stewart Brand
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With recent advances in bioengineering, Stewart Brand proclaims that “de-extinction” is now a real possibility. Brand has helped found a number of organizations, including Revive & Restore.
Brand is perhaps best known as editor of the Whole Earth Catalog |
