Past Events

This country has long welcomed those who are persecuted and oppressed in their home countries and offered them asylum. But what does that really mean? What is it like to be an asylum seeker? How do you apply for asylum? How long does the asylum process take? What if you don't speak English? Can you still apply for asylum even if you are in the United States undocumented? Are asylum seekers also refugees? What's going on at the migrant detention centers? An expert panel joins the Zakim Builders Breakfast to explain the process of asylum seeking and help foster understanding of the complexity of asylum and granting legal status.

Astrophysicist Dr. Anjali Tripathi, NOVA's Co-Executive Producer Chris Schmidt, and PBS NewsHour's science correspondent Miles O'Brien hold a discussion and offer a look at ["The Planets"](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/planets/), a five-part series that explores the awesome beauty of our solar system. From Mercury to the Kuiper Belt, learn about the history of the solar system, and how we've come to learn about its radical transformation over the last 4.6 billion years. **Stream "The Planets" online now at [PBS.org](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/planets/) ** Image: NOVA

From the mind of J.A. Walsh, former intelligence officer, _Purpose of Evasion_ is a political thriller full of real spy tradecraft. Learn more about his book and the inspiration behind it.

Naturalist Sy Montgomery counts animals among her best teachers, mentors, and friends. These creatures helped her find her passion, taught her the meaning of family, and gave her the gifts of forgiveness and gratitude. In this talk, she shared stories and images from her most recent best-seller, a memoir of the 13 animals who lent this book its title and showed her, by their example, how to be a good creature. Image: Book Cover

Dr. Rothman explains how mathematical modeling clarifies the intricate dynamics of our planet’s carbon cycles and geophysical components. His model shows the relationship between ancient mass extinctions and the likely sixth extinction of the future.

Illustrator Rob Donnelly combines clay, paper, and digital techniques to create whimsical characters and colorful worlds. He shares details about his creative process and how he has managed to build a career within the creative economy.

Lynn Adler, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, UMass-Amherst explains how some bee infections may be transferred via plants that bees visit, and how some types of nectar and pollen may help to reduce certain pathogens.

In the foreseeable future, China and the United States will be the world’s largest economies and most influential countries. Yet their relationship has taken a nosedive and is now cooler than at any time since President Nixon visited China in 1972. Many expect “disengagement” and an “economic cold war.” This talk examines the nuts-and-bolts of the trade deal, the challenges of the China-US relationship, and possibilities for better outcomes based on rebuilding trust. Image: [Event Image](http://www.worldboston.org/calendar/2019/6/20/great-decisions-decoding-us-china-trade)

How should cultural institutions acknowledge Black histories? Join Makeeba McCreary, chief of learning and community engagement at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston; Jason Talbot, co-founder of Artists For Humanity and Radical Black Girl's Destiny Polk for a discussion inspired by the MFA’s annual Juneteenth commemoration. Moderating is art historian Dr. Nikki A. Greene. The panelists discuss the history of cultural institutions, as well as recent racist harassment experienced by the children of the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy while visiting the MFA.

Coral reefs were once thought of as indestructible, but we are now losing corals at an ever-faster pace. Halting the loss of coral reefs depends on two major lines of action: keeping global temperature rise to less than 1.5°C and actively restoring coral reefs through propagation of climate-resilient corals and “replanting” them on damaged reefs. Joanie Kleypas provides the latest information on the coral reef crisis and discusses her project in Costa Rica to raise corals and how it has changed her relationships with coral reefs and people. Image: [Pexels](http://https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-coral-reef-1739807/)