Past Events

John Waters, the man with the pencil-thin mustache, the auteur of the transgressive movie classics Pink Flamingos, Polyester, the original Hairspray, Cry-Baby, and A Dirty Shame. He comes to Cambridge now as Mr. Know-It-All. In a friendly chat with local author Alysia Abbott ([Fairyland](http://www.alysiaabbott.com/fairyland) ) he shares his wisdom about the strange ways of Hollywood; how to dress "disaster at the drycleaners"; how to tell someone you love them without emotional risk; and yes, how to cheat death itself. Image: Book cover

The United States and Mexico have a long, intertwined history, with both countries prominently featured in each other’s politics and agendas. The war on drugs, immigration and trade issues have taxed the relationship over the years. What impact will new leadership in both countries have on this crucial partnership? Image: [Event Image](http://www.worldboston.org/events-calendar/2019/5/20/great-decisions-the-united-states-and-mexico-partnership-tested)

From empowering oneself to one’s whole community, this month’s BostonTalks speakers are sure to inspire. Hear how they have created the positive change needed to turn around their lives and inspire others. Hear from Sara Minkara, Andrea Isabelle Lucas, and Kurtlan Massarsky. Hosted by Edgar B. Herwick III from WGBH’s Curiosity Desk.

When John Urschel was thirteen, he was auditing college-level calculus courses. But in high school he found another love: football. His size and skill won him a scholarship at Penn State, where he continued to study Math. Urschel found he couldn't give up either of his pursuits, so even as he was drafted to the Baltimore Ravens, he signed up to complete a Ph.D. in Mathematics at MIT. In this talk with WGBH News reporter Esteban Bustillos, Urschel talks about his awesome trajectory, and disects some of the hurdles he had to overcome, from concussions to his college team being sanctioned for the acts of former coach Jerry Sandusky.

In No Visible Bruises, journalist Rachel Louise Snyder gives context for what we don't know we're seeing. She frames this urgent and immersive account of the scale of domestic violence in our country around key stories that explode the common myths-that if things were bad enough, victims would just leave; that a violent person cannot become nonviolent; that shelter is an adequate response; and most insidiously that violence inside the home is a private matter, sealed from the public sphere and disconnected from other forms of violence. Through the stories of victims, perpetrators, law enforcement, and reform movements from across the country, Snyder explores the real roots of private violence, its far-reaching consequences for society, and what it will take to truly address it. Image: Book Cover

Art, in all its forms, has been a powerful medium for social and political commentary for centuries. This program explores the use of art as an agent for change historically, and considers the impacts of contemporary artists on politics and culture.

The Philippines has been described as the “center of biodiversity” because it holds a majority of the Earth’s species, a high number of which are unique to the country. However, it is also at the center of adversity as a biodiversity hotspot and has lost more than 70 percent of its original habitat.

The Green Ribbon Commission (GRC) released Carbon Free Boston in 2019, setting forth an ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Because two-thirds of GHG emissions come from buildings, and because the majority of the 2050 building stock was built before 1950, the AEC professions have a large role to play in reaching this goal. Learn more about the report and the role that building design plays in helping Boston reach its goals.

Dr. Myers explains why and how offshore wind farms will be a major source of renewable energy. Although a number of European countries have built offshore wind farms, the U.S. has been slow to develop this resource. We learn that the east coast of the US is one of the best areas in the world to locate offshore wind farms, and that that location would in principal supply enough energy for the entire US. Dr. Myers discusses the engineering and logistical aspects of developing wind farms and the exciting future for this area of renewable energy.

The history of the Arab Spring, told from the eyes of Peter Hessler, who lived in Egypt during the years following the initial uprising. In the midst of the revolution, Hessler often traveled to digs at Amarna and Abydos, where locals live beside the tombs of kings and courtiers, a landscape that they call simply al-Madfuna: "the Buried. Hessler recountsh is efforts to learn the Arabic language, relating it back to his work in learning Chinese. They also befriended Peter's translator, a gay man struggling to find happiness in Egypt's homophobic culture.