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Science for the Public

Science for the Public is a grassroots nonprofit organization committed to the promotion of adult science literacy. The organization hosts public presentations by scientists at Boston Public Library, a community science TV series, and online science resources. Citizen participation is actively encouraged in the development of our programs and resources. Today, many of the most pressing issues of modern life require the expertise of scientists. Citizens must therefore have a reasonable understanding of science in order to function as responsible members of society. Further, as the pace of scientific discovery accelerates, modern citizens must be able to grasp new concepts and information that are reshaping our perspectives. Although the issue of science literacy is now being addressed at the K-12 level, there is no science curriculum for the adult population. And it is the adult population that votes, pays taxes and raises children.

http://www.scienceforthepublic.org/

The Global Green New Deal

Tue, Sep 3, 2024

The 2020 book, Climate Crisis and The Global Green New Deal, by Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin is recognized as a major source of information about the climate change crisis and also the best solution, which involves science, politics and economics: "A survival manual for civilization" as Daniel Ellsberg called it. Dr. Pollin is an internationally recognized expert on the economics of the climate change crisis, the billions of people who will be affected, and the economic steps necessary for restoring our planet and civilization. Here, he explains in very accessible terms, the problem and the solution.

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Climate Change

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Science for the Public
Virtual

Solar Geoengineering: What You Need to Know

1:30pm Tue, Sep 24, 2024

The alarming acceleration of global warming is a grave threat to all forms of life. The only viable solution is the reduction and removal of the excess greenhouse gases --atmospheric CO2 and methane-- produced chiefly by fossil fuels. This requires immediate transition to renewable energy, combined with removal of atmospheric CO2. But there is a move to delay that transition by means of solar geoengineering. This approach involves the release of chemical particles high in the atmosphere that will shade the Sun. It does not eliminate the CO2 buildup. Solar geoengineering introduces serious risks that must be explained by responsible scientists.

Daniel Cziczo, a prominent atmospheric scientist specializing in the vital role of clouds in climate dynamics, explains the global warming threat and the risks involved in solar geoengineering.

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The Battle for the Future of Food

Tue, Jun 11, 2024

Researcher and author Timothy A. Wise explains why industrial agriculture (Big Ag) is more a threat to the planet and humanity than a solution to hunger.
Based on his book Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food, he explains numerous issues associated with corporate agriculture, including the impact of excess fertilizers, pest toxins, and GMOs. He also describes the best farming strategies that will feed the planet and help to restore global environment, economies and health.

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Food and Wellness

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Science for the Public
New Directions in Particle Physics

Tue, Jun 18, 2024

Our immense universe began at the unimaginably tiny quantum scale, and to understand the formation of matter, physicists collide subatomic particles. The Large Hadron Collider has produced many discoveries, but it has limitations in the range of data it can capture. Dr. Tulika Bose, who has been prominently involved in the work of the LHC, says “We really should be looking at new physics at a much higher scale. We need to go beyond the kind of energies we’ll have at the HL-LHC.” In this presentation, she explains the accomplishments of the LHC, its limitations, and the next exciting plans under consideration in this research.

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How Effective Are Vitamin D Supplements?

Tue, Apr 23, 2024

Vitamin D is important for bone and muscle strength, but the belief that it significantly reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and numerous other conditions is questionable. Although Vitamin D supplements are still widely used, well designed studies have established that the supplements are not needed by most people. Moderate sunshine and normal diets provide adequate vitamin D for most people.
Dr. JoAnn Manson led one of the largest and most cited randomized trials that contradicted the belief that vitamin D supplements are a cure-all. In this discussion she explains why there has been confusion about vitamin D. She also addresses the importance of the structure of scientific studies in determining the effects of medications and supplements.

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Global Health

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Science for the Public
Our Expanding Universe: The DESI Project's First Results

Tue, May 14, 2024

Understanding the accelerating expansion of our universe is one of the most important goals of modern astronomy. And it is a huge technical challenge. Paul Martini, with an international team of almost 500 researchers, built the unique telescope, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), that captures (via spectrographs) light from galaxies and supermassive black holes (quasars) 11 billion light-years away. The first results are amazing, and provide the best explanation of dark energy and cosmic expansion that is currently possible. Dr. Martini describes the DESI project, its scientific significance, and the very exciting results so far.

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Biodiversity in the Sixth Mass Extinction

Tue, Mar 19, 2024

The sixth mass extinction currently underway is due to a combination of climate change and destruction of natural habitats. Both crises are the result of our energy, industrial, and food production systems that have upended Nature. Biologist Michael Reed explains how the vitality of our planet depends on the health of ecosystems. Using migratory birds as an example, he describes the interdependence of different forms of life --- birds, animals, fish, insects, plants --and terrain. Dr. Reed also suggests why some species are better able to adapt to the climate and extinction crises than others. Worldwide action is urgently needed.

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Kingdom of Play

Mon, May 6, 2024

There is much interest today in the purpose of play. For humans, it is widely considered important for development, but for animals the role of play is less certain. In this fascinating description of the imaginative and varied play habits of many species of animals, David Toomey considers the purpose of this behavior, and he explains the major views on the subject.

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Will Carbon Capture and Storage Continue Its Failure to Reduce Global Warming?

Fri, Feb 9, 2024

The major cause of the global warming crisis is excess atmospheric CO2 emitted mainly by fossil fuels. The extreme level of atmospheric CO2 is well beyond a “capture and storage/sequestration” solution, yet the hype persists that some clever extraction innovation will resolve the problem. Dr. Charles Harvey, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT, has extensive experience with both CO2 capture/storage (CCS) engineering and the realization that CCS cannot reduce CO2 enough to reduce global warming. He argues instead for rational policy: drop fossil fuels and shift to renewables. Now. His expert advice is gaining a wide audience.

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Climate Change

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Science for the Public
Troubled Waters: Red Tides and Other Algae Blooms

Tue, Dec 12, 2023

Large-scale agriculture, factories and other sources produce chemical runoffs. These “nutrient loads”can accumulate in waters and cause harmful algae blooms (HABs), including the red tides that are increasingly common. Algal blooms are now occurring in every coastal state in the U.S., and are a major concern around the world. HABs affect the health of marine organisms and also people. Dr. Glibert explains the vital role of algae in marine ecosystems, how runoff toxins cause the unnatural algal blooms, and what must be done to stop the damage. She also discusses how ocean geoengineering can impact algae.

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