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Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

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WGBH

WGBH Lectures is a collection of public talks presented and produced in partnership with WGBH or recorded at WGBH studios in Boston. Our lectures cover a variety of compelling topics of local and world interest. For a listing of all Forum Network partners including all participating public stations and community partners hosting and contributing lectures to the Forum Network from across the country please refer to our Partners listing page. WGBH is proud of the role we serve in our community, of protecting and projecting the public voice; and of informing and inspiring that public voice to foster deeper understanding of and civic engagement in important issues.break

http://www.wgbh.org/

  • In this portion of [the 7th annual Innovation IdeaLab](http://forum-network.org/series/future-tense-future-perfect-2017-wgbh-innovation-idea-lab/ "series link"), titled "Future of Equity: Engaging New Voices" we hear from **The Message Movement’s** Juma Inniss, **Climate Justice Alliance** Angela Adrar, **Thunder Valley/Oglala Lakota Nation** community organizer Nick Tilsen, and youth evangelical climate activist Kyle Meyaard-Schaap. In November 2017, the Innovation IdeaLab explored new ideas from thought leaders, scientists and grassroots activists presenting to WGBH documentary producers from national television programs, children’s programs, digital initiatives, radio/broadband series, independent public media producers and interested foundation representatives. Day One began with The Brain Beat: Building Children’s Brains, moderated by journalist Arun Rath. Day Two offered sessions on the Future of Nature, Future of Work, Future of Equity: Engaging New Voices, and Future of Cities, moderated by journalists Miles O’Brien and Kara Miller. Photo: _Climate Justice Alliance_
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • When you hear the term "space" do you think of aliens or the cramped urban landscape of Boston? At BostonTalks, local architects and astrophysicists cover both ideas of space. Curiosity Desk's Edgar B Herwick III hosts a discussion of space that includes architectural designer Aeron Hodges on living small, Emily O'Neil on the arts community in Fort Point, and molecular astrophysicist Clara Sousa-Silva considering if we share the universe with other life. (Image: [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/sky-earth-space-working-2156/ "Pexels"))
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • First watch the PBS FRONTLINE and NOVA teams demonstrate the amazing opportunities that exist now to tell stories with Virtual Reality. Then move to the Future of Cities portion of the WGBH IdeaLab with The Partnership for Southern Equity’s Nathaniel Smith, Nature Conservancy water expert Giulio Boccaletti, and Ford Foundation sociologist Xavier de Souza Briggs. [Innovation IdeaLab](http://forum-network.org/series/future-tense-future-perfect-2017-wgbh-innovation-idea-lab/ "") explores new ideas from thought leaders, scientists and grassroots activists presenting to WGBH documentary producers from national television programs, children’s programs, digital initiatives, radio/broadband series, independent public media producers and interested foundation representatives. Day One features The Brain Beat: Building Children’s Brains, moderated by journalist Arun Rath. Day Two features sessions on the Future of Nature, Future of Work, Future of Equity: Engaging New Voices, and Future of Cities, moderated by journalists Miles O’Brien and Kara Miller.
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • Spurred by the reporting at NECIR comes this conversation about wrongful imprisonment. An in-depth panel of experts representing diverse viewpoints consider: What does society owe the wrongfully imprisoned? How many other innocent people might currently be serving time? Victor Rosario of Lowell was convicted for an arson that killed eight people in 1982. Rosario’s advocates questioned the evidence and, after investigative reporters shed light on his case, prosecutors abandoned efforts last month to keep him in prison — but not until he spent three decades there.
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • [The Vietnam War](http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-vietnam-war/home/ "The Vietnam War") is a ten-part, 18-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick chronicling the history of the Vietnam War and encompassing a scope of viewpoints, experiences, and stories from U.S. Veterans to Vietnamese civilians. See a trailer and long clip from the series followed by a talk with the film directors and Vietnam Veteran, Roger Harris, about the making of the film.[Boston Public Radio's](https://news.wgbh.org/boston-public-radio "Boston Public Radio's") Jim Braude and Margery Eagan host the conversation, held in Boston's Hancock Hall.
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • In a turbulent 1968, Celebrity Series of Boston took a chance with a one-night engagement of a dynamic African-American dance company. Choreographer **Alvin Ailey**’s mission to reflect and promote African-American traditions and art-making took hold in Boston that night. Across town that year, Boston arts educator and social activist **Elma Lewis** founded the [National Center of Afro-American Artists](http://ncaaa.org/ "") to enhance appreciation for black art forms and their practitioners. It remains the largest independent Black cultural arts institution in New England.
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • What scares you? Hear from a medical zombie expert, a virtual reality designer and a film score composer, talking about fear and science at this October BostonTalks. Learn the way music is connected to emotions and consider what makes a horror movie frightening. (Image: Pexel.com)
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • September's BostonTalks is all about coming together. Listen to three speakers share the way their careers and research focus on the exploration and making of connections. First, Dr. Matt Peterson ([@mfpetersmit](https://twitter.com/mfpetersmit "@mfpetersmit")) of MIT studies how our brains make connections allowing us to know and understand others instantly through facial recognition. Learn about connecting real food to the restaurant table from Chef Chandra Gouldrup, owner of the Farmer's Daughter in Easton, MA. Then, go behind the blue paint with Lyle Blaker ([@BMGBoston](https://twitter.com/bmgboston?lang=en "@BMGBoston")) of Blue Man Group, and hear how he connects with his audience without saying a word.
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • WGBH celebrates Asian Pacific American culture with a discussion of these specially selected films: American Experience's _The Chinese Exclusion Act_, _Breathin’: The Eddy Zheng Story_, _Unbroken Glass_ and _Forever, Chinatown_. The celebration spotlights Asian Americans who have made it in America, becoming top leaders in their industries and communities. Leaders from a variety of sectors offer real-world advice as part of a panel discussion on crucial topics. Liz Cheng, general manager of WGBH Television and the WORLD, moderates the discussion with the panelists, including Dr. Pam Y. Eddinger, president of Bunker Hill Community College and WGBH trustee, Nam Pham, assistant secretary of business development and international trade in the Baker-Polito administration, and Brian Chu, Special General Partner at Cue Ball and Senior Advisor at HighVista Strategies. These panelists share their personal experiences and professional successes with event attendees.
    Partner:
    WGBH
  • This BostonTalks Happy Hour will improve your summer with road trip destination inspiration. Vermont’s Shelburne Museum curator, Kory Rogers (@shelburnemuseum), speaks about his work at the museum and encourages you to get on the road to the Green Mountain State to see everything for yourself. Amy Traverso (@amytraverso), Yankee Magazine food editor and co-host of WGBH’s Weekends with Yankee, shares her experience on a quest to find the best lobster roll in Maine. Western Mass freelance writer and beer aficionado, Kevin Koczwara (@kkoczwara), discusses how he created a career writing about beer, and where you can visit the best breweries. Tom Weyman (@ColumbusTheatre), Providence, Rhode Island’s Columbus Theatre Director of Programming, talks about the history of the theatre and gives us another possibility for a fun summer road trip destination. Boston Globe travel writer, Christopher Muther (@Chris_Muther), talks about the ups and downs of being a travel writer and some of the best places to visit.
    Partner:
    WGBH