Monday

Fracking is the topic of a Monday talk at MIT: The Shale Gas Revolution: Technological enablers and environmental considerations. Francis O’Sullivan, director of the Energy Sustainability Challenge Program at MIT Energy Initiative, speaks.

Tuesday

The MIT Museum new lunchtime science series is on the lineup at the Cambridge Science Festival: Culinary Chemistry: (Chick)peas on “Bring your lunch and something for dipping as you chat with MIT hummus enthusiast Eliad Shmuel about the MIT Hummus Experience and the science behind chickpea creations.”

Wednesday

Author Rebecca Skloot talks  at Boston College on her huge bestseller:  “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.“  The book tells the story of  “a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells—taken without her knowledge in 1951—became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, and more.”

Thursday

More festival fun looks at Science for Sinners.
”What’s YOUR spin on sin? Eat, drink, and be wary as you “speed geek” your way through the MIT Museum, talking with nine different researchers about their takes on the seven deadly sins.” Registration required.

Friday and beyond: Check the Science Festival calendar for the  mini lectures of “Big Ideas for Busy People,”  and events on women in science, rockets, genetics, nature.