Boston Blog

Cambridge Science Festival next week-a preview

Starting this Saturday, the third annual, week-long Cambridge Science Festival (sponsored by MIT and the city of Cambridge) kicks off. The festival is geared primarily towards members of the general public, especially kids and families to spark young people’s interest in science. However, this year, they made the events listing sortable by age range, so here’s my pick of the more interesting adult-oriented events. Go here for the full programme.


“Evolving Darwin’s Gaze”:https://www.darwinsgaze.com/ (ongoing exhibition)

MIT Museum, 265 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

_Explore a computational multimedia art installation which demonstrates the Darwinian evolutionary process on an image of Darwin himself. Through dynamic computer projections and hanging graphics, this computational multimedia piece attempts to bring ‘the ghost (creativity) out of the machine (the computer)’ using the ghost or gaze of Charles Darwin (his namesake techniques and portrait). That is, it demonstrates the living Darwinian evolutionary process by evolving portraits that strive to resemble Charles Darwin’s most famous portrait over 1000s of populations. Rather than just strive for resemblance, the portrait programs which use genetic programming techniques, also incorporate (in computer form) new theories of human creativity which allow them to explore as well as dogmatically resemble Darwin’s famous gaze. The piece demonstrates in real time the process of evolution as much as the process of creativity and art making. Free._

“The Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht”:https://www.centralsquaretheater.org/galileo.html

April 10 – May 17

Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Avenue

_Catalyst Collaborative@MIT presents Brecht’s masterwork of science theater, The Life of Galileo. It is staged in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the night Galileo turned his telescope up to the night sky and changed our understanding of our relationship to the cosmos forever. Directed by David Wheeler and starring Richard McElvain as Galileo, the production will feature a combination of actors, puppetry, and music. Each performance will be either followed by a post-performance conversation with a scientist, or preceded with panel conversation about the history and science in the play. Cost: $32 adult, $22 seniors, $18 students, $12 student rush_

*Sunday April 26*

“Darwin, Artificial Intelligence and Creativity”:https://www.darwinsgaze.com/

2:00-3:00pm

MIT Museum, 265 Mass. Ave.

_Join artist Steve diPaola to explore how Darwin’s theories have inspired new types of Artificial Intelligence and computer systems which bring together the arts and the sciences. Computer researchers have been recently embracing Darwin’s theories to create new type of biological inspired Artificial Intelligence and computer systems. DiPaola will demonstrate how these new systems are bringing the arts and sciences together taking on issues of human creativity as well as art and perception science._

_This talk is in conjunction with the artist’s work Evolving Darwin’s Gaze.

Through dynamic computer projections and hanging graphics, this computational multimedia piece attempts to bring ‘the ghost (creativity) out of the machine (the computer)’ using the ghost or gaze of Charles Darwin (his namesake techniques and portrait). That is, it demonstrates the living Darwinian evolutionary process by evolving portraits that strive to resemble Charles Darwin’s most famous portrait over 1000s of populations. Rather than just strive for resemblance, the portrait programs which use genetic programming techniques, also incorporate (in computer form) new theories of human creativity which allow them to explore as well as dogmatically resemble Darwin’s famous gaze. The piece demonstrates in real time the process of evolution as much as the process of creativity and art making. Free with museum admission._

“Dancing with Mathematica”:https://katarina-miljkovic.net/

3:00pm & 7:00pm

The Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center

_Dancing with Mathematica is a journey through complexity in movement, body projection and sound. Music and choreography are structured on four classes of complexity, proposed by Stephen Wolfram A New Kind of Science.

While music develops by evolution of cellular automata, from simple to universally complex, choreography reflects on the nature of choice, questions the concept of self as a dolid, separate reality and looks at the body in relation to self, gender, transgender and aging._

_The program is live performance of two pieces including movement, electronic sound and video. Music, generated in Mathematica, by composer Katarina Miljkovic; chereograhy by Dawn Kramer; video projections by Stephen Buck; performance by Dawn Kramer and Brian McCook._

_An artist demonstration, talk and Q&A will be part of the one-hour program.

Cost: Donation requested: $10 adults, $5 students and seniors_

*Monday April 27*

*Lunch with a Luminary*

12:00pm – 1:00pm

MIT Museum, 265 Mass. Ave.

_Bring your lunch and your questions for a chat with Physics Nobel Prize winner *Frank Wilczek*. Cost: Free_

*Tues April 28*

*Lunch with a Luminary*

12:00pm – 1:00pm

MIT Museum, 265 Mass. Ave.

_Bring your lunch and your questions for a chat with Macarthur (Genius) Award winning structural engineer *John Ochsendorf*. Free._

“Palm-Reading or Gene-Reading?: The Era of Personal Genomics”:https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/

5:30-7:00pm

Harvard University Events & Information Center, in the Holyoke Center Arcade at 1350 Mass Ave.

_The first human genome was mapped for billions of dollars. Today, we are closer to an age where each individual will be able to have access to his or her genome quickly and cheaply. There has been much debate in society about the role of personal genetic data and how this information could help doctors provide personalized diagnoses and treatments. Who should use and view individual genetic information, and how should it be regulated? This lecture will address the kinds of variation that exists between people, how these genetic variations lead to observable traits, and where the future of personalized genomics and medicine lies. The lecture will be followed by a Science Cafe at a local bar to discuss personal genomics with leading researchers in the field. Free_

“Charles Darwin: Live and in Concert”:https://www.familyopera.org

7:00 – 10:00pm

Central Square Theater, 450 Mass. Ave

_In collaboration with the Central Square Theater, North Cambridge Family Opera will present the singing Darwinian scholar, Richard Milner, in a 45 minute version of his entertaining one man musical Charles Darwin: Live & In Concert, which he has performed in London, Australia, Germany, the Galapagos Islands and throughout the U.S. Following the performance there will be a reception with Richard Milner. Tickets support the North Cambridge Family Opera Company. Cost: $25_

“The Origin Cycle – A Classical Music Performance by The Firebird Ensemble and Soprano Jane Sheldon”:https://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/lectures_and_special_events/index.php

7:00pm – 9:00pm

Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge

_In celebration of Darwin year, the HMNH will host a special performance of original modern classical music in the museum’s zoological galleries. Soprano Jane Shelton and the Firebird Ensemble will perform six original compositions inspired by the text of Charles Darwin’s On the Origins of Species. One of the country’s premier new music ensembles, the Firebird Ensemble is known for its highly varied contemporary repertoire, virtuosic performances and wide audience appeal._

_Tickets can be purchased at the Harvard Box Office in Harvard Square or by calling 617 496-2222. Cost: $12 for the general public, $10 with a Harvard I.D._

*Wednesday April 29*

“Third Annual Science Trivia Challenge!”:https://web.mit.edu/trivia/

6pm – 9pm

MIT Stata Center, Kirsch Auditorium

_This successful event from past Cambridge Science Festivals is being brought back for a third year. Five-person teams answer trivia questions in a quiz format, with competition in Youth (high school) and Open (adult) Divisions. Certificates and other prizes are given to all contestants. The winners are taken to dinner by distinguished MIT scientists — including Nobel Laureates! Free._

“NOVA: Meet the Producers”:https://support.wgbh.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=101861

6:30pm

WGBH Yawkey Theater

_A preview screening of NOVA’s spinoff magazine-style show NOVA scienceNOW’s fourth season (premiering June 2009) and discussion with senior executive producer of NOVA and NsN Paula Apsell, researcher Evan Hadingham, and producer Julia Cort. Get the inside scoop on how they choose stories to feature. Find out about the topics and scientists highlighted in season four of NOVA scienceNOW, including some from the local Boston/Cambridge areas, like a profile story on Sangeeta Bhatia, director for multiscale regenerative technology at MIT, who’s focused on tissue engineering for liver and cancer treatment and a piece on engineering synthetic diamonds (at a secret location, somewhere near the Boston area), that could be used in super computers and more. Free, but need to RSVP online._

*Science of Food; From Your Plate to Your Palate*

6:30 – 9:30pm

MIT Museum, 265 Mass. Ave.

_Do you think of chemistry when you are cooking your food? Do you think of neuroscience when you taste it? You will after this! The Science of Food explores science in the kitchen with Kenji Aalt of America’s Test Kitchen, and science on your fork with Dr. Don Katz of Brandeis University’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. These two short talks will be followed by a networking reception with light refreshments and drinks. Must be 21+, pre-registration required; email scitacular@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Free_

*Radio Lab Listening Party, Jad Abumrad, Host and Producer*

7:00pm – 9:00pm

Museum of Science, Charles Hayden Planetarium

_Join Radio Lab’s creator and host Jad Abumrad for a live listening party as Jad shares behind-the-scenes stories and excerpts from the program that public radio’s Ira Glass calls “the most innovative show on radio.” This event will focus on stories and ideas about Space – and our endless fascination with looking up into that vast void. Listening to ear-splittingly surprising sound as you sit back in your chair, looking up at the simulated sky, you’ll be transported to that fertile zone of speculative wonder that has made Radio Lab such a cult hit. Produced by WNYC and heard around the country on over 150 stations throughout the country, Radio Lab was honored by the National Academies with its 2007 Communication Award for excellence in science communication. Funding for this program provided by the Barbara and Malcolm L. Sherman Fund for Adult Programs. Additional support provided by the David and Marion Ellis Endowment Fund.

Cost: $10_

*Thursday April 30*

“Colossus – The Forbin Project”:https://www.crossroads-future.com

7:30pm

The Brattle Theater, Harvard Square

_On the eve of a major two-day symposium entitled, “Crossroads: The Future of Human Life in the Universe,” the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics presents a screening of “Colossus – The Forbin Project” Scientists have created Colossus, the ultimate AI computer, and put it in charge of our nuclear arsenal. And then – humans meet their new masters… This movie is years ahead of the Matrix and its implications for the future of human beings in the universe! Color, 1970, 100 minutes. Cost: Free_

*Friday May 1*

“Crossroads: The Future of Human Life in the Universe”:https://www.crossroads-future.com

9:00am – 5:00pm (until May 2)

Zero Arrow Theatre, at the corner of Mass Avenue and Arrow Street, Cambridge

_Astronomers are on the threshold of discovering the Holy Grail of planetary sciences: new Earth-like planets. The next challenge will be to determine whether or not these worlds have life on them – specifically intelligent life that we can communicate with. If such life does exist beyond our solar system, will it be technologically based life like ours? Or, if we do not find intelligent life out there, what does that imply about humans and our place in the Universe? Are there “portals” that intelligent species must pass through like climate change, overpopulation, exhaustion of natural resources, nanotechnology and bioengineering, and the immergence of AI as a new competitive intelligence? Is this the reason SETI has heard nothing for the past 35 years – because no intelligent species near us has survived or is capable of communicating? Are we humans on the brink of one of these dangerous passages? “Crossroads” will examine these questions. Cost: free_

*Lunch with a Luminary*

12:00pm – 1:00pm

MIT Museum, 265 Mass Ave.

_Bring your lunch and your questions for a chat with top scientist *Dr. Robert Weinberg.* Dr. Weinberg is a 1997 winner of the National Medal of Science and the discoverer of Ras, a key cancer gene. Cost: Free_

*Stepping into Virtual Worlds*

6:00 – 7:30pm

MIT Museum, 265 Mass. Ave.

_Tech Night! Join the creators of Second Life and researchers from MIT’s Sociable Media Group for a discussion about virtual worlds. Online space opens new potential for examining digital communication and relationships. Join us in looking at the diverse uses of virtual worlds ranging from research to education to entertainment. Speakers include Drew Harry, a graduate student in the Sociable Media Group at the MIT Media Lab, and John Lester, the Operations Director of the Boston office of Linden Lab- the creators of Second Life. Cost: Free_

“Buccaneers of Buzz: Celebrating the Honeybee”:https://www.rialtoarts.org

7:30pm (also Saturday May 2 at 7:30pm and Sunday May 3 at 4pm)

The Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center

_A multi-media tap, video, marimba and voice extravaganza highlighting the amazing capabilities of honeybees and relationship of beekeepers to their bees. Winner of the Massachusetts Cultural Council Gold Star Award for a work of innovation and excellence in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences which fosters community engagement. Cost: $20 general/$15 students/seniors. Children under 12 free_

*Saturday May 2*

“Improbable Research Cabaret”:https://broadwayworld.com/article/The_Improbable_Research_Cabaret_Plays_52_At_Central_Square_Theater_20090414

3:00pm

Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Avenue

_Ninety minutes of improbable researach – research that makes people laugh then think – presented cabaret style. Marc Abrahams, organizer of the Ig Nobel Prizes and editor of the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research, brings a gaggle of Ig Nobel Prize winners and other improbable researchers to the Central Square Theater. Featuring: Ig Nobel Prize winners Professor L. Mahadevan of Harvard (The physics of how sheets wrinkle); Lynn Halpern (why people dislike the sound of fingernails on a blackboard), and Dr. Deborah J. Anderson of B.U. Medical School (Is Coca-Cola an effective spermicide?); songs from the Ig Nobel Operas, the Performing Scientists from Harvard and MIT, and others bits and pieces. All proceeds to benefit the Central Square Theater, Greater Boston’s newest theatrical arts center in the heart of Central Square. Tickets include post-performance reception with Cabaret scientists. Cost: $35 adults, $20 students_

*Sunday May 3*

“The Science of Baseball”:https://web.mit.edu/msbp/

12:00pm

The Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center

_This will be an interactive lecture with demonstrations for all ages. The lecture will be the highlights of the science of baseball as taught in the MIT Science of Baseball Program, particularly the physics and biology of baseball. Demonstrations will be live and interactive! Cost: Free_

Comments

Comments are closed.