220. Jim Al-Khalili: The Joy of Thinking and Living Scientifically
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
Release Date: 11/17/2023
249. Blaise Agüera y Arcas with Charles Mudede: What Is Life? Evolution as Computation
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
Explaining how and why our world works the way it does touches on so many fields of science: biology, chemistry, physics, and, of course, technology. However, according to researcher Blaise Agüera y Arcas, computation should also be part of the understanding of life on all levels – and going back further than one might think. In What Is Life? Evolution as Computation, Agüera y Arcas uses computation as a means of examining the complexities of our own universe. Inspired by the work of quantum mechanics pioneer Erwin Schrödinger, he revisits the question that has showcased the...
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248. Mariah Blake with Mónica Guzmán: A Legacy of Chemicals & Cover-Ups
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
From Silent Spring to Erin Brockovich, people have been captivated — and devastated — by stories of harmful chemicals and the many ways that they have altered and even ended human lives. From investigative journalist Mariah Blake comes a new book that recounts a small town being poisoned, a corporate cover up, and a grassroots movement to fight back. In 2014, after losing several friends and relatives to cancer, an insurance underwriter in Hoosick Falls, New York, suspected that the local water supply was polluted. When he tested his tap water, he discovered dangerous...
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247. Dori Gillam: Get Ready for Caregiving – Yours, Mine and Theirs!
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
Overnight, Dori became her parents’ caregiver – a labor of love that lasted for seven years. Her mom was suddenly a partially paralyzed wheelchair-bound amputee and her dad was declining due to increasing dementia. She wasn’t ready. This event is to help prepare anyone – those who have been, are now, or will be a caregiver – in other words, all of us! Whether it is navigating the health care system, working with dementia, speaking about dying, or considering how to accept care if and when you need it, you will learn from Dori’s experiences. Dori Gillam is a speaker and...
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246. Craig Mundie and Dr. Jim Heath: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world – but what does that mean for healthcare, scientific discovery, and human potential? In Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit, co-authors Craig Mundie, Henry Kissinger, and Eric Schmidt explore the profound implications of AI on society. In this collaborative event between Town Hall Seattle and the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), Craig Mundie joins Dr. Jim Heath, President of ISB, for a thought-provoking conversation about the future of AI. They will discuss insights from the book, the opportunities and...
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245. Psychedelic Salon with April Pride and Sand Symes: The Sacred Path of Women and Psychedelics
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
Sand Symes, a psychedelic guide who has spent over 40 years working with women in transformational spaces and 20+ years immersed in her committed work with psychedelics, in discussion with April Pride at Town Hall Seattle. With decades of experience guiding women in transformational work, Sand brings a perspective that blends spiritual and practical insights. Rather than focusing on theory alone, she shares her experiences of how these medicines are understood and integrated in different contexts. This gathering invited participants to engage with stories, reflections, and perspectives on the...
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244. Mary-Frances O’Connor with Dr. Anthony Back: Grief and the Body
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
Despite grief being one of the most universal of human experiences, there is still much that we do not know about it. Can we die of a broken heart? What happens in our bodies as we grieve; how do our coping behaviors affect our physical health, immunity, and even cognition? While we may be more familiar with psychological and emotional ramifications of loss and sorrow, we often overlook its impact on our physical bodies. In The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing, the follow-up to its successful predecessor The Grieving Brain (2022),...
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243. Thor Hanson: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
The routines of modern life can often cause us to fall out of touch with our surroundings. But reconnecting with our world can go much further than just stopping to smell the roses – and without having to travel very far at all. In his newest book Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door, conservation biologist Thor Hanson encourages readers to see just how many exciting natural discoveries can be made in our most familiar environments. Close to Home takes a magnifying glass to the yards, gardens, and parks we already know and shows the hidden wonders that lie in...
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242. Psychedelic Salon with April Pride: Psychedelics for Creativity
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
Have you wondered how psychedelics are being intentionally used by artists, writers, musicians, and other creatives to push the boundaries of their craft? This session kicks off our new series, Psychedelic Salon, with a panel of esteemed Seattle artists who will discuss the role of psychedelics in Seattle’s countercultural movements and how they influence artistic expression. Expect a candid conversation on the relationship between altered states and creativity, with insights from prominent Seattle creatives known for their experimentation. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how...
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241. Gary F. Marcus with Ted Chiang How to Make AI Work for Us (And Not the Other Way Around)
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
Artificial intelligence is an actively surging field in today’s digital landscape, and as each new AI interface reaches the public it throws into sharper resolution that all the big tech players are getting involved. And quickly. But where are the roots of this rapidly expanding industry’s interests? How does AI impact individuals, established industries, and the future of our society if it continues to grow faster than it is critically examined? In his newest book Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works For Us, author and scientist Gary F. Marcus uses his expertise in...
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240. Amorina Kingdon: Sing Like Fish – How Sound Rules Life Underwater
Town Hall Seattle Science Series
The ocean has proven endlessly mysterious and fascinating to all manner of people across the globe, but for centuries true knowledge of the depths was simply out of reach. As modern technologies advance, science has debunked much once held to be true – including the idea of the “silent world” of the ocean. What was once thought to be a muffled marine landscape with little to no perceptible sounds has now been revealed to be a complex interplay of aquatic acoustics. In her debut book Sing Like Fish: How Sound Rules Life Under Water, science journalist Amorina Kingdon turns up the...
info_outlineToday’s information (and misinformation) overload is difficult and confusing to navigate.
Post-truth politics and conspiracy theories abound. Science and scientists are under growing suspicion, causing even more confusion and unrest. At the same time, we need science to survive today’s biggest threats like pandemics and climate change. To bridge this gap, acclaimed physicist and New York Times bestselling author Jim Al-Khalili wants us all to start thinking like scientists.
Al-Khalili believes that the practice of science can offer us a way of thinking and understanding our complex world. He’s created a guide to leading a more rational life, inviting people to engage with the world as scientists have been trained to do. He defines the “how” and “why” behind science, as well as what science is (and what it’s not).
With today’s scrutiny over science, Al-Khalili admits that scientists need to do more to communicate how they work to build trust and credibility in the public eye. One way to do that is for everyone to adopt the scientific method in our daily lives. Science may not only solve today’s biggest problems, but it can be a way for everyone to make everyday decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
Jim Al-Khalili is an Iraqi-born theoretical physicist at the University of Surrey, where he holds a Distinguished Chair in physics as well as a university chair in public engagement in science. He has written 14 books on popular science and the history of science, between them translated into twenty-six languages. His latest books include The Joy of Science and The World According to Physics, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Book Prize. He is a regular presenter of TV science documentaries, such as the Bafta-nominated Chemistry: A Volatile History and he hosts the long-running weekly BBC Radio 4 program, The Life Scientific.
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