MIT
-----
Monday, November 29, 2010
Ideological Diversity in the News Media
Speaker: Jesse Shapiro (Chicago-Booth)
Time: 4:00p–5:30p
Location: E51-151
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Labor/Public Finance Workshop
For more information, contact:
Theresa Beneventon
theresa@mit.edu
------------------
Monday, November 29, 2010
Biomass Torrefaction Modeling and Optimization
Speaker: Richard Bates, MIT, Dept. Mechanical Engineering
Time: 4:30p–5:30p
Location: 3-343
Center for Energy and Propulsion Research Seminar Series
Gasification of lignocellulosic biomass to produce carbon neutral biofuels is experiencing increased interest due to GHG emission concerns with existing fossil fuels. However, utilization of raw biomass as a feedstock for gasification faces several challenges related to storage, transport, size reduction, and seasonality. Pretreatment processes aim to address these challenges by improving the physical and chemical characteristics of biomass prior to utilization. Torrefaction is a mild pyrolysis pretreatment which improves the energy density, grindability, and storability of biomass. Researchers so far have focused on experimental measurements of torrefaction mass/energy balance, volatile composition, and product characterization. Though existing kinetics models have been developed to predict mass balance, they do not address volatile composition or energy balance and therefore have limited applications.
This seminar will first provide an introduction to biomass pretreatment and will then focus on the status and results of efforts to improve the applicability existing torrefaction kinetics models. Then steps for further improvement as well as integration of this model to optimize process and system integration will be described.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): RGD Lab
For more information, contact:
Patrick Kirchen
----------------
Monday, November 29, 2010
Push for Peace: Human Rights and Indigenous Communities in Chiapas, Mexico
Time: 6:30p–8:00p
Location: E25-111
Economic, political and social analysis of human rights in Chiapas with commentary on appropriate technology solutions in order to build sustainable, autonomous communities.
Web site: http://lsc.mit.edu/schedule/current/desc-mexicosolidarity.shtml
Open to: the general public
Cost: FREE
Sponsor(s): LSC, Mexico Solidarity Network
For more information, contact:
MIT Lecture Series Committee
617-253-3791
lsc@mit.edu
--------------
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Gulf of Mexico Spill: What Have We Learned?
Speaker: Dr. Dave Rainey, BP, Houston, TX
Time: 12:00p–1:30p
Location: 54-915
EAPS Department Lecture Series Special Seminar
Web site: http://eapsweb.mit.edu/news/index.html
Open to: the general public
Cost: $0.00
Tickets: N/A
Sponsor(s): Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
For more information, contact:
Jacqui Taylor
253-2127
jtaylor@mit.edu
-----------------
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Undergraduate Economics Association - The Next Financial Meltdown
Speaker: Simon Johnson (MIT/Sloan)
Time: 4:30p–5:30p
Location: E51-395
Undergraduate Economics Association
The Next Financial Meltdown
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Economics Other Events
For more information, contact:
Theresa Benevento
theresa@mit.edu
-------------------
November 30
4:00–6:00 pm
MIT E19-623
Linguistics and Politics
Noam Chomsky, MIT Professor emeritus of linguistics, political activist and prolific book author
speaking to the Knight Science Journalism Fellows
--------------------
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Evolution of ecosystem properties
Speaker: Simon Levin, Princeton
Time: 2:30p–3:30p
Location: 48-316
Environmental Fluid Mechanics / Hydrology Seminar Series
weekly presentations from local and international researchers in the field of hydrology and environmental fluid mechanics.
The unification of population biology and ecosystems science means going beyond thinking about ecosystems and the biosphere as if they were evolutionary units, maximizing throughput or stability or some other systemic goal. Rather, they exhibit patterns emergent from processes at much lower levels of organization. With the aid of mathematical theory and vast new metagenomic data, there now exists the capacity to study the wide range of ecosystem patterns and processes that characterize the essential features of those systems, and to examine the robustness of those patterns and their role in supporting ecosystem goods and services. By marrying theory and empirical work, we can elucidate the patterns of key macroscopic measures within ecosystems, develop explanations of variation in those patterns, and develop predictive models of responses to changing environments. This lecture will introduce a variety of examples, from the distribution and abundance of ecotypes to stoichiometry and nutrient use, from dispersal and foraging behavior to successional patterns, from quorum sensing to nitrogen fixation. Ultimately, such approaches can help to explain the robustness of macroscopic features such as the emergence of size structure distributions, trophic webs, species diversity relations and successional dynamics.
Open to: the general public
Cost: free
Sponsor(s): Civil and Environmental Engineering
For more information, contact:
Sheila Anderson
8-5554
sherah@mit.edu
------------------
Clean Combustion Technologies
December 01, 2010 3:00p–4:30p
Carl Bozzuto has more than 40 years of experience in combustion and boiler operations and research. He began his career as a research engineer, senior project engineer, manager and director for Combustion Engineering Inc. Carl was named vice president of process technology for the company, where he was responsible for the development and commercialization of new boiler and power plant technologies including advanced cycles, ultra supercritical boilers,
alternative working fluids, fluid bed boilers, plant integration and other plant component technology. serving recently as vice president of technology for the Power Environment sector at Alstom Power Inc., he was responsible for the development and implementation of new technology for boiler and environmental products on a worldwide basis.
Bozzuto holds 16 U.s. patents and membership in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the Combustion Institute and the American society of Mechanical Engineers (AsME). He has authored more than 30 published technical papers and is editor-in-chief of the textbook ?Clean Combustion Technologies,? published by Alstom Power in 2009. Bozzuto has earned Bachelor of science and Master of science degrees in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of science degree in management from the Hartford Graduate Center.
Note: Carl will be handing out to audience members copies of Alstom's new book on Clean Combustion Technologies.
Category: lectures/conferences
Speaker: Carl Bozzuto, Alstom Power
Location: E19-319
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Campus Events
Admission: Open to the public
For more information: Contact John Parsons jparsons@mit.edu
---------------------
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
HOW DO WE FEED THE PLANET? GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY IN THE NEXT CENTURY
Time: 7:00p–10:00p
Location: 32-123
Terrascope students in Mission 2014 present their solutions to the challenges of combatting world hunger
Web site: http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2014/
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Terrascope
For more information, contact:
Aczel, Debra Gross
253-4074
daczel@mit.edu
-------------------
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Can Technology Solve Global Poverty? - Ideas Matter Lecture Series
Speaker: Kentaro Toyama, Nicholas Negroponte, Rachel Glennerster, Archon Fung
Time: 4:00p–6:00p
Location: E51-115, Wong Auditorium
Ideas Matter
Ideas Matter, a joint project of Boston Review and MIT's Political Science Department, is a lecture series that brings our writers together with other experts and practitioners for substantive debate on the challenges of our times. The series, free and open to the public, will offer nine events in the 2010-11 academic year. Visit our web page for dates and information on forthcoming events on government's role in the economy, same-sex marriage, and more.
The media and international-development advocates can't stop trumpeting information and communications technology for development (ICT4D). But, drawing on his field work in India, Kentaro Toyama argues that cell phones and the Web can take us only so far. Human capacity remains the foundation of economic growth. Joining the debate are Nicholas Negroponte, and Rachel Glennerster. Archon Fung moderates.
Web site: bostonreview.net/ideasmatter
Open to: the general public
Cost: free
Sponsor(s): Political Science Department
For more information, contact:
Boston Review
6173241360
review@bostonreview.net
----------------------------
Friday, December 03, 2010
First Russian Energy Conference
Speaker: http://www.rusenergy.org/?page_id=197
Time: 8:00a–7:00p
Location: Harvard Faculty Club, 20 Quincy Street, Cambridge
Mission
The conference sets a stage for the effective exchange of ideas between leading western policy and technology experts and their Russian colleagues thus nurturing the consensual and unbiased approach to the global energy problems.
Estimates for the Conference:
100 high-class attendees
*Russian Energy Sector Executives
*Faculty, Research and Field Experts from Harvard, MIT, US, EU and Russia
*US, EU and Russia Policymakers
*Harvard and MIT Students
Web site: http://www.rusenergy.org/
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Campus Events, Harvard Club of Russia, Evrofinance Mosnarbank
For more information, contact:
Iulian Pogor
ipogor@mit.edu
-----------------
Security Theater or Serious Security?
Airport Pat-Downs, Scanners and the Fourth Amendment
Friday, December 3
12 noon
Stata 32-155
Speaker: Nancy Murray, Director of Education
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts
( http://www.aclum.org/ )
Additional speakers TBA
Brown bag lunch; coffee/tea/cold drinks provided
For more information, contact weinmann@mit.edu or go to web.mit.edu/tac
This program is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
--------------------------
Friday, December 03, 2010
MIT Sloan Energy Finance Forum - THE LIFE CYCLE OF ENERGY FINANCE
Time: 1:00p–6:00p
Location: E51-Wong
The Sloan Energy & Environment Club is thrilled to announce that the 2nd annual MIT Sloan Energy Finance Forum will take place on Friday, December 3rd, 2010 in Wong Auditorium from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. Please save the date!
This year the forum will address the theme of the Life Cycle of Energy Finance. The 2010 Energy Finance Forum will span the role of energy finance from early to late stage capital and will be an excellent opportunity to meet major energy finance professionals. We have a fantastic line-up of keynotes and panelists this year, including Ray Wood, Head of the U.S. Power Group and Global Alternative Energy Group at Credit Suisse, Dennis Costello, Managing Partner at Braemar Energy Ventures and Dave Danielson, Program Director at ARPA-E.
Topics will include:
* Dirty little secrets about Energy Venture Capital: an honest assessment of Energy Venture Capital and how it can improve
* What?s the big deal: the changing role of private equity, M&A and finance in the consolidation of the energy market
* The ABCs of Project Finance - Inside a Real Deal
* DOE Loan Guarantee Program ? What?s it all about?
Registration is free and encouraged to guarantee your spot.
Registration: http://mitsloaneff2010.eventbrite.com/
Open to: the general public
Tickets: http://mitsloaneff2010.eventbrite.com/
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Club
For more information, contact:
Emmanuel Boros
eboros@mit.edu
----------
Harvard
----------
Spatialization of human migration, environmental history and global change
November 30, 2010 - 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Contact Name:
Wendy Guan
wguan@cga.harvard.edu
Room K262, CGIS Knafel Building 1737 Cambridge St. Cambridge, MA
Professor Peng Gong, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley and Center for Earth System Science, Institute for Global Change Studie, Tsinghua University.
Global environmental change has become a focus of the society. Human factors particularly since the beginning of industrialization have been studied as a major cause. To fully understand today's global environmental change, we need a clearer understanding of the past as a background, an understanding on how humans migrated and evolved in the past without industrialization. However, this is hampered by the lack of spatialized historical environmental data. China has a rich archive of historical events. Mining of the historical data on China's environment will provide useful information and perhaps wisdom in solving today's global environmental problems.
-------------------------
Condoleezza Rice, American Foreign Policy & the Black Experience
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 30, 2010, 4 p.m.
WHERE
JFK Jr. Forum, Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government, 79 JFK Street, 02138
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Conferences, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research
SPEAKER(S)
Condoleezza Rice, Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and Former U.S. Secretary of State.
COST
Free, but ticket required
TICKET INFO
iop.harvard.edu
CONTACT INFO
617 495 8508
NOTE
American Foreign Policy & the Black Experience
Tue., Nov 30, 4pm
The National Interest, Africa and the African Diaspora: Does U.S. Foreign Policy Connect the Dots?
Wed., Dec 1, 4pm
Multiethnic Democracy: Is the American Experience Unique?
Thu., Dec 2, 4pm
Why Democracy Matters: Education, Empowerment and the American National Myth at Home and Abroad
Condoleezza Rice is the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and Former U.S. Secretary of State.
LINK
dubois.fas.harvard.edu
------------------------------
Condoleezza Rice, American Foreign Policy & the Black Experience
WHEN
Wed., Dec. 1, 2010, 4 p.m.
WHERE
Thompson Room, Barker Center, 12 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Conferences, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research
SPEAKER(S)
Condoleezza Rice, Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and Former U.S. Secretary of State.
COST
Free, but ticket required
TICKET INFO
iop.harvard.edu
CONTACT INFO
617 495 8508
NOTE
American Foreign Policy & the Black Experience
Tue., Nov 30, 4pm
The National Interest, Africa and the African Diaspora: Does U.S. Foreign Policy Connect the Dots?
Wed., Dec 1, 4pm
Multiethnic Democracy: Is the American Experience Unique?
Thu., Dec 2, 4pm
Why Democracy Matters: Education, Empowerment and the American National Myth at Home and Abroad
Condoleezza Rice is the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and Former U.S. Secretary of State.
LINK
dubois.fas.harvard.edu
-------------------------
Social Entrepreneurship and the Built Environment — James Rouse and His Legacy
WHEN
Wed., Dec. 1, 2010, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE
Piper Auditorium, Harvard Graduate School of Design, 48 Quincy St, Cambridge
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Art/Design, Ethics, Film, Humanities, Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Graduate School of Design
SPEAKER(S)
Actor and activist Edward Norton with real estate developer, planner, and investor Jonathan Rose
COST
Free
CONTACT INFO
Brooke King: events@gsd.harvard.edu
NOTE
A discussion with Rouse's grandson, actor and activist Edward Norton and with "green" real estate developer, planner, and investor Jonathan Rose. Norton and Rose are both Trustees of Enterprise Community Partners, a unique for-profit/nonprofit hybrid, founded by Rouse, that has raised and invested more than $10 billion to finance more than 270,000 affordable homes across the United States.
By 2050, the world's population will exceed more than nine billion people, and two thirds of the population will live in cities. Rose and Norton will discuss some of the larger trends that affect cities today and in the future, and in particular, long-term strategies for accommodating this significant population growth in the most environmentally, socially, and economically responsible way possible. They will address the significant role that social entrepreneurs can play, following in Rouse's footsteps, as well as the role of design and placemaking in addressing the challenges of affordable housing and community development.
LINK
http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/calendar/weekly.cgi?startmonth=12&startday=1&startyear=2010&view=114
----------------------------------------
Environmental Nanotechnology Symposium
December 2, 2010 - 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Contact Name: Brenda L. Mathieu
bmathieu@seas.harvard.edu
209 Pierce Hall, Harvard University Cambridge, MA
Overview
The goal of this symposium is to keep the researchers in our field updated on the current research progress of environmental nanotechnology with a focus on carbon nanomaterials. The symposium will encompass areas related to the utilization of nanotechnology for environmental applications such as water and wastewater treatment, environmental remediation, and solar energy conversion.
Speakers
Michael Hoffmann has pioneered studies of advanced oxidation processes for water treatment purposes, including use of quantum-sized TiO2 and ZnO photocatalysts. His group is currently investigating heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysis and electrocatalysis for aqueous contaminant remediation, solar to hydrogen conversion, and carbon dioxide sequestration.
Menachem Elimelech is a world leader in advanced separation processes for water treatment purposes, and was among the first to identify the strong ecotoxicological effects of carbon nanotubes. His book, Particle Deposition and Aggregation, is a standard for describing physicochemical processes in aquatic systems. His group is currently applying carbon nanomaterials to enhance water purification processes.
Chad Vecitis has investigated a range of water treatment processes from the sonochemical degradation of persistent fluorochemical pollutants to point-of-use technologies for the developing world. His lab is currently evaluating the potential of electrochemically-active carbon nanotube filtration towards a number of water treatment applications.
---------------------------------
Condoleezza Rice, American Foreign Policy & the Black Experience
WHEN
Thu., Dec. 2, 2010, 4 p.m.
WHERE
Thompson Room, Barker Center, 12 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Conferences, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research
SPEAKER(S)
Condoleezza Rice, Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and Former U.S. Secretary of State.
COST
Free, but ticket required
TICKET INFO
iop.harvard.edu
CONTACT INFO
617 495 8508
NOTE
American Foreign Policy & the Black Experience
Tue., Nov 30, 4pm
The National Interest, Africa and the African Diaspora: Does U.S. Foreign Policy Connect the Dots?
Wed., Dec 1, 4pm
Multiethnic Democracy: Is the American Experience Unique?
Thu., Dec 2, 4pm
Why Democracy Matters: Education, Empowerment and the American National Myth at Home and Abroad
Condoleezza Rice is the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and Former U.S. Secretary of State.
LINK
dubois.fas.harvard.edu
--------------------------
The EPA @ 40: Protecting the Environment & Our Communities
WHEN
Fri., Dec. 3, 2010, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE
Ames Courtroom - Austin Hall
Harvard Law School
1515 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Conferences, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Science, Social Sciences, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard University Center for the Environment
SPEAKER(S)
Keynote address by Lisa P. Jackson, EPA administrator
Additional participants:
Paul Anastas, EPA assistant administrator, Office of Research & Development
William Clark, Harvard Kennedy School
Michelle DePass, EPA assistant administrator
Jody Freeman, Harvard Law School
Mary Gade, Gade Group; former EPA regional administrator
C. Boyden Gray, Gray & Schmitz LLP; former U.S. ambassador to the European Union; former counsel to George H.W. Bush
James Hammitt, Harvard School of Public Health
Lisa Heinzerling, EPA associate administrator, Office of Policy
John Holdren, assistant to the president for science and technology; director,
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Sheila Jasanoff, Harvard Kennedy School
Henry Lee, Harvard Kennedy School
Peter Lehner, executive director, Natural Resources Defense Council
Gina McCarthy, EPA assistant administrator, Office of Air & Radiation
Mary Nichols, chair, California Air Resources Board; former California
secretary of environmental affairs; former EPA assistant administrator, Office of Air & Radiation
Bob Perciasepe, EPA deputy administrator
William Ruckelshaus, Madrona Group; founding EPA administrator
Daniel Schrag, Harvard University
Joel Schwartz, Harvard School of Public Health
Ron Sims, deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Robert Sussman, senior policy adviser to administrator Jackson
Nancy Sutley, chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
Deborah Swackhamer, University of Minnesota; chair of the EPA Science Advisory Board
Jay Williams, mayor, Youngstown, Ohio
COST
Free
CONTACT INFO
Lisa Matthews: lisa_matthews@harvard.edu, 617.495.8883
NOTE
Please join us for a conference that brings together thought leaders from academia, NGOs, business, and government to celebrate 40 years of history and achievements of the Environmental Protection Agency and to discuss the future challenges it faces.
LINK
http://www.environment.harvard.edu/epa
----
BU
----
The Business of Energy
December 03, 2010 10:00a–12:30p
During the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters, the BU Department of Geography and Environment and the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future will convene the John Sawyer Seminars at Boston University on Energy Transitions and Society. The seminar series, supported by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will bring together leadings scholars from across the United States and abroad to discuss various aspects of how energy transitions are themselves socially constituted and how they have, and are likely to, impact society.
Category: lectures/conferences
Speaker: Martha Amram (Founder and CEO, Ennovationz), Joseph Pratt (History, University of Houston), Paul McManus (School of Management, Boston University)
Location: Room 424, School of Management building (595 Commonwealth Avenue), Boston University
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Campus Events, Boston University Clean Energy and Environmental Sustainability Initiative (CEESI)
Admission: Open to the public
Tickets available from Seating is limited. To register, please send an email to pardee@bu.edu
For more information: Contact Rania Ghosn rghosn@gmail.com
http://www.bu.edu/pardee/research/sawyer-energy-transitions/
--------
Other
--------
Monday November 29, 2010 — 8pm
Nerdnite at Middlesex Lounge, 315 Mass Ave, Cambridge in Central Square
The lineup:
Talk 1: “City Hauls: Foraging for wild plants and other foodstuffs within the city limits”
by David Craft
Talk 2: “Fun with joints”*
*(or, “what you probably want to know about how wood gets connected to more wood and other things.”)
by Vaughn Tan
http://boston.nerdnite.com/
------------------
11/30 Whistleblower Wendell Potter Discusses
Deadly Spin at Cambridge Forum
Cambridge Forum
3 Church Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-2727
email: director@cambridgeforum.org
www.cambridgeforum.org
RENEWING DEMOCRACY: Deadly Spin<
On Tuesday, November 30, 2010, at 7 p.m. join Wendell Potter, currently the senior fellow on health care at the Center for Media and Democracy, in discussing his new book, Deadly Spin. As a well paid executive for a major health insurance company, he was on the inside team that created the public relations strategy to challenge threats from government regulation. But after viewing the 2007 Michael Moore film Sicko and taking notes so he could prepare a counter, he found himself agreeing with a great deal of the film. He left his thirty-year career and returned home to Tennessee, he had received a journalism degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville-- and wrote a classic corporate insider, whistle blowing critique, Deadly Spin, praised by Howard Dean and Bill Moyers. In June, 2009, he testified before Congress, giving powerful specifics of industry practices to "dump the sick" to increase share holder value that, in turn, justifies high executive salaries and bonuses.
What is Wendell Potter's take on the new health care reform law? How much did industry lobbyists influence its writing? What sections should President Obama and Congressional Democrats defend?
Cambridge Forum is recorded and edited for public radio broadcast. Edited CDs are available to the public by contacting 617-495-2727. Select forums can be viewed in their entirety on demand by visiting our website at www.cambridgeforum.org and clicking on the Forum Network at WGBH.
Cambridge Forum
3 Church Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617-495-2727
email: mailto:director@cambridgeforum.org
website: http://www.cambridgeforum.org
"Bringing People together to talk again . . ."
-----------------------
Join BostonCAN, Carl Spector, Executive Director of Boston's Air Pollution Control Commission, and representatives from several of Boston's many neighborhood sustainability organizations for a roundtable dialogue about community climate action in Boston. Come see a short video about how climate change is already affecting in Boston and our future vulnerabilities, and share your ideas for engaging more people in making Boston more sustainable.
Panelists include Eric Smalley from Greening Rozzie, Khalida Smalls from ACE, Rosanne Foley from Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition, Ray Porfilio from West
Roxbury Saves Energy, and Stepanie Valovic from Planet Southie.
Location: Suffolk University, 73 Tremont Street, 12th floor, Trustees Conference Room
Date and time: Wednesday, December 1, 6pm-7:30pm
Snacks provided. Free and open to the public.
Hosted by Suffolk University Sustainability Committee, the Government Department, Human Resources, and the Boston Climate Action Network.
More info at: http://www.suffolk.edu/offices/44417.html
Loie Hayes
Boston Climate Action Network www.BostonCAN.org
home/office 617-278-1885
cell 857-544-6846
---------------
The Locavore Way: Book Talk & Book Signing with Amy Cotler
Wednesday, December 1, 7:00-8:30 pm
Location:
Room: BU Central, in the basement of the George Sherman Union building at Boston University (775 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215)
Description:
Join Slow Food BU for a book talk and book signing of "The Locavore Way," with author Amy Cotler, a food activist, cookbook writer, recipe developer, and chef. "The Locavore Way" is a comprehensive how-to guide for everyone to seeking out and savoring local food, as well as becoming an advocate in your community. By focusing on the joy of connecting with the people and places responsible for producing what we eat, Cotler shows readers how easy it can be to embrace the locavore lifestyle. For more information about the book and about the author, visit Cotler's website and local food recipes blog at :http://www.amycotler.com.
Free and open to the public.
-------------------------
Chairman Frank I. Smizik of the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change invites you to attend an informational hearing on
Plans for the Future
Implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act
The hearing will be held at:
2:30 p.m on Thursday, December 2, 2010
Hearing Room A1, State House
This informational hearing will show the Commonwealth’s progress of implementing the Global Warming Solutions Act. Starting last fall the Climate Protection and Green Economy Advisory Committee and Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee participated in a series of briefings discussing the current effects of global warming and the progress of our efforts to deal with climate change. This upcoming hearing will focus on the implementation plan required by the Act, which will be completed by the end of the year. EEA Assistant Secretary for Policy, David Cash, will be joined by the Advisory Committee Co-Chairs, Dr. Susan Avery of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Martin Madaus former CEO of Millipor, who will present recommendations and strategies under consideration to address global warming and climate change.
For more information, contact Sydney Schneir at Sydney.Schneir@mahouse.gov, or Jonathan Goldberg at Jonathan.Goldberg@mahouse.gov, or (617) 722-2676
-----------------------
CFL swaps produce tremendous CO2 savings (averaging four times that of our
barnraisings).
If you don't like getting dirty using spray foam in attics, but still want
to help cut lots of carbon, or if you want to meet your neighbors and hand
them a holiday gift, this is the event for you.
Saturday, December 4, 12 - 4 p.m.
*Meet at Link Room in Youville House at 1575 Cambridge Street*
We will knock on doors and swap free efficient CFLs for inefficient
incandescent bulbs.
Food and drinks provided after the event, as well as musical entertainment.
Cosponsored by Cambridge Energy Alliance and the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood
Association.
Sign up here https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDViRnFNRXhudE5sZUxULWdwTl9oR3c6MQ or by emailing: Outreach@cambridgeenergyalliance.org
------------------------
Arlington Barnraising
Happy Thanksgiving!
As part of the celebration, join us December 5, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., as the community comes together to weatherize a home at 14 Wright Street in Arlington.
The event will address improvements most homes need as well as some less common air-sealing work. We’ll be caulking and sealing windows with v-strip, replacing door weatherstripping, fixing problem areas in the basement, wrapping pipes, installing smart strips, and more.
At the end of the event, we’ll also be installing a chimney balloon. Chimneys are frequently a giant hole allowing all your conditioned air up and out. We’re plan to run a blower door test immediately before and after installing the balloon to test just how effective it is.
This will probably be the least dirty event we’ve had yet – a clean finished basement, no attic, etc. – but there will still be some amount of foam and plenty of caulk, so don’t wear your Thanksgiving finest on December 5.
PLEASE RSVP – but also feel free to pass this announcement along to friends.
Thanks, Jeremy
arlheet@gmail.com
http://arlingtonheet.org/
-----------------------------
In our recent survey, many people indicated they'd like to be part of an online Common Security Club information session and facilitator training. We're happy to announce our first info and training "webinar" on Wednesday, December 8. Please click here to tell us what time you can make the session, and we will accommodate as many people as possible.
Registration for the webinar will be available after we choose a time
Common Security Clubs Organizer
617.477.8630 x307
info@commonsecurityclub.org
http://commonsecurityclub.org
------------
Resource
-----------
Boston Food System
"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships, programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."
The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food, farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health, environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on week-to-week is not always well publicized.
Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and other posting guidelines will be provided as well.
It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
----------------------
Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/
Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios
Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation
-----------------------------------------------------
Links to events at 60 colleges and universities at Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com
Thanks to
Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html
Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template
http://green.harvard.edu/events
--------------------------------------------------
Energy (and Other) Events is a weekly mailing list published most
Sundays covering events around the Cambridge, MA and greater Boston
area that catch the editor's eye.
Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events
email gmoke@world.std.com
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Energy (and Other) Events - November 21, 2010
MIT
----
Monday, November 22, 2010
Pollution Permits and the Evolution of Market Structure
Speaker: Stephen Ryan (MIT)
Time: 2:30p–4:00p
Location: E62-650
Web site: http://econ-www.mit.edu/files/6186
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): IO Workshop (Sponsored by Analysis Group)
For more information, contact:
Theresa Benevento
theresa@mit.edu
-----------------
Monday, November 22, 2010
Human Trafficking in the Boston Area
Time: 6:00p–7:00p
Location: 4-145
Come learn about human trafficking in our own city Boston! Detective Donna Gavin and Human Trafficking Coordinator Mr. Thomas Maloney of the Boston Police will speak about their work at Boston Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force. The Task Force combats trafficking by rescuing and supporting victims, investigating human traffickers, prosecuting human traffickers and those that conspire with them. Come hear their stories!
Human Trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain or maintain someone in service and the use of a minor for commercial sexual activity. There are approximately 17,000 victims of human trafficking that enter the United States each year.
Please RSVP to mitai-exec@mit.edu for dinner. Everyone welcome to come!
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Amnesty International, Undergraduate Association
For more information, contact:
mitai-exec@mit.edu
---------------------
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Emerging Device Nanotechnology for Future High-Performance and Low-Power Nanoelectronics
Speaker: Dr. Robert Chau
Time: 4:00p–5:00p
Location: 34-101
MTL Seminar Series
Refreshments at 3:30 p.m.
This presentation will cover three topics. First, it will highlight some of the most recent device and process innovations implemented by the silicon industry for advanced CMOS transistors. Second, it will summarize research progress on non-silicon transistor channel materials and their integration on silicon substrate for future high-speed and low-power logic CMOS applications. Third, it will describe recent research effort by the device research community on forward-looking devices beyond CMOS. In the beyond-CMOS research space, carbon-based, spin-based, tunnel-based and exciton-based devices are being explored as alternative switches/devices to either replace CMOS after 2020 or combine with CMOS to create new circuit functionalities. These emerging devices exhibit unique and interesting characteristics, and they present both challenges and opportunities for future nanoelectronics applications which will be discussed.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Microsystems Technology Laboratories
For more information, contact:
Mara Elena Karapetian
452-2545
webmaster@mtl.mit.edu
-----------------------------
Tuesday, November 23
4:00–6:00 pm
MIT E19-623
The Earth’s Energy Draws From the Sun; Is There Good News From Solar-in, Solar-out?
Daniel Nocera, Professor of Energy in MIT's Chemistry department
--------
Harvard
--------
Corporate Social Responsibility’s New Agenda – Comparative and International Lessons for Corporate Governance, Human Rights, and Business Regulation and Practice
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 9 – 10 a.m.
WHERE
Harvard Kennedy School's Littauer Building #324 (Fainsod Room)
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Business, Classes/Workshops, Education, Ethics, Law, Lecture, Social Sciences
SPEAKER(S)
Professor Bryan Horrigan, Monash University, Melbourne
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/m-rcbg/events.htm
---------------------
MCB Bloch Lecture: "Learning About the Origin of Life from Efforts to Design an Artificial Cell"
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 12 – 1 p.m.
WHERE
Northwest Building Lecture Hall, B-103
52 Oxford Street, Cambridge
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Lecture, Science
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
SPEAKER(S)
Professor Jack Szostak
--------------------
Injecting a Human Rights Approach into Anti-Trafficking Strategies: Can We Do Better?
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 2 – 4 p.m.
WHERE
Online conference
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Conferences, Education, Ethics, Law, Lecture, Social Sciences, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation,
Harvard Kennedy School
Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery Program
Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
SPEAKER(S)
Jacqueline Bhabha, Jeremiah Smith Jr. Lecturer in Law, Harvard Law School; lecturer in public policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Elizabeth Cafferty, associate director, Programs and External Relations,
Division of Global Health and Human Rights, Massachusetts General Hospital
NOTE
In order to effectively combat human trafficking, an increased emphasis and investment in developing employment, education, public health, and livelihood opportunities for populations vulnerable to human trafficking is essential.
It is critical to address root causes of trafficking through empowerment strategies, particularly targeting young girls and women.
Globally, there are many anti-trafficking activists, policymakers, academics, and nongovernmental organizations developing new and effective approaches to prevent, educate, and better serve those most vulnerable to trafficking. By focusing on the human rights of trafficked persons, better strategies would result around allocation of immigration, welfare, employment training, and health benefits to a community.
This webinar will explore how a human rights approach can be used to facilitate better access to prevention and protection for victims of human trafficking. Ample time will be allocated for audience Q&A.
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/cchrp/isht/events/2010/month11/OnlineConf_22.php
-------------------------
DRCLAS Cuban Studies Seminar: "Cuban Agriculture and its External Ties"
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 4 – 6 p.m.
WHERE
1730 Cambridge Street, Room S250
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Cuban Studies Program at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University
SPEAKER(S)
Anicia GarcÃa, Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy
-----------------------
Human Trafficking from a Legal Perspective: Analysis of the Laws Relating to Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 5 – 6 p.m.
WHERE
Carr Center Conference Room, Room 219, Rubenstein Building, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Classes/Workshops, Education, Ethics, Law, Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery
Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
SPEAKER(S)
Christian Bain, director of the Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery Program, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
NOTE
Graduate students only
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/cchrp/isht/study_group/2010/details_20101026.php
---------------------
Tufts
-------
US Energy-Technology Innovation
November 22, 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM
sponsored by: The Tufts Department of Economics, Tufts Institute of the Environment, and Fletcher's Center for International Environment and Resource Policy
Location: Medford/Somerville Campus
Goddard Hall
Crowe Room, Goddard 310
Description: Speaker: Richard Lester, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, MIT
Part of the Energy and Climate Policy Research Seminar. Co-convened by Prof. Gilbert Metcalf, Tufts Economics Department and Prof. Kelly Sims Gallagher, The Fletcher School
Contact: Mieke van der Wansem Mieke.Wansem@tufts.edu
---------------
Northeastern
--------------
SIGGRAPH ANIMATION SCREENING 2010
Northeastern University is pleased to present a special screening of the:
2010 SIGGRAPH ELECTRONIC THEATER
Monday, November 22, 2010
6:00-8:30 PM
Raytheon Amphitheater
Free Admission
Light hors d'oeuvres will be provided.
Please join us for an on-campus screening of the exceptional SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater, which features cutting-edge, visually stunning computer animation from the best artists in the industry.
Titles from this year's Electronic Animation festival include:
• Avatar, Weta Digital Ltd.
• Alice in Wonderland, Sony Pictures Imageworks
• Harmonix The Beatles: Rock Band, Passion Pictures
• Pepsi The Flight of the Penguin, Framestore
• Sherlock Holmes, Framestore
The evening will open with an introduction by Terrence Masson—Director of the Creative Industries Program at Northeastern University and Chair of the 2010 SIGGRAPH Conference—to be immediately followed by the two-hour animation presentation.
Light hors d'oeuvres will be served.
About the SIGGRAPH Conference:
The annual SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques) Conference draws 25,000 top practitioners from five continents to explore the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques.
With questions, please contact Ann Grenell, Program Coordinator at Northeastern University:
a.grenell@neu.edu
(617) 373-2427
---------
Ongoing
---------
To members of the Climate CoLab community,
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Climate CoLab contest,
as well as a major upgrade of our software platform.
The contest will address the question: What international climate
agreements should the world community make?
The first round ended on October 31 and the final round runs through
November 26.
In early December, the United Nations and U.S. Congress will be
briefed on the winning entries.
We are raising funds in the hope of being able to pay travel expenses
for one representative from each winning team to attend one or both of
these briefings.
Learn more at http://climatecolab.org
We also encourage you to fill out your profiles and add a picture, so
that members of the community can get to know each other.
And please inform anyone you believe might be interested about the
contest.
Editorial Comment: I played a previous version of this simulation.
This time around, I like the 350 plan which is as close to zero
emissions as the exercise will get.
http://climatecolab.org/web/guest/plans#plans=
------------
Resource
-----------
Boston Food System
"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships, programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."
The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food, farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health, environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on week-to-week is not always well publicized.
Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and other posting guidelines will be provided as well.
It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
----------------------
Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/
Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios
Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation
-----------------------------------------------------
Thanks to
Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html
Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template
http://green.harvard.edu/events
--------------------------------------------------
Energy (and Other) Events is a weekly mailing list published most
Sundays covering events around the Cambridge, MA and greater Boston
area that catch the editor's eye.
Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events
email gmoke@world.std.com
----
Monday, November 22, 2010
Pollution Permits and the Evolution of Market Structure
Speaker: Stephen Ryan (MIT)
Time: 2:30p–4:00p
Location: E62-650
Web site: http://econ-www.mit.edu/files/6186
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): IO Workshop (Sponsored by Analysis Group)
For more information, contact:
Theresa Benevento
theresa@mit.edu
-----------------
Monday, November 22, 2010
Human Trafficking in the Boston Area
Time: 6:00p–7:00p
Location: 4-145
Come learn about human trafficking in our own city Boston! Detective Donna Gavin and Human Trafficking Coordinator Mr. Thomas Maloney of the Boston Police will speak about their work at Boston Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force. The Task Force combats trafficking by rescuing and supporting victims, investigating human traffickers, prosecuting human traffickers and those that conspire with them. Come hear their stories!
Human Trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain or maintain someone in service and the use of a minor for commercial sexual activity. There are approximately 17,000 victims of human trafficking that enter the United States each year.
Please RSVP to mitai-exec@mit.edu for dinner. Everyone welcome to come!
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Amnesty International, Undergraduate Association
For more information, contact:
mitai-exec@mit.edu
---------------------
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Emerging Device Nanotechnology for Future High-Performance and Low-Power Nanoelectronics
Speaker: Dr. Robert Chau
Time: 4:00p–5:00p
Location: 34-101
MTL Seminar Series
Refreshments at 3:30 p.m.
This presentation will cover three topics. First, it will highlight some of the most recent device and process innovations implemented by the silicon industry for advanced CMOS transistors. Second, it will summarize research progress on non-silicon transistor channel materials and their integration on silicon substrate for future high-speed and low-power logic CMOS applications. Third, it will describe recent research effort by the device research community on forward-looking devices beyond CMOS. In the beyond-CMOS research space, carbon-based, spin-based, tunnel-based and exciton-based devices are being explored as alternative switches/devices to either replace CMOS after 2020 or combine with CMOS to create new circuit functionalities. These emerging devices exhibit unique and interesting characteristics, and they present both challenges and opportunities for future nanoelectronics applications which will be discussed.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Microsystems Technology Laboratories
For more information, contact:
Mara Elena Karapetian
452-2545
webmaster@mtl.mit.edu
-----------------------------
Tuesday, November 23
4:00–6:00 pm
MIT E19-623
The Earth’s Energy Draws From the Sun; Is There Good News From Solar-in, Solar-out?
Daniel Nocera, Professor of Energy in MIT's Chemistry department
--------
Harvard
--------
Corporate Social Responsibility’s New Agenda – Comparative and International Lessons for Corporate Governance, Human Rights, and Business Regulation and Practice
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 9 – 10 a.m.
WHERE
Harvard Kennedy School's Littauer Building #324 (Fainsod Room)
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Business, Classes/Workshops, Education, Ethics, Law, Lecture, Social Sciences
SPEAKER(S)
Professor Bryan Horrigan, Monash University, Melbourne
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/m-rcbg/events.htm
---------------------
MCB Bloch Lecture: "Learning About the Origin of Life from Efforts to Design an Artificial Cell"
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 12 – 1 p.m.
WHERE
Northwest Building Lecture Hall, B-103
52 Oxford Street, Cambridge
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Lecture, Science
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
SPEAKER(S)
Professor Jack Szostak
--------------------
Injecting a Human Rights Approach into Anti-Trafficking Strategies: Can We Do Better?
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 2 – 4 p.m.
WHERE
Online conference
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Conferences, Education, Ethics, Law, Lecture, Social Sciences, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation,
Harvard Kennedy School
Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery Program
Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
SPEAKER(S)
Jacqueline Bhabha, Jeremiah Smith Jr. Lecturer in Law, Harvard Law School; lecturer in public policy, Harvard Kennedy School
Elizabeth Cafferty, associate director, Programs and External Relations,
Division of Global Health and Human Rights, Massachusetts General Hospital
NOTE
In order to effectively combat human trafficking, an increased emphasis and investment in developing employment, education, public health, and livelihood opportunities for populations vulnerable to human trafficking is essential.
It is critical to address root causes of trafficking through empowerment strategies, particularly targeting young girls and women.
Globally, there are many anti-trafficking activists, policymakers, academics, and nongovernmental organizations developing new and effective approaches to prevent, educate, and better serve those most vulnerable to trafficking. By focusing on the human rights of trafficked persons, better strategies would result around allocation of immigration, welfare, employment training, and health benefits to a community.
This webinar will explore how a human rights approach can be used to facilitate better access to prevention and protection for victims of human trafficking. Ample time will be allocated for audience Q&A.
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/cchrp/isht/events/2010/month11/OnlineConf_22.php
-------------------------
DRCLAS Cuban Studies Seminar: "Cuban Agriculture and its External Ties"
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 4 – 6 p.m.
WHERE
1730 Cambridge Street, Room S250
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Cuban Studies Program at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University
SPEAKER(S)
Anicia GarcÃa, Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy
-----------------------
Human Trafficking from a Legal Perspective: Analysis of the Laws Relating to Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 23, 2010, 5 – 6 p.m.
WHERE
Carr Center Conference Room, Room 219, Rubenstein Building, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Classes/Workshops, Education, Ethics, Law, Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery
Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
SPEAKER(S)
Christian Bain, director of the Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery Program, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
NOTE
Graduate students only
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/cchrp/isht/study_group/2010/details_20101026.php
---------------------
Tufts
-------
US Energy-Technology Innovation
November 22, 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM
sponsored by: The Tufts Department of Economics, Tufts Institute of the Environment, and Fletcher's Center for International Environment and Resource Policy
Location: Medford/Somerville Campus
Goddard Hall
Crowe Room, Goddard 310
Description: Speaker: Richard Lester, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, MIT
Part of the Energy and Climate Policy Research Seminar. Co-convened by Prof. Gilbert Metcalf, Tufts Economics Department and Prof. Kelly Sims Gallagher, The Fletcher School
Contact: Mieke van der Wansem Mieke.Wansem@tufts.edu
---------------
Northeastern
--------------
SIGGRAPH ANIMATION SCREENING 2010
Northeastern University is pleased to present a special screening of the:
2010 SIGGRAPH ELECTRONIC THEATER
Monday, November 22, 2010
6:00-8:30 PM
Raytheon Amphitheater
Free Admission
Light hors d'oeuvres will be provided.
Please join us for an on-campus screening of the exceptional SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater, which features cutting-edge, visually stunning computer animation from the best artists in the industry.
Titles from this year's Electronic Animation festival include:
• Avatar, Weta Digital Ltd.
• Alice in Wonderland, Sony Pictures Imageworks
• Harmonix The Beatles: Rock Band, Passion Pictures
• Pepsi The Flight of the Penguin, Framestore
• Sherlock Holmes, Framestore
The evening will open with an introduction by Terrence Masson—Director of the Creative Industries Program at Northeastern University and Chair of the 2010 SIGGRAPH Conference—to be immediately followed by the two-hour animation presentation.
Light hors d'oeuvres will be served.
About the SIGGRAPH Conference:
The annual SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques) Conference draws 25,000 top practitioners from five continents to explore the latest in computer graphics and interactive techniques.
With questions, please contact Ann Grenell, Program Coordinator at Northeastern University:
a.grenell@neu.edu
(617) 373-2427
---------
Ongoing
---------
To members of the Climate CoLab community,
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Climate CoLab contest,
as well as a major upgrade of our software platform.
The contest will address the question: What international climate
agreements should the world community make?
The first round ended on October 31 and the final round runs through
November 26.
In early December, the United Nations and U.S. Congress will be
briefed on the winning entries.
We are raising funds in the hope of being able to pay travel expenses
for one representative from each winning team to attend one or both of
these briefings.
Learn more at http://climatecolab.org
We also encourage you to fill out your profiles and add a picture, so
that members of the community can get to know each other.
And please inform anyone you believe might be interested about the
contest.
Editorial Comment: I played a previous version of this simulation.
This time around, I like the 350 plan which is as close to zero
emissions as the exercise will get.
http://climatecolab.org/web/guest/plans#plans=
------------
Resource
-----------
Boston Food System
"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships, programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."
The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food, farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health, environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on week-to-week is not always well publicized.
Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and other posting guidelines will be provided as well.
It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
----------------------
Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/
Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios
Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation
-----------------------------------------------------
Thanks to
Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html
Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template
http://green.harvard.edu/events
--------------------------------------------------
Energy (and Other) Events is a weekly mailing list published most
Sundays covering events around the Cambridge, MA and greater Boston
area that catch the editor's eye.
Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events
email gmoke@world.std.com
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Energy (and Other) Events - November 14, 2010
MIT
-----
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Way Towards ZERO Energy Homes: Energy Efficient Building Technologies Based on European Passive House Technology and Zero Energy Design
Speaker: Christoph Buxbaum(Carinthia University of Applied Sciences and architect/consultant for building science in Austria)
Time: 12:30p–2:00p
Location: 7-431, The Long Room (former AVT)
Building Technology Fall Lecture Series
Climate change, declining oil reserves, depleted resources on the one hand and changed needs, advanced qualities of comfort and a new public awareness of energy efficiency on the other have sparked a revolution in the way in which we plan, design and construct buildings for a sustainable future. Building professionals across the world are discovering sustainable design solutions as an instrument of competitive advantage; one that drives innovation opens new markets and reaches new customers.
Prof.Buxbaum, will give an overview of the design principles of energy-efficient buildings, especially made in ?Passive House Technology.? The lecture supplements individual basic knowledge about energy efficient building design, passive solar concepts, solutions for new homes and remodeling up to realization and construction and prefabrication processes. Principles for the design and construction process as well as detailed solutions for improved building enclosures, high efficient window systems and state-of-the-art ventilation systems with heat recovery to decrease ventilation heat losses will be presented and examples of Austrian architecture will be shown.
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Building Technology Program, Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning
For more information, contact:
Kathleen Ross
253-1876
kross@mit.edu
-------------------
Monday, November 15, 2010
Coal-CO2-Slurry Feed for Pressurized Gasifiers: An Alternative to Coal-Water-Slurry in Plants with CO2 Capture
Speaker: Cristina Botero, MIT, Dept. Mechanical Engineering
Time: 4:00p–5:00p
Location: 3-343
Center for Energy and Propulsion Research Seminar Series
Large-scale coal gasification in the power, chemicals, and synthetic fuel industry relies heavily on pressurized entrained-flow gasification technology, which produces a tar-free synthesis gas in a relatively compact reactor.
The feeding of coal into a pressurized environment, however, remains a challenge. Dry feeding systems are penalized by high capital costs and operational complexity, while the economics of coal-water-slurry pumping, which is simple and cheap, are only favorable for low-moisture coals.
The feasibility of using liquid carbon dioxide, instead of water, as slurrying medium for coal-slurry feeding systems will be addressed in this talk. CO2(l) is available in plants with Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) and offers an attractive set of thermo-physical properties which could significantly benefit different aspects of the process, including the thermal performance of the gasifier. The feasibility of the coal-CO2-slurry concept will be discussed based on a first system-level study quantifying its performance in an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): RGD Lab
For more information, contact:
Patrick Kirchen
------------------
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Time Inconsistency, Expectations and Technology Adoption: The case of Insecticide Treated Nets
Speaker: Aprajit Mahajan (Stanford)
Time: 2:30p–4:00p
Location: at Harvard - Harvard Hall 202
Time Inconsistency, Expectations and Technology Adoption: The case of Insecticide Treated Nets
Web site: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k74186
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT/Harvard Development Workshop
For more information, contact:
Theresa Benevento
theresa@mit.edu
------------------
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Growing Green Technology Out of the Lab and into the Marketplace
Speaker: Dr. Riccardo Signorelli - President and CEO of FastCAP Systems
Time: 5:30p–6:30p
Location: 66-110
MIT Energy Club Lecture Series
The ultracapacitor technology that is currently being developed at FastCap Systems began as an idea seven years ago in the LEES lab at MIT. Now, fueled by private investment and government funding, FastCAP is pushing forward to develop and take to market its novel energy storage technology, with the goal of revolutionizing the electric vehicle and grid storage markets. But the jump from promising laboratory results to the marketplace isn't an obvious one, and Dr. Signorelli will share his experiences in launching a venture aimed at commercializing material innovation in the energy space.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Club
For more information, contact:
Jared Silvia
jssilvia@mit.edu
-------------------
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
GENE PATENTING: BALANCING ACCESS AND INNOVATION
Speaker: Moderator: Joshua Boger Biotechnology Industry Organization David Altshuler Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT James C. Greenwood President and CEO, BIO Chris Hansen Senior National Staff Counsel, ACLU Leslie Meyer-Leon President, IP Legal Strategies
Time: 6:00p–8:00p
Location: 35-225
Patents on human genes have remained highly controversial more than two decades after the U.S. Patent Office began granting them. The controversy was recently brought to a head in the case of ACLU v. Myriad Genetics, in which Judge Sweet ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), invalidating several of Myriad's patents on genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer. The case is now on appeal and may eventually be brought before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Web site: web.mit.edu/tac
Open to: the general public
Cost: n/a
Sponsor(s): The Technology and Culture Forum at MIT, The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and The Broad Institute
For more information, contact:
Patricia-Maria Weinmann
617-253-0108
weinmann@mit.edu
-------------------
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Pahoehoe: 8 people, 8 projects
Speaker: 8 students with innovative service projects
Time: 7:00p–9:00p
Location: 32, Stata Center, R&D Commons 4th Floor
Pahoehoe: 8 People x 8 Projects
Where Invention & Entrepreneurship Meet Public Service
The IDEAS Competition and MIT Global Challenge with the MIT Public Service Center and D-Lab will launch the first Pahoehoe (Pa-hoy-hoy). Join us to hear from eight people working on innovative service projects around the world. You?ll hear from people working on innovations in banking, employment, health, and much, much more. Come hear the possibilities. Get inspired Find team members for your IDEAS project. And find opportunities for collaboration.
8 people present 8 service projects in 10 slides x 30 seconds/slide. No bullet points. All photos.
More information: http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/events/view/102
Web site: http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/events/view/102
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT IDEAS Competition
For more information, contact:
Kate Mytty
617-255-5474
mytty@mit.edu
-----------------
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Geneology of Terrorism
Speaker: Martha Crenshaw, Stanford University
Time: 12:00p–1:30p
Location: E40-496
SSP Wednesday Seminar
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Security Studies Program
For more information, contact:
617-253-7529
valeriet@mit.edu
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Novel nanostructures in composite materials, interfacial science, and medicine
Speaker: Prof. Todd Emrick (University of Massachusetts/Amherst)
Time: 3:30p–4:45p
Location: 4-237
MIT Program in Polymer Science and Technology (PPST) Polymer Seminar Series
PPST sponsors a series of seminars covering a broad range of topics of general interest to the polymer community, featuring speakers from both on and off campus. We invite the polymer community at MIT and elsewhere to participate.
Seminar 3:30 PM / Refreshments 3:00 PM
Web site: http://web.mit.edu/ppst/schedule.html
Open to: the general public
Cost: FREE
Sponsor(s): MIT Program in Polymer Science and Technology (PPST)
For more information, contact:
Gregory Sands
(617) 253-0949
ppst-www@mit.edu
--------------------
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wulff Lecture: Computationally Designing Materials for the Clean Energy Economy
Speaker: Professor Gerbrand Ceder
Time: 5:00p–6:00p
Location: 32-123
The need for novel materials is the technological Achilles Heel of our strategy to address the energy and climate problem facing the world. The large-scale deployment of photovoltaics, photosynthesis, storage of electricity, thermoelectrics, or reversible fuel catalysis cannot be realized with current materials technologies. The ?Materials Genome? project, started at MIT, has as its objective to use high-throughput first principles computations on an unparalleled scale to discover new materials for energy technologies. This talk will address successful examples of high-throughput calculations in the field of lithium batteries and discuss other materials challenges in the energy field.
The Wulff Lecture is an introductory, general-audience, entertaining lecture which serves to educate, inspire, and encourage MIT undergraduates to take up study in the field of materials science and engineering and related fields. The entire MIT community is invited to attend. The Wulff Lecture honors the late Professor John Wulff, a skilled, provocative, and entertaining teacher who inaugurated a new approach to teaching the popular freshman subject: 3.091 Introduction to Solid State Chemistry.
Freshmen and undesignated sophomores are particularly encouraged to attend.
Web site: http://dmse.scripts.mit.edu/news/?p=2443
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
For more information, contact:
Rachel Kemper
617-253-3300
-----------------
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The PSEG perspective: The future of energy
Speaker: Dr. Ralph Izzo, CEO of PSEG
Time: 6:00p–7:00p
Location: E51-345
MIT Energy Club Lecture Series
Climate change is the most important environmental challenge of our time, with far-ranging implications for New Jersey, the nation and the world. Climate change is a real phenomenon and must be addressed now. This global environmental and political issue will define the future of the energy industry and reshape energy supply and energy use. PSEG, New Jersey's leading energy company, is tackling this issue aggressively on three fronts:
- Conservation through energy efficiency improvements
- Development of renewable energy resources
- Clean, zero- and low-carbon central station electric generating capacity
Web site: http://www.mitenergyclub.org/events-and-programs/lecture-series/the-p
seg-perspective-the-future-of-energy
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Club
For more information, contact:
Jared Silvia
jssilvia@mit.edu
-----------------
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Soap Box: Probing the Plume
Speaker: Rich Camilli
Time: 6:00p–7:30p
Location: N52, MIT Museum
Soap Box: The Gulf Oil Spill & Its Consequences
The MIT Museum sponsors a series of salon-style, early-evening conversations with cutting-edge scientists and engineers who are making the news that really matters.
Meet environmental engineer Rich Camilli of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and participate in an interactive discussion about the latest field research in the Gulf.
Web site: http://mit.edu/museum/programs/soapbox.html
Open to: the general public
Cost: free admission
Sponsor(s): MIT Museum, MIT/WHOI Joint Program
For more information, contact:
Josie Patterson
617-253-5927
museum@mit.edu
--------------------
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Lessons Learned in For-Profit Social Entrepreneurship: Battle Stories from Two Veterans
Time: 6:00p–8:00p
Location: E62-223
Join us for an event with the Net Impact MIT Sloan & Boston Professional chapters and the Progressive Business Leaders Network (PBLN) featuring:
* Jon Carson, CEO BiddingForGood
http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/BiddingForGood.action
* Jules Pieri, CEO Daily Grommet
http://www.dailygrommet.com/
* Andrew Tarsy, Co-Founder & Executive Director PBLN
http://pbln.org/
Snacks provided.
**Please RSVP to Danielle.Chesebrough@gmail.com**
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Sustainability@MIT
For more information, contact:
Danielle Chesebrough
Danielle.Chesebrough@gmail.com
---------------------
Thursday, November 18, 2010
An integrated information theory of consciousness
Speaker: Giulio Tononi, M.D., PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Time: 4:00p–5:30p
Location: 46-3002
Over the past decades, studies have investigated the neural correlates of consciousness with increasing precision. However, why experience is generated by the cortex and not the cerebellum, why it fades during certain stages of sleep and returns in others, or why some cortical areas endow experience with colors and others with sound, remains unexplained. Moreover, key questions remain unanswered.
Read the full abstract>> http://mcgovern.mit.edu/images/stories/giulio_tononi.pdf
Web site: http://mcgovern.mit.edu/events
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research
For more information, contact:
Vivi Hinh
vivih@mit.edu
---------------
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Materials and Assembly Techniques for Unusual Semiconductor Devices: Applications in Photovoltaics and Bio-Integrated Electronics
Speaker: Prof. John Rogers, Materials Science & Eng., U. Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Time: 4:00p–5:30p
Location: 66-110
Materials Science and Engineering Seminar Series
The Materials Science and Engineering Seminar Series is sponsored by Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Processing Center. To receive notice of the events, join the matseminars mailing list, matseminars@mit.edu at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/matseminars
Semiconductor technologies that involve transistors, solar cells, light emitting diodes and other components on thin plastic or rubber substrates offer mechanical properties (e.g. stretchability) and other features (e.g. large area coverages, curvilinear shapes) that cannot be achieved with established approaches. Recent work demonstrates that it is possible to build such systems using active devices that incorporate nanoribbons/membranes of Si, GaAs, GaN and InP, derived from high quality, wafer-based sources of material. Deterministic assembly methods that use these structures as solid 'inks' with soft, elastomeric 'stamps' provide routes to heterogeneous integration on diverse substrates, in two dimensional arrangements or three dimensional multilayer stacks. This talk describes fundamental and applied aspects of these strategies, and illustrates their application to unusual classes of photovoltaic modules and bio-integrated electronic devices, with the potential for use in utility scale power generation and clinical medicine, respectively.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Center for Materials Science & Engineering, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Processing Center, Materials@MIT
----------------------------------
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sloan Automotive Laboratory FALL 2010 SEMINAR SERIES
Speaker: Prof. John Heywood
Time: 4:15p–5:30p
Location: 37-212
Sloan Automotive Laboratory FALL 2010 SEMINAR SERIES
Seminar on topics related to engines, fuels, vehicle behavior, broader transportation energy questions presented by graduate students, faculty, researchers, and special guest speakers of the Sloan Automotive Laboratory.
Topic: Trends in Automotive Technology, and Their Impacts
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Mechanical Engineering Dept.
For more information, contact:
Janet Maslow
3-4529
jsabio@mit.edu
---------------
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Robots Working with People
Speaker: Rodney Brooks, Professor Emeritus, MIT & Chairman & CTO, Heartland Robotics
Time: 4:30p–5:30p
Location: 32-123
Dertouzos Lecturer Series 2010/2011
The Dertouzos Lecturer Series has been a tradition since 1976, featuring some of the most influential thinkers in computer science, including Bill Gates, Steven Jobs, Donald Knuth, John McCarthy, and Mitchell Kapor. Formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series, the series has been renamed in memory of Michael Dertouzos, Director for the Lab for Computer Science from 1974 to 2001.
Abstract: Moore's law exponentials continue to help low cost robots achieve new capabilities. Over the next two decades the majority of robot deployments will be in situations where people and robots work as a team. Sometimes the teamwork will be spread over time and space, and sometimes it will be close physical interaction. Application areas range from driving, to domestic chores, to healthcare, to services, to agriculture, and to manufacturing. Sometimes the robots will be tools, and sometimes they will be partners.
Biography: Rodney Brooks is the Panasonic Professor of Robotics, emeritus, at MIT. Until 2007 he was director of CSAIL, the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He is curently the founder, chairman, and CTO of Heartland Robotics. He is a current board member, co-founder, and former chairman and CTO of iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT). His research interests span humanoid robotics, mobile robots, computer vision, artificial life, and the nature of sentience, both wet and dry.
Web site:http://www.csail.mit.edu/events/eventcalendar/calendar.php?show=event
&id=2701
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): CSAIL
For more information, contact:
Colleen Russell
617-253-0145
crussell@csail.mit.edu
----------------------
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Communications Forum: Communications in Slow-Moving Crises
Speaker: Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica; Andrea Pitzer, Nieman Storyboard; Rosalind Williams, MIT STS
Time: 5:00p–7:00p
Location: 4-231
Civic Media Series
Governments, corporations, and communities plan for sudden crises: the White House drafts strong responsive rhetoric for the next terrorist attack; Toyota runs reassuring national TV spots within hours of a product recall; and 32 Massachusetts towns successfully publicize water distribution sites following a water main rupture.
But some crises are complex, not amenable to news flashes and emergency warnings. Like the housing collapse or the recent Gulf oil spill, these crises don?t fit traditional media frameworks.. Because they are slow-moving, simmering rather than boiling dramas, all our media struggle both rhetorically and technologically to cover them.
With government regulators weak, corporations still focused on the bottom line, and communities adapting to structural change, this Communications Forum asks: What new media tools and strategies can be used to help everyone better prepare for the unique communications challenges of slow-moving crises?
Web site: http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Communications Forum, Center for Future Civic Media
For more information, contact:
Andrew Whitacre
617-324-0490
awhit@mit.edu
----------------
BUILDing the Future: Energy Efficiency made in Germany
November 18, 2010 6:00p–8:30p
The architect who built the first certified passive house in China, Ingrid Spengler, travels from Hamburg, to Boston to present her work for the Expo 2010 Shanghai. That building had to be adapted from a model designed for Hamburg, by the way the European Green Capital 2011 (http://hamburggreencapital.eu/) to the different climate (plus technological and workforce advancement) of Shanghai (see also http://www.expo2010-english.hamburg.de/). Matt Noblett from the Boston office of Behnisch Architekten will introduce the new Unilever HQ in Hamburg Hafencity, an exciting sustainable urban development in a city that has so much in common with Boston. The evening will be rounded out by a networking reception hosted by Bodo Liesenfeld, Hamburg Ambassador to Boston.
Category: lectures/conferences
Location: Seaport Hotel, Boston Plaza B Ballroom
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Campus Events
Admission: Open to the public
Tickets available from Please register at: Please register at http://buildingthefuture.eventbrite.com
For more information: http://www.germany.info/BuildingTheFutureBoston
-------------------
Energy Discussions: Getting Renewables on the Grid
November 18, 2010 6:00p–7:00p
Perhaps the biggest challenge of switching to renewable energy generation is accommodating the uncontrollable swings in energy output when clouds roll in or the wind picks up. Wind and solar generation produces power that varies on scales of minutes to seasons. In order to deploy wind and solar at large scale, we need to learn to deal effectively with that variability. Join members of the MIT Energy Club and experts from the MIT Future of the Electric Grid study to discuss what changes in the system operation of the grid will allow us to mitigate the impact of intermittency as more renewables come online.
Please prepare for the discussion by reading the articles on the event website.
A light dinner will be served.
Category: MIT events/clubs: interest clubs/groups
Speaker: Tim Heidel and Richard Zhang
Location: 56-167
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Club
Admission: Open to the public
For more information:
Contact Rebecca Dell: rwdell (at) mit.edu
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/events-and-programs/discussion-series
----------------------
Friday, November 19, 2010
Computation Lecture Series FA'10
Speaker: Timothy Prestero- CEO, Design that Matters
Time: 12:30p–2:00p
Location: 7-431
Title: Better by Design
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Computation Group Events, Department of Architecture
For more information, contact:
Daniela Stoudenkova
danielas@mit.edu
-------------------
Friday, November 19
12:30 to 2:00 PM
MIT Room 32-155
"C-ROADS: the Climate-Rapid Overview And Decision Support Simulator"
John D. Sterman
John D. Sterman will present how the failure of the Copenhagen climate conference demonstrates a pressing need for flexible, user-friendly analytical tools to quickly yet reliably assess the impacts of the rapidly evolving proposals for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such tools should enable negotiators, policymakers and other stakeholders, including the general public, to understand the relationships among proposals for emissions reductions, concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere, and resulting climate impacts. He will describe and demonstrate the Climate-Rapid Overview And Decision Support Simulator (C-ROADS), a user-friendly, interactive computer model of the climate system. He will present the structure of the model, compare it to more complex models, and discuss how policymakers and other parties use it.
---------------
Friday, November 19, 2010
Architecture Lecture
Speaker: Michael Meredith, MOS Architects, New Haven
Time: 6:30p–8:30p
Location: 7-431
IN PROGRESS "MOS"
Web site: http://architecture.mit.edu/
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Department of Architecture
For more information, contact:
617-253-7791
-----------
Harvard
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Monday, November 15, 9 a.m.
Theodore H. White Seminar on the Press and Politics with Mindy Finn, GOP online political consultant at Engage; Charles Gibson, former ABC News anchor, Shorenstein Center Fellow; William Greider, national affairs correspondent for The Nation, 2010 Nyhan Prize winner;David King, Lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School; Susan Milligan, former Boston Globe reporter, IOP Fellow; Alex S. Jones, moderator, Shorenstein Center Director.
Malkin Penthouse, Littauer Building
--------------------------
How Social Networks Shape Human Behavior
Prof. Alex 'Sandy' Pentland, MIT Human Dynamics Lab
When: Nov 15, 2010 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Maxwell Dworkin 119
We have developed robust models of how social network dynamics shape human behavior. These models are constructed by use of data collected by my research group's unique `reality mining' sensor platforms, which allow us to track the behavior of hundreds of people in great detail and over long periods of time. The resulting models bring into question traditional ideas about group selection in evolution, the role of trust in society, the nature of social learning, and economic mechanism design.
Contact: Carol Harlow
harlow@seas.harvard.edu
--------------------------
Why Developing Countries Urgently Need a Global Climate Deal ... and Why They Shouldn't Wait for One”
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 16, 2010, 4 – 5 p.m.
WHERE
Northwest Labs B-101
52 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Science, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard University Center for the Environment; Center for International Development; Bank of America
SPEAKER(S)
Andrew Steer, special envoy for climate change, World Bank; discussants include John Briscoe, Gordon McKay Professor of the Practice of Environmental Engineering, Harvard University (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Kennedy School); and Daniel Schrag, professor of earth and planetary sciences and professor of environmental science and engineering, and director, Harvard University Center for the Environment
CONTACT INFO
Lisa Matthews: lisa_matthews@harvard.edu, 617.495.8883
NOTE
Join HUCE for the first "Green Conversations" lecture of the semester, featuring Andrew Steer. Steer became special envoy for climate change at the World Bank in July 2010. He is responsible for guiding the bank group's work on climate change and further advancing its internal capabilities in this area. In his post, which ranks at the level of vice president, he will also oversee the multibillion dollar Climate Investment Funds and help mobilize climate financing.
Prior to his appointment, Steer served for three years as director general, policy and research at the UK Department of International Development in London. Steer has three decades of experience working on development issues at the country level in Africa and Asia, and on global development issues. He has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, has written widely on development issues, and has taught economics at several universities.
Green Conversations are sponsored by the Harvard University Center for the Environment with generous support from Bank of America. This lecture is co-sponsored with the Harvard University Center for International Development Sustainability Science Program. Free and open to the public.
LINK
http://www.environment.harvard.edu/events/2010-11-16/green-conversations-andrew-steer-special-envoy-climate-change-world-bank
-----------------------
Farming the Ogallala Aquifer: Short and Long-run Impacts of Unsustainable Water Use
WHEN
Wed., Nov. 17, 2010, 4:10 – 5:30 p.m.
WHERE
Room L-382, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, 02138
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Business, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Kennedy School
SPEAKER(S)
Richard Hornbeck, Harvard University, and Pinar Keskin, Wesleyan University
LINK
http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k73011
---------------------------
Science in the News' 11th Annual Free Lecture Series
Star Power: New Ways to Harvest Energy from Our Sun
WHEN
Wed., Nov. 17, 2010, 7 – 9 p.m.
WHERE
Armenise Amphitheatre
Harvard Medical School
200 Longwood Ave
Boston, MA 02115
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Education, Environmental Sciences, Ethics, Health Sciences, Lecture, Science, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Medical School Division of Medical Sciences
CONTACT INFO
sitnboston@gmail.com
NOTE
Free weekly science seminars about today's hottest science topics.
LINK
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu
-----------------------
What's Next? Feasible Options for Climate Policy in the United States
WHEN
Thu., Nov. 18, 2010, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m.
WHERE
Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Building, 5th Floor, Bell Hall
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Business, Classes/Workshops, Education, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Science, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business & Government, Harvard Kennedy School
SPEAKER(S)
Professor Robert Stavins, Harvard Kennedy School
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/m-rcbg/events.htm
----------------------
Breaking through Bureaucracy for Speedy Recovery: Lessons Learned from Post-Tsunami Indonesia
WHEN
Thu., Nov. 18, 2010, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
WHERE
Taubman 301, Harvard Kennedy School
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Program on Crisis Leadership, Harvard University Asia Center
COST
Free, open to the Harvard community
CONTACT INFO
David Giles: david_giles@harvard.edu, 617.496.4165
NOTE
The Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami that devastated coastal areas along the Indian Ocean caused particularly extensive damage in north Sumatra, where destructive waves traveled more than five kilometers inland and tragically killed well more than 100,000 area residents. In this session of the Program on Crisis Leadership's (PCL) “Disaster Management in Asia” seminar series, Maggy Horhoruw, formerly with the Director’s Office of the Indonesian Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR), will highlight lessons learned from the massive recovery effort that followed, which not only involved scores of Indonesian governmental agencies but hundreds of international donors and aid organizations as well.
Doug Ahlers, a PCL faculty affiliate and adjunct lecturer in public policy who teaches the course “Disaster Recovery Management and Urban Development: Rebuilding New Orleans,” will serve as discussant, linking Horhoruw’s observations to other major recovery efforts.
The event is the second session in the 2010/2011 Disaster Management in Asia Seminar Series, co-sponsored by PCL and the Harvard University Asia Center.
All members of the Harvard community are welcome to attend.
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/programs/crisisleadership/events
-------------------------
Thoreau as Climatologist: Tracking 160 Years of Climate Change
WHEN
Thu., Nov. 18, 2010, 6 – 8 p.m.
WHERE
Harvard Museum of Natural History
24 Oxford Street
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Education, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Science
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Museum of Natural History
SPEAKER(S)
Charles Davis, assistant professor of organismic and evolutionary biology and curator in the Harvard Herbarium
COST
Free and open to the public
CONTACT INFO
617.495.3045
NOTE
Henry David Thoreau initiated a study of flowering times at Walden Pond. Today, a research team including Charles Davis, assistant professor of organismic and evolutionary biology, has updated Thoreau’s records with current data and integrated them with modern evolutionary biology to reveal how climate change and earlier flowering times have affected Walden’s plants. Join Davis to explore an integrated approach to climate change and biodiversity. Part of the Asa Gray Bicentennial series.
LINK
http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/lectures-classes-events/asa-gray-bicentennial.html
------------------------
FREETHINK@HARVARD: Sustainability Demands New Leadership Skills
WHEN
Fri., Nov. 19, 2010, 6 – 7 p.m.
WHERE
Online at www.alumni.extension.harvard.edu
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Business, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Extension Alumni Association
SPEAKER(S)
Jack Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Habitation, Harvard School of Public Health, and director of the Harvard Extension School's graduate program in Sustainabilty and Environmental Management
COST
Free and open to the public
CONTACT INFO
Ian Jackson: ijackson@fas.harvard.edu, 617.998.8514
NOTE
Professor Jack Spengler discusses how corporations are meeting the challenges facing their organizations as a result of climate change. View discussion followed by Q & A from around the world.
LINK
www.alumni.extension.harvard.edu
---------
BU
---------
Nov17 Wed 6:00 PM
Location
Boston University
640 Commonwealth Ave.
Student Lounge
Boston, MA 02215
Hacks/Hackers Boston, in partnership with the Boston University School of Communication, Department of Journalism, and the Society of Professional Journalists, is presenting a panel discussion on "Legal liability in the age of WikiLeaks."
In the Internet age, where are the boundaries that separate safe reporting from libel charges? What are the online potholes that can lead to a courtroom?
6-8 p.m.: 6-7 for fun schmoozing; 7-8 for panel discussions
A panel discussion with some of the top First Amendment attorneys in the state (with plenty of time for questions):
-- Attorney Jon Albano of Bingham McCutcheon is deputy managing partner of Bingham’s Boston office and co-chairs the firm’s Entertainment, Media & Communications Group. His practice focuses primarily on constitutional and commercial litigation. Jon has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America, First Amendment practice, for 10 years; is listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, First Amendment Litigation; was named one of the top Massachusetts lawyers four years in a row by Super Lawyers. Jon has represented newspapers, broadcasters, publishers, universities, nonprofit organizations and individuals in cases involving a variety of constitutional issues, including free speech rights; the public’s right of access to information; and privacy, defamation and equal protection claims.
-- Attorney Robert A. Bertsche is a partner at Prince Lobel, where he practices media, internet, and employment law. Rob gave up a not-so-promising career as a newspaper and magazine reporter in order to attend Harvard Law School, where he earned his J.D. in 1989. Since then, he has represented newspapers, magazines, bloggers, broadcasters, and websites in matters involving libel, privacy, freedom of information, subpoenas and reporter's privilege, prior restraint, copyright, trademark, and related areas. Rob also serves as general counsel to the New England Newspaper and Press Association.
-- Moderator: Dan Kennedy, assistant professor at Northeastern's School of Journalism, specializing in new media trends, and Media Nation blogger.
RSVP at http://meetupbos.hackshackers.com/calendar/15344482/?eventId=15344482&action=detail
--------------------------
Jim Gordon, President Cape Wind
November 18, 2010 6:00p–8:00p
Cape Wind president Jim Gordon will present a lecture on his efforts and challenges faced in starting the country's first offshore wind farm. The event will be held in the Boston University School of Management's auditorium, is free of charge, and open to the public. No registration is required.
Category: lectures/conferences
Location: BU School of Management 595 Comm. Ave
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Campus Events, BU Energy Club
Admission: Open to the public
For more information: buenergy@bu.edu
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Tufts
---------
November 17, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
"Nanoscale Catalysts for Clean Energy" Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos
sponsored by: Tufts School of Engineering
Location: Medford/Somerville Campus
Anderson Hall
Nelson Auditorium
Admission: free
Description: Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos is the first Robert and Marcy Haber Endowed Professor in Energy Sustainability. She will give a lecture on her research on nanoscale catalysts for clean energy production. Her research into catalysts "materials that speed up chemical reactions" is focused on the reforming of fuels, including biomass-derived "green fuels," to generate hydrogen, the "future fuel."
Contact: Tamara Cleary Tamara.Cleary@tufts.edu
617-627-4847
---------------
Virtual Reality Technology
November 18, 2010
2:50 pm - 4:00 pm
Halligan 111
Speaker: Jeffrey Jacobson, PublicVR
Host: Rob Jacob
Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) is a new medium that has captured the public imagination, offering nothing less than a way for us to extend our social space from the physical into the electronic. Recently, the term has expanded from the old-fashioned flight simulators and three-dimensional optical displays to computer games and shared worlds on the Internet. In this discussion, we will survey the existing technologies and their uses, especially modern low-cost methods. We will look at the human factors elements, how the sensory illusions work, and the phenomena of presence and embodiment.
Jeffrey Jacobson is the Director of PublicVR, a non-profit dedicated to freeware and research in Virtual Reality for education. See http://publicvr.org
Background reading: http://publicvr.org/egypt/oracle/whitepaper.pdf
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MA College of Art
------------
Media Tech Tonic #17: Ryan Evans: Information Architecture in the Age of Mobile Devices
Our next speaker will be Ryan Evans, Director of Experience Design at Corey McPherson Nash. He will speak about the unique challenges presented to information architects faced designing for web-connected mobile devices.
Event Details
Location: MassArt, 621 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Room: Tower Building, Room 312
Date: Thursday, November 18, 2010
Time: 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. (we suggest arriving a little early to get a good seat)
RSVP: Not required for this event, free and open to the public.
Abstract
In a world where mobile access and mobile action is assumed by users, how do we ideate and plan for Web and application interfaces? Small screens and limited input options frustrate UX designers but geolocation, touch screens, and real-time alerts open new doors. We will discuss how mobile devices blow up standard information architecture practice around hierarchy, organization, and navigation and how we can bring the pieces back together to construct coherent, actionable, inviting interfaces that meet user goals.
Speaker Bio
Ryan joined Corey in 1995 and since that time has played a critical role in developing Corey’s award-winning Web work and interactive work process. Ryan leads the critical process of understanding user needs and mapping those to information architecture, user experience and design. His clients include Harvard Business School, Museum of Science Boston, Tuck School of Business, Ernst & Young Center for Business Innovation, MIT OpenCourseWare, Forrester Research, Northern Light, Pleasant Company, Direct Hit, and the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services. His work has been recognized with awards from MITX and the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA). Prior to joining Corey, Ryan was a researcher at the MIT Media Lab he specialized in content-based interactive storytelling. He holds an MS (Media Arts and Sciences) and a BS (Computer Science and Engineering), both from MIT.
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Other
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Intercollegiate Energy Social - John Harvard's
November 16, 2010 7:00p–9:00p
Are you interested in energy? Come to the Intercollegiate Energy Social this Tuesday for an evening of energy debate and discussion! All are welcome, and energy clubs from schools across the region are invited to this intercollegiate mixer. This will be a unique opportunity to meet graduate and undergraduate students who are passionate about energy. Hope to see you there! This social is organized by the Collegiate Energy Association, for more information visit collegeenergy.org!
Over and under 21 welcome.
Invited clubs:
Babson Energy and Environment Club
Boston University Energy Club
Fletcher Energy Consortium
Harvard Business School Energy and Environment Club
Harvard Energy Journal Club
Harvard Kennedy School Energy and Environment Professional Interest Council
MIT Energy Club
MIT Sloan Energy & Environment Club
Tufts Energy Forum
Category: MIT events/clubs: social
Location: John Harvard's (Harvard Square) -Meet in the bar area
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Club
Admission: Open to the public
For more information:
Contact MIT Energy Club
energyclub@mit.edu
collegeenergy.org
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GIS Day social tweetup #GISDBOS
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 6:00 PM (ET)
Where
Kennedy's Midtown
42 Province Street
Boston, MA 02109
Event Details
Come join us for a GIS Day social tweetup celebration. Come hang out with others who can share your joy and pain over using GIS.
It's going to be an informal gathering, no name tags, no agenda... just find a seat at the bar and let's hang out and talk about GIS and spatial fun.
Please RSVP so we the bar can set aside some space for us. Also, please use the #GISDBOS hash tag so we can track the conversation online.
http://gisdbos2010.eventbrite.com/?utm_source=I+Spatial+Boston+List&utm_campaign=d17117a16d-November_Mailing11_5_2010&utm_medium=email
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Boston Arduino Users Groups
• Date: 11/18/10, 12/16/10, 1/20/10, 2/17/10
• Location: Microsoft New England R&D Center, One Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02142
• Time: 6-9pm
• Audience: Students, hobbyists and professionals interested in Arduino microcontroller development.
• Description: Informal and open meeting for people to discuss their Arduino projects, get help with Arduino software development, system and circuit design. All are welcome. Students are especially encouraged to participate.
Register at http://www.meetup.com/The-Boston-Arduino-Users-Group
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Please join us at Smallbean World Headquarters to celebrate the ongoing success of the Smallbean Citizen Archivist Project in Kenya. Meet Smallbean staff, volunteers & fellow Smallbean supporters at a free event and immerse yourself in the fantabulous oral history interviews, audio and video footage collected by Smallbean-trained Citizen Archivists. Plus, get a sneak preview at some of the very cool technology initiatives keeping Smallbean busy this winter. Light refreshments and drinks provided!
--The Smallbean Event Committee
• WHERE: 515 Beacon Street, Boston
• When: 7 - 9pm, Thurs. Nov. 18, 2010
• How much: FREE
• More info: www.smallbean.org • 617-600-8314
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Help Out on a Deep Energy Retrofit
November 20 from 9 to 5, in a small ranch house in Framingham. The family hopes to eventually reach zero net energy use.
We will be drilling into the concrete walls and screwing three inches of Thermax board into the basement walls. The work already completed will be visible to all who are curious. This includes the sealing of the attic, installation of ventilation chutes, a new icenene product which is the greenest made (with the least embodied energy), four inches of polyisocyanurate on the exterior walls, windows that are screwed into the outside of the poly (extended). Since the family has two toddlers, they would have a hard time doing the work on their own.
This is a great chance to learn hands-on skills doing deep energy retrofits under the expert supervision of Kerry Koskinen of Byggmeister Associates.
If you would like to participate, please email Jason Taylor (jason.taylor727@gmail.com). Food and drinks will be provided.
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Upcoming
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Feel free to forward info about this FREE workshop.
Dear concerned food advocate,
We all care about food, right? Maybe we want to support farmers’ markets or
we belong to a Community Shared Agriculture program. Maybe our kids eat school
lunches. Maybe we want to make sure city dwellers have access to fresh food.
Maybe we’re concerned about the future of farms. Maybe we want to improve the
quality of our mealtime conversations.
No matter what, we need to be able to talk to each other. In fact, to be the
best advocates for whatever we believe in, we need to be able to understand
people with whom we may disagree.
In honor of U.N. World Food Day, Public Conversations and The Family Dinner
Project are offering a free dialogue workshop for anyone who is working on
issues around access to healthy food. The workshop will introduce participants
to dialogue as a tool for building better relationships and more effective
interpersonal communication, even across contentious issues.
Join us on Monday, November 22, 9:30 am-noon for a free workshop.
For 20 years, the Public Conversations Project (www.publicconversations.org)
has been helping groups divided by values, worldviews, or identities have
critical discussions about what they care about most deeply, so that they can
live or work together.
The Family Dinner Project (www.thefamilydinnerproject.org) is a start-up
grassroots movement of food, fun and conversation about things that matter.
Families come together to share their experiences and insights to help each
other realize the benefits of family dinners.
For more information or to RSVP please contact Alison Streit Baron at:
abaron@publicconversations.org
Limited space available—please RSVP by November 19.
This workshop will be held at 51 Kondazian Street, Watertown, which is
accessible via bus 71 from Harvard Square. Free parking is available.
Link to this event...
On our website
On
Facebook
Or tweet it! woww.it/food To subscribe to the Boston Food System list, click on the following:
https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
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Ongoing
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To members of the Climate CoLab community,
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Climate CoLab contest,
as well as a major upgrade of our software platform.
The contest will address the question: What international climate
agreements should the world community make?
The first round ended on October 31 and the final round runs through
November 26.
In early December, the United Nations and U.S. Congress will be
briefed on the winning entries.
We are raising funds in the hope of being able to pay travel expenses
for one representative from each winning team to attend one or both of
these briefings.
Learn more at http://climatecolab.org
We also encourage you to fill out your profiles and add a picture, so
that members of the community can get to know each other.
And please inform anyone you believe might be interested about the
contest.
Editorial Comment: I played a previous version of this simulation.
This time around, I like the 350 plan which is as close to zero
emissions as the exercise will get.
http://climatecolab.org/web/guest/plans#plans=
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Resource
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Boston Food System
"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships, programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."
The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food, farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health, environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on week-to-week is not always well publicized.
Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and other posting guidelines will be provided as well.
It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
----------------------
Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/
Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios
Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation
-----------------------------------------------------
Links to events at 60 colleges and universities at Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com
Thanks to
Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html
Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template
http://green.harvard.edu/events
--------------------------------------------------
Energy (and Other) Events is a weekly mailing list published most
Sundays covering events around the Cambridge, MA and greater Boston
area that catch the editor's eye.
Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events
email gmoke@world.std.com
-----
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Way Towards ZERO Energy Homes: Energy Efficient Building Technologies Based on European Passive House Technology and Zero Energy Design
Speaker: Christoph Buxbaum(Carinthia University of Applied Sciences and architect/consultant for building science in Austria)
Time: 12:30p–2:00p
Location: 7-431, The Long Room (former AVT)
Building Technology Fall Lecture Series
Climate change, declining oil reserves, depleted resources on the one hand and changed needs, advanced qualities of comfort and a new public awareness of energy efficiency on the other have sparked a revolution in the way in which we plan, design and construct buildings for a sustainable future. Building professionals across the world are discovering sustainable design solutions as an instrument of competitive advantage; one that drives innovation opens new markets and reaches new customers.
Prof.Buxbaum, will give an overview of the design principles of energy-efficient buildings, especially made in ?Passive House Technology.? The lecture supplements individual basic knowledge about energy efficient building design, passive solar concepts, solutions for new homes and remodeling up to realization and construction and prefabrication processes. Principles for the design and construction process as well as detailed solutions for improved building enclosures, high efficient window systems and state-of-the-art ventilation systems with heat recovery to decrease ventilation heat losses will be presented and examples of Austrian architecture will be shown.
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Building Technology Program, Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning
For more information, contact:
Kathleen Ross
253-1876
kross@mit.edu
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Monday, November 15, 2010
Coal-CO2-Slurry Feed for Pressurized Gasifiers: An Alternative to Coal-Water-Slurry in Plants with CO2 Capture
Speaker: Cristina Botero, MIT, Dept. Mechanical Engineering
Time: 4:00p–5:00p
Location: 3-343
Center for Energy and Propulsion Research Seminar Series
Large-scale coal gasification in the power, chemicals, and synthetic fuel industry relies heavily on pressurized entrained-flow gasification technology, which produces a tar-free synthesis gas in a relatively compact reactor.
The feeding of coal into a pressurized environment, however, remains a challenge. Dry feeding systems are penalized by high capital costs and operational complexity, while the economics of coal-water-slurry pumping, which is simple and cheap, are only favorable for low-moisture coals.
The feasibility of using liquid carbon dioxide, instead of water, as slurrying medium for coal-slurry feeding systems will be addressed in this talk. CO2(l) is available in plants with Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) and offers an attractive set of thermo-physical properties which could significantly benefit different aspects of the process, including the thermal performance of the gasifier. The feasibility of the coal-CO2-slurry concept will be discussed based on a first system-level study quantifying its performance in an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): RGD Lab
For more information, contact:
Patrick Kirchen
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Time Inconsistency, Expectations and Technology Adoption: The case of Insecticide Treated Nets
Speaker: Aprajit Mahajan (Stanford)
Time: 2:30p–4:00p
Location: at Harvard - Harvard Hall 202
Time Inconsistency, Expectations and Technology Adoption: The case of Insecticide Treated Nets
Web site: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k74186
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT/Harvard Development Workshop
For more information, contact:
Theresa Benevento
theresa@mit.edu
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Growing Green Technology Out of the Lab and into the Marketplace
Speaker: Dr. Riccardo Signorelli - President and CEO of FastCAP Systems
Time: 5:30p–6:30p
Location: 66-110
MIT Energy Club Lecture Series
The ultracapacitor technology that is currently being developed at FastCap Systems began as an idea seven years ago in the LEES lab at MIT. Now, fueled by private investment and government funding, FastCAP is pushing forward to develop and take to market its novel energy storage technology, with the goal of revolutionizing the electric vehicle and grid storage markets. But the jump from promising laboratory results to the marketplace isn't an obvious one, and Dr. Signorelli will share his experiences in launching a venture aimed at commercializing material innovation in the energy space.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Club
For more information, contact:
Jared Silvia
jssilvia@mit.edu
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
GENE PATENTING: BALANCING ACCESS AND INNOVATION
Speaker: Moderator: Joshua Boger Biotechnology Industry Organization David Altshuler Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT James C. Greenwood President and CEO, BIO Chris Hansen Senior National Staff Counsel, ACLU Leslie Meyer-Leon President, IP Legal Strategies
Time: 6:00p–8:00p
Location: 35-225
Patents on human genes have remained highly controversial more than two decades after the U.S. Patent Office began granting them. The controversy was recently brought to a head in the case of ACLU v. Myriad Genetics, in which Judge Sweet ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), invalidating several of Myriad's patents on genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer. The case is now on appeal and may eventually be brought before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Web site: web.mit.edu/tac
Open to: the general public
Cost: n/a
Sponsor(s): The Technology and Culture Forum at MIT, The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and The Broad Institute
For more information, contact:
Patricia-Maria Weinmann
617-253-0108
weinmann@mit.edu
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Pahoehoe: 8 people, 8 projects
Speaker: 8 students with innovative service projects
Time: 7:00p–9:00p
Location: 32, Stata Center, R&D Commons 4th Floor
Pahoehoe: 8 People x 8 Projects
Where Invention & Entrepreneurship Meet Public Service
The IDEAS Competition and MIT Global Challenge with the MIT Public Service Center and D-Lab will launch the first Pahoehoe (Pa-hoy-hoy). Join us to hear from eight people working on innovative service projects around the world. You?ll hear from people working on innovations in banking, employment, health, and much, much more. Come hear the possibilities. Get inspired Find team members for your IDEAS project. And find opportunities for collaboration.
8 people present 8 service projects in 10 slides x 30 seconds/slide. No bullet points. All photos.
More information: http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/events/view/102
Web site: http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/events/view/102
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT IDEAS Competition
For more information, contact:
Kate Mytty
617-255-5474
mytty@mit.edu
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Geneology of Terrorism
Speaker: Martha Crenshaw, Stanford University
Time: 12:00p–1:30p
Location: E40-496
SSP Wednesday Seminar
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Security Studies Program
For more information, contact:
617-253-7529
valeriet@mit.edu
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Novel nanostructures in composite materials, interfacial science, and medicine
Speaker: Prof. Todd Emrick (University of Massachusetts/Amherst)
Time: 3:30p–4:45p
Location: 4-237
MIT Program in Polymer Science and Technology (PPST) Polymer Seminar Series
PPST sponsors a series of seminars covering a broad range of topics of general interest to the polymer community, featuring speakers from both on and off campus. We invite the polymer community at MIT and elsewhere to participate.
Seminar 3:30 PM / Refreshments 3:00 PM
Web site: http://web.mit.edu/ppst/schedule.html
Open to: the general public
Cost: FREE
Sponsor(s): MIT Program in Polymer Science and Technology (PPST)
For more information, contact:
Gregory Sands
(617) 253-0949
ppst-www@mit.edu
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wulff Lecture: Computationally Designing Materials for the Clean Energy Economy
Speaker: Professor Gerbrand Ceder
Time: 5:00p–6:00p
Location: 32-123
The need for novel materials is the technological Achilles Heel of our strategy to address the energy and climate problem facing the world. The large-scale deployment of photovoltaics, photosynthesis, storage of electricity, thermoelectrics, or reversible fuel catalysis cannot be realized with current materials technologies. The ?Materials Genome? project, started at MIT, has as its objective to use high-throughput first principles computations on an unparalleled scale to discover new materials for energy technologies. This talk will address successful examples of high-throughput calculations in the field of lithium batteries and discuss other materials challenges in the energy field.
The Wulff Lecture is an introductory, general-audience, entertaining lecture which serves to educate, inspire, and encourage MIT undergraduates to take up study in the field of materials science and engineering and related fields. The entire MIT community is invited to attend. The Wulff Lecture honors the late Professor John Wulff, a skilled, provocative, and entertaining teacher who inaugurated a new approach to teaching the popular freshman subject: 3.091 Introduction to Solid State Chemistry.
Freshmen and undesignated sophomores are particularly encouraged to attend.
Web site: http://dmse.scripts.mit.edu/news/?p=2443
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
For more information, contact:
Rachel Kemper
617-253-3300
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The PSEG perspective: The future of energy
Speaker: Dr. Ralph Izzo, CEO of PSEG
Time: 6:00p–7:00p
Location: E51-345
MIT Energy Club Lecture Series
Climate change is the most important environmental challenge of our time, with far-ranging implications for New Jersey, the nation and the world. Climate change is a real phenomenon and must be addressed now. This global environmental and political issue will define the future of the energy industry and reshape energy supply and energy use. PSEG, New Jersey's leading energy company, is tackling this issue aggressively on three fronts:
- Conservation through energy efficiency improvements
- Development of renewable energy resources
- Clean, zero- and low-carbon central station electric generating capacity
Web site: http://www.mitenergyclub.org/events-and-programs/lecture-series/the-p
seg-perspective-the-future-of-energy
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Club
For more information, contact:
Jared Silvia
jssilvia@mit.edu
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Soap Box: Probing the Plume
Speaker: Rich Camilli
Time: 6:00p–7:30p
Location: N52, MIT Museum
Soap Box: The Gulf Oil Spill & Its Consequences
The MIT Museum sponsors a series of salon-style, early-evening conversations with cutting-edge scientists and engineers who are making the news that really matters.
Meet environmental engineer Rich Camilli of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and participate in an interactive discussion about the latest field research in the Gulf.
Web site: http://mit.edu/museum/programs/soapbox.html
Open to: the general public
Cost: free admission
Sponsor(s): MIT Museum, MIT/WHOI Joint Program
For more information, contact:
Josie Patterson
617-253-5927
museum@mit.edu
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Lessons Learned in For-Profit Social Entrepreneurship: Battle Stories from Two Veterans
Time: 6:00p–8:00p
Location: E62-223
Join us for an event with the Net Impact MIT Sloan & Boston Professional chapters and the Progressive Business Leaders Network (PBLN) featuring:
* Jon Carson, CEO BiddingForGood
http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/BiddingForGood.action
* Jules Pieri, CEO Daily Grommet
http://www.dailygrommet.com/
* Andrew Tarsy, Co-Founder & Executive Director PBLN
http://pbln.org/
Snacks provided.
**Please RSVP to Danielle.Chesebrough@gmail.com**
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Sustainability@MIT
For more information, contact:
Danielle Chesebrough
Danielle.Chesebrough@gmail.com
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
An integrated information theory of consciousness
Speaker: Giulio Tononi, M.D., PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Time: 4:00p–5:30p
Location: 46-3002
Over the past decades, studies have investigated the neural correlates of consciousness with increasing precision. However, why experience is generated by the cortex and not the cerebellum, why it fades during certain stages of sleep and returns in others, or why some cortical areas endow experience with colors and others with sound, remains unexplained. Moreover, key questions remain unanswered.
Read the full abstract>> http://mcgovern.mit.edu/images/stories/giulio_tononi.pdf
Web site: http://mcgovern.mit.edu/events
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research
For more information, contact:
Vivi Hinh
vivih@mit.edu
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
Materials and Assembly Techniques for Unusual Semiconductor Devices: Applications in Photovoltaics and Bio-Integrated Electronics
Speaker: Prof. John Rogers, Materials Science & Eng., U. Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Time: 4:00p–5:30p
Location: 66-110
Materials Science and Engineering Seminar Series
The Materials Science and Engineering Seminar Series is sponsored by Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Processing Center. To receive notice of the events, join the matseminars mailing list, matseminars@mit.edu at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/matseminars
Semiconductor technologies that involve transistors, solar cells, light emitting diodes and other components on thin plastic or rubber substrates offer mechanical properties (e.g. stretchability) and other features (e.g. large area coverages, curvilinear shapes) that cannot be achieved with established approaches. Recent work demonstrates that it is possible to build such systems using active devices that incorporate nanoribbons/membranes of Si, GaAs, GaN and InP, derived from high quality, wafer-based sources of material. Deterministic assembly methods that use these structures as solid 'inks' with soft, elastomeric 'stamps' provide routes to heterogeneous integration on diverse substrates, in two dimensional arrangements or three dimensional multilayer stacks. This talk describes fundamental and applied aspects of these strategies, and illustrates their application to unusual classes of photovoltaic modules and bio-integrated electronic devices, with the potential for use in utility scale power generation and clinical medicine, respectively.
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Center for Materials Science & Engineering, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Processing Center, Materials@MIT
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sloan Automotive Laboratory FALL 2010 SEMINAR SERIES
Speaker: Prof. John Heywood
Time: 4:15p–5:30p
Location: 37-212
Sloan Automotive Laboratory FALL 2010 SEMINAR SERIES
Seminar on topics related to engines, fuels, vehicle behavior, broader transportation energy questions presented by graduate students, faculty, researchers, and special guest speakers of the Sloan Automotive Laboratory.
Topic: Trends in Automotive Technology, and Their Impacts
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Mechanical Engineering Dept.
For more information, contact:
Janet Maslow
3-4529
jsabio@mit.edu
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
Robots Working with People
Speaker: Rodney Brooks, Professor Emeritus, MIT & Chairman & CTO, Heartland Robotics
Time: 4:30p–5:30p
Location: 32-123
Dertouzos Lecturer Series 2010/2011
The Dertouzos Lecturer Series has been a tradition since 1976, featuring some of the most influential thinkers in computer science, including Bill Gates, Steven Jobs, Donald Knuth, John McCarthy, and Mitchell Kapor. Formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series, the series has been renamed in memory of Michael Dertouzos, Director for the Lab for Computer Science from 1974 to 2001.
Abstract: Moore's law exponentials continue to help low cost robots achieve new capabilities. Over the next two decades the majority of robot deployments will be in situations where people and robots work as a team. Sometimes the teamwork will be spread over time and space, and sometimes it will be close physical interaction. Application areas range from driving, to domestic chores, to healthcare, to services, to agriculture, and to manufacturing. Sometimes the robots will be tools, and sometimes they will be partners.
Biography: Rodney Brooks is the Panasonic Professor of Robotics, emeritus, at MIT. Until 2007 he was director of CSAIL, the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He is curently the founder, chairman, and CTO of Heartland Robotics. He is a current board member, co-founder, and former chairman and CTO of iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT). His research interests span humanoid robotics, mobile robots, computer vision, artificial life, and the nature of sentience, both wet and dry.
Web site:http://www.csail.mit.edu/events/eventcalendar/calendar.php?show=event
&id=2701
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): CSAIL
For more information, contact:
Colleen Russell
617-253-0145
crussell@csail.mit.edu
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
Communications Forum: Communications in Slow-Moving Crises
Speaker: Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica; Andrea Pitzer, Nieman Storyboard; Rosalind Williams, MIT STS
Time: 5:00p–7:00p
Location: 4-231
Civic Media Series
Governments, corporations, and communities plan for sudden crises: the White House drafts strong responsive rhetoric for the next terrorist attack; Toyota runs reassuring national TV spots within hours of a product recall; and 32 Massachusetts towns successfully publicize water distribution sites following a water main rupture.
But some crises are complex, not amenable to news flashes and emergency warnings. Like the housing collapse or the recent Gulf oil spill, these crises don?t fit traditional media frameworks.. Because they are slow-moving, simmering rather than boiling dramas, all our media struggle both rhetorically and technologically to cover them.
With government regulators weak, corporations still focused on the bottom line, and communities adapting to structural change, this Communications Forum asks: What new media tools and strategies can be used to help everyone better prepare for the unique communications challenges of slow-moving crises?
Web site: http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Communications Forum, Center for Future Civic Media
For more information, contact:
Andrew Whitacre
617-324-0490
awhit@mit.edu
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BUILDing the Future: Energy Efficiency made in Germany
November 18, 2010 6:00p–8:30p
The architect who built the first certified passive house in China, Ingrid Spengler, travels from Hamburg, to Boston to present her work for the Expo 2010 Shanghai. That building had to be adapted from a model designed for Hamburg, by the way the European Green Capital 2011 (http://hamburggreencapital.eu/) to the different climate (plus technological and workforce advancement) of Shanghai (see also http://www.expo2010-english.hamburg.de/). Matt Noblett from the Boston office of Behnisch Architekten will introduce the new Unilever HQ in Hamburg Hafencity, an exciting sustainable urban development in a city that has so much in common with Boston. The evening will be rounded out by a networking reception hosted by Bodo Liesenfeld, Hamburg Ambassador to Boston.
Category: lectures/conferences
Location: Seaport Hotel, Boston Plaza B Ballroom
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Campus Events
Admission: Open to the public
Tickets available from Please register at: Please register at http://buildingthefuture.eventbrite.com
For more information: http://www.germany.info/BuildingTheFutureBoston
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Energy Discussions: Getting Renewables on the Grid
November 18, 2010 6:00p–7:00p
Perhaps the biggest challenge of switching to renewable energy generation is accommodating the uncontrollable swings in energy output when clouds roll in or the wind picks up. Wind and solar generation produces power that varies on scales of minutes to seasons. In order to deploy wind and solar at large scale, we need to learn to deal effectively with that variability. Join members of the MIT Energy Club and experts from the MIT Future of the Electric Grid study to discuss what changes in the system operation of the grid will allow us to mitigate the impact of intermittency as more renewables come online.
Please prepare for the discussion by reading the articles on the event website.
A light dinner will be served.
Category: MIT events/clubs: interest clubs/groups
Speaker: Tim Heidel and Richard Zhang
Location: 56-167
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Club
Admission: Open to the public
For more information:
Contact Rebecca Dell: rwdell (at) mit.edu
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/events-and-programs/discussion-series
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Friday, November 19, 2010
Computation Lecture Series FA'10
Speaker: Timothy Prestero- CEO, Design that Matters
Time: 12:30p–2:00p
Location: 7-431
Title: Better by Design
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Computation Group Events, Department of Architecture
For more information, contact:
Daniela Stoudenkova
danielas@mit.edu
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Friday, November 19
12:30 to 2:00 PM
MIT Room 32-155
"C-ROADS: the Climate-Rapid Overview And Decision Support Simulator"
John D. Sterman
John D. Sterman will present how the failure of the Copenhagen climate conference demonstrates a pressing need for flexible, user-friendly analytical tools to quickly yet reliably assess the impacts of the rapidly evolving proposals for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such tools should enable negotiators, policymakers and other stakeholders, including the general public, to understand the relationships among proposals for emissions reductions, concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere, and resulting climate impacts. He will describe and demonstrate the Climate-Rapid Overview And Decision Support Simulator (C-ROADS), a user-friendly, interactive computer model of the climate system. He will present the structure of the model, compare it to more complex models, and discuss how policymakers and other parties use it.
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Friday, November 19, 2010
Architecture Lecture
Speaker: Michael Meredith, MOS Architects, New Haven
Time: 6:30p–8:30p
Location: 7-431
IN PROGRESS "MOS"
Web site: http://architecture.mit.edu/
Open to: the general public
Cost: Free
Sponsor(s): Department of Architecture
For more information, contact:
617-253-7791
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Harvard
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Monday, November 15, 9 a.m.
Theodore H. White Seminar on the Press and Politics with Mindy Finn, GOP online political consultant at Engage; Charles Gibson, former ABC News anchor, Shorenstein Center Fellow; William Greider, national affairs correspondent for The Nation, 2010 Nyhan Prize winner;David King, Lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School; Susan Milligan, former Boston Globe reporter, IOP Fellow; Alex S. Jones, moderator, Shorenstein Center Director.
Malkin Penthouse, Littauer Building
--------------------------
How Social Networks Shape Human Behavior
Prof. Alex 'Sandy' Pentland, MIT Human Dynamics Lab
When: Nov 15, 2010 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Maxwell Dworkin 119
We have developed robust models of how social network dynamics shape human behavior. These models are constructed by use of data collected by my research group's unique `reality mining' sensor platforms, which allow us to track the behavior of hundreds of people in great detail and over long periods of time. The resulting models bring into question traditional ideas about group selection in evolution, the role of trust in society, the nature of social learning, and economic mechanism design.
Contact: Carol Harlow
harlow@seas.harvard.edu
--------------------------
Why Developing Countries Urgently Need a Global Climate Deal ... and Why They Shouldn't Wait for One”
WHEN
Tue., Nov. 16, 2010, 4 – 5 p.m.
WHERE
Northwest Labs B-101
52 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Science, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard University Center for the Environment; Center for International Development; Bank of America
SPEAKER(S)
Andrew Steer, special envoy for climate change, World Bank; discussants include John Briscoe, Gordon McKay Professor of the Practice of Environmental Engineering, Harvard University (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Kennedy School); and Daniel Schrag, professor of earth and planetary sciences and professor of environmental science and engineering, and director, Harvard University Center for the Environment
CONTACT INFO
Lisa Matthews: lisa_matthews@harvard.edu, 617.495.8883
NOTE
Join HUCE for the first "Green Conversations" lecture of the semester, featuring Andrew Steer. Steer became special envoy for climate change at the World Bank in July 2010. He is responsible for guiding the bank group's work on climate change and further advancing its internal capabilities in this area. In his post, which ranks at the level of vice president, he will also oversee the multibillion dollar Climate Investment Funds and help mobilize climate financing.
Prior to his appointment, Steer served for three years as director general, policy and research at the UK Department of International Development in London. Steer has three decades of experience working on development issues at the country level in Africa and Asia, and on global development issues. He has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, has written widely on development issues, and has taught economics at several universities.
Green Conversations are sponsored by the Harvard University Center for the Environment with generous support from Bank of America. This lecture is co-sponsored with the Harvard University Center for International Development Sustainability Science Program. Free and open to the public.
LINK
http://www.environment.harvard.edu/events/2010-11-16/green-conversations-andrew-steer-special-envoy-climate-change-world-bank
-----------------------
Farming the Ogallala Aquifer: Short and Long-run Impacts of Unsustainable Water Use
WHEN
Wed., Nov. 17, 2010, 4:10 – 5:30 p.m.
WHERE
Room L-382, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, 02138
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Business, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Kennedy School
SPEAKER(S)
Richard Hornbeck, Harvard University, and Pinar Keskin, Wesleyan University
LINK
http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k73011
---------------------------
Science in the News' 11th Annual Free Lecture Series
Star Power: New Ways to Harvest Energy from Our Sun
WHEN
Wed., Nov. 17, 2010, 7 – 9 p.m.
WHERE
Armenise Amphitheatre
Harvard Medical School
200 Longwood Ave
Boston, MA 02115
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Education, Environmental Sciences, Ethics, Health Sciences, Lecture, Science, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Medical School Division of Medical Sciences
CONTACT INFO
sitnboston@gmail.com
NOTE
Free weekly science seminars about today's hottest science topics.
LINK
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu
-----------------------
What's Next? Feasible Options for Climate Policy in the United States
WHEN
Thu., Nov. 18, 2010, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m.
WHERE
Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Building, 5th Floor, Bell Hall
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Business, Classes/Workshops, Education, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Science, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business & Government, Harvard Kennedy School
SPEAKER(S)
Professor Robert Stavins, Harvard Kennedy School
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/m-rcbg/events.htm
----------------------
Breaking through Bureaucracy for Speedy Recovery: Lessons Learned from Post-Tsunami Indonesia
WHEN
Thu., Nov. 18, 2010, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
WHERE
Taubman 301, Harvard Kennedy School
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Lecture, Social Sciences
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Program on Crisis Leadership, Harvard University Asia Center
COST
Free, open to the Harvard community
CONTACT INFO
David Giles: david_giles@harvard.edu, 617.496.4165
NOTE
The Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami that devastated coastal areas along the Indian Ocean caused particularly extensive damage in north Sumatra, where destructive waves traveled more than five kilometers inland and tragically killed well more than 100,000 area residents. In this session of the Program on Crisis Leadership's (PCL) “Disaster Management in Asia” seminar series, Maggy Horhoruw, formerly with the Director’s Office of the Indonesian Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR), will highlight lessons learned from the massive recovery effort that followed, which not only involved scores of Indonesian governmental agencies but hundreds of international donors and aid organizations as well.
Doug Ahlers, a PCL faculty affiliate and adjunct lecturer in public policy who teaches the course “Disaster Recovery Management and Urban Development: Rebuilding New Orleans,” will serve as discussant, linking Horhoruw’s observations to other major recovery efforts.
The event is the second session in the 2010/2011 Disaster Management in Asia Seminar Series, co-sponsored by PCL and the Harvard University Asia Center.
All members of the Harvard community are welcome to attend.
LINK
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/programs/crisisleadership/events
-------------------------
Thoreau as Climatologist: Tracking 160 Years of Climate Change
WHEN
Thu., Nov. 18, 2010, 6 – 8 p.m.
WHERE
Harvard Museum of Natural History
24 Oxford Street
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Education, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Science
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Museum of Natural History
SPEAKER(S)
Charles Davis, assistant professor of organismic and evolutionary biology and curator in the Harvard Herbarium
COST
Free and open to the public
CONTACT INFO
617.495.3045
NOTE
Henry David Thoreau initiated a study of flowering times at Walden Pond. Today, a research team including Charles Davis, assistant professor of organismic and evolutionary biology, has updated Thoreau’s records with current data and integrated them with modern evolutionary biology to reveal how climate change and earlier flowering times have affected Walden’s plants. Join Davis to explore an integrated approach to climate change and biodiversity. Part of the Asa Gray Bicentennial series.
LINK
http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/lectures-classes-events/asa-gray-bicentennial.html
------------------------
FREETHINK@HARVARD: Sustainability Demands New Leadership Skills
WHEN
Fri., Nov. 19, 2010, 6 – 7 p.m.
WHERE
Online at www.alumni.extension.harvard.edu
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Business, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Extension Alumni Association
SPEAKER(S)
Jack Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Habitation, Harvard School of Public Health, and director of the Harvard Extension School's graduate program in Sustainabilty and Environmental Management
COST
Free and open to the public
CONTACT INFO
Ian Jackson: ijackson@fas.harvard.edu, 617.998.8514
NOTE
Professor Jack Spengler discusses how corporations are meeting the challenges facing their organizations as a result of climate change. View discussion followed by Q & A from around the world.
LINK
www.alumni.extension.harvard.edu
---------
BU
---------
Nov17 Wed 6:00 PM
Location
Boston University
640 Commonwealth Ave.
Student Lounge
Boston, MA 02215
Hacks/Hackers Boston, in partnership with the Boston University School of Communication, Department of Journalism, and the Society of Professional Journalists, is presenting a panel discussion on "Legal liability in the age of WikiLeaks."
In the Internet age, where are the boundaries that separate safe reporting from libel charges? What are the online potholes that can lead to a courtroom?
6-8 p.m.: 6-7 for fun schmoozing; 7-8 for panel discussions
A panel discussion with some of the top First Amendment attorneys in the state (with plenty of time for questions):
-- Attorney Jon Albano of Bingham McCutcheon is deputy managing partner of Bingham’s Boston office and co-chairs the firm’s Entertainment, Media & Communications Group. His practice focuses primarily on constitutional and commercial litigation. Jon has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America, First Amendment practice, for 10 years; is listed in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, First Amendment Litigation; was named one of the top Massachusetts lawyers four years in a row by Super Lawyers. Jon has represented newspapers, broadcasters, publishers, universities, nonprofit organizations and individuals in cases involving a variety of constitutional issues, including free speech rights; the public’s right of access to information; and privacy, defamation and equal protection claims.
-- Attorney Robert A. Bertsche is a partner at Prince Lobel, where he practices media, internet, and employment law. Rob gave up a not-so-promising career as a newspaper and magazine reporter in order to attend Harvard Law School, where he earned his J.D. in 1989. Since then, he has represented newspapers, magazines, bloggers, broadcasters, and websites in matters involving libel, privacy, freedom of information, subpoenas and reporter's privilege, prior restraint, copyright, trademark, and related areas. Rob also serves as general counsel to the New England Newspaper and Press Association.
-- Moderator: Dan Kennedy, assistant professor at Northeastern's School of Journalism, specializing in new media trends, and Media Nation blogger.
RSVP at http://meetupbos.hackshackers.com/calendar/15344482/?eventId=15344482&action=detail
--------------------------
Jim Gordon, President Cape Wind
November 18, 2010 6:00p–8:00p
Cape Wind president Jim Gordon will present a lecture on his efforts and challenges faced in starting the country's first offshore wind farm. The event will be held in the Boston University School of Management's auditorium, is free of charge, and open to the public. No registration is required.
Category: lectures/conferences
Location: BU School of Management 595 Comm. Ave
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Campus Events, BU Energy Club
Admission: Open to the public
For more information: buenergy@bu.edu
----------
Tufts
---------
November 17, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
"Nanoscale Catalysts for Clean Energy" Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos
sponsored by: Tufts School of Engineering
Location: Medford/Somerville Campus
Anderson Hall
Nelson Auditorium
Admission: free
Description: Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos is the first Robert and Marcy Haber Endowed Professor in Energy Sustainability. She will give a lecture on her research on nanoscale catalysts for clean energy production. Her research into catalysts "materials that speed up chemical reactions" is focused on the reforming of fuels, including biomass-derived "green fuels," to generate hydrogen, the "future fuel."
Contact: Tamara Cleary Tamara.Cleary@tufts.edu
617-627-4847
---------------
Virtual Reality Technology
November 18, 2010
2:50 pm - 4:00 pm
Halligan 111
Speaker: Jeffrey Jacobson, PublicVR
Host: Rob Jacob
Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) is a new medium that has captured the public imagination, offering nothing less than a way for us to extend our social space from the physical into the electronic. Recently, the term has expanded from the old-fashioned flight simulators and three-dimensional optical displays to computer games and shared worlds on the Internet. In this discussion, we will survey the existing technologies and their uses, especially modern low-cost methods. We will look at the human factors elements, how the sensory illusions work, and the phenomena of presence and embodiment.
Jeffrey Jacobson is the Director of PublicVR, a non-profit dedicated to freeware and research in Virtual Reality for education. See http://publicvr.org
Background reading: http://publicvr.org/egypt/oracle/whitepaper.pdf
-----------
MA College of Art
------------
Media Tech Tonic #17: Ryan Evans: Information Architecture in the Age of Mobile Devices
Our next speaker will be Ryan Evans, Director of Experience Design at Corey McPherson Nash. He will speak about the unique challenges presented to information architects faced designing for web-connected mobile devices.
Event Details
Location: MassArt, 621 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Room: Tower Building, Room 312
Date: Thursday, November 18, 2010
Time: 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. (we suggest arriving a little early to get a good seat)
RSVP: Not required for this event, free and open to the public.
Abstract
In a world where mobile access and mobile action is assumed by users, how do we ideate and plan for Web and application interfaces? Small screens and limited input options frustrate UX designers but geolocation, touch screens, and real-time alerts open new doors. We will discuss how mobile devices blow up standard information architecture practice around hierarchy, organization, and navigation and how we can bring the pieces back together to construct coherent, actionable, inviting interfaces that meet user goals.
Speaker Bio
Ryan joined Corey in 1995 and since that time has played a critical role in developing Corey’s award-winning Web work and interactive work process. Ryan leads the critical process of understanding user needs and mapping those to information architecture, user experience and design. His clients include Harvard Business School, Museum of Science Boston, Tuck School of Business, Ernst & Young Center for Business Innovation, MIT OpenCourseWare, Forrester Research, Northern Light, Pleasant Company, Direct Hit, and the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services. His work has been recognized with awards from MITX and the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA). Prior to joining Corey, Ryan was a researcher at the MIT Media Lab he specialized in content-based interactive storytelling. He holds an MS (Media Arts and Sciences) and a BS (Computer Science and Engineering), both from MIT.
------------
Other
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Intercollegiate Energy Social - John Harvard's
November 16, 2010 7:00p–9:00p
Are you interested in energy? Come to the Intercollegiate Energy Social this Tuesday for an evening of energy debate and discussion! All are welcome, and energy clubs from schools across the region are invited to this intercollegiate mixer. This will be a unique opportunity to meet graduate and undergraduate students who are passionate about energy. Hope to see you there! This social is organized by the Collegiate Energy Association, for more information visit collegeenergy.org!
Over and under 21 welcome.
Invited clubs:
Babson Energy and Environment Club
Boston University Energy Club
Fletcher Energy Consortium
Harvard Business School Energy and Environment Club
Harvard Energy Journal Club
Harvard Kennedy School Energy and Environment Professional Interest Council
MIT Energy Club
MIT Sloan Energy & Environment Club
Tufts Energy Forum
Category: MIT events/clubs: social
Location: John Harvard's (Harvard Square) -Meet in the bar area
Sponsored by: MIT Energy Club
Admission: Open to the public
For more information:
Contact MIT Energy Club
energyclub@mit.edu
collegeenergy.org
--------------------
GIS Day social tweetup #GISDBOS
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 6:00 PM (ET)
Where
Kennedy's Midtown
42 Province Street
Boston, MA 02109
Event Details
Come join us for a GIS Day social tweetup celebration. Come hang out with others who can share your joy and pain over using GIS.
It's going to be an informal gathering, no name tags, no agenda... just find a seat at the bar and let's hang out and talk about GIS and spatial fun.
Please RSVP so we the bar can set aside some space for us. Also, please use the #GISDBOS hash tag so we can track the conversation online.
http://gisdbos2010.eventbrite.com/?utm_source=I+Spatial+Boston+List&utm_campaign=d17117a16d-November_Mailing11_5_2010&utm_medium=email
----------------------
Boston Arduino Users Groups
• Date: 11/18/10, 12/16/10, 1/20/10, 2/17/10
• Location: Microsoft New England R&D Center, One Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02142
• Time: 6-9pm
• Audience: Students, hobbyists and professionals interested in Arduino microcontroller development.
• Description: Informal and open meeting for people to discuss their Arduino projects, get help with Arduino software development, system and circuit design. All are welcome. Students are especially encouraged to participate.
Register at http://www.meetup.com/The-Boston-Arduino-Users-Group
--------------------------------------
Please join us at Smallbean World Headquarters to celebrate the ongoing success of the Smallbean Citizen Archivist Project in Kenya. Meet Smallbean staff, volunteers & fellow Smallbean supporters at a free event and immerse yourself in the fantabulous oral history interviews, audio and video footage collected by Smallbean-trained Citizen Archivists. Plus, get a sneak preview at some of the very cool technology initiatives keeping Smallbean busy this winter. Light refreshments and drinks provided!
--The Smallbean Event Committee
• WHERE: 515 Beacon Street, Boston
• When: 7 - 9pm, Thurs. Nov. 18, 2010
• How much: FREE
• More info: www.smallbean.org • 617-600-8314
---------------------------
Help Out on a Deep Energy Retrofit
November 20 from 9 to 5, in a small ranch house in Framingham. The family hopes to eventually reach zero net energy use.
We will be drilling into the concrete walls and screwing three inches of Thermax board into the basement walls. The work already completed will be visible to all who are curious. This includes the sealing of the attic, installation of ventilation chutes, a new icenene product which is the greenest made (with the least embodied energy), four inches of polyisocyanurate on the exterior walls, windows that are screwed into the outside of the poly (extended). Since the family has two toddlers, they would have a hard time doing the work on their own.
This is a great chance to learn hands-on skills doing deep energy retrofits under the expert supervision of Kerry Koskinen of Byggmeister Associates.
If you would like to participate, please email Jason Taylor (jason.taylor727@gmail.com). Food and drinks will be provided.
------------
Upcoming
-----------
Feel free to forward info about this FREE workshop.
Dear concerned food advocate,
We all care about food, right? Maybe we want to support farmers’ markets or
we belong to a Community Shared Agriculture program. Maybe our kids eat school
lunches. Maybe we want to make sure city dwellers have access to fresh food.
Maybe we’re concerned about the future of farms. Maybe we want to improve the
quality of our mealtime conversations.
No matter what, we need to be able to talk to each other. In fact, to be the
best advocates for whatever we believe in, we need to be able to understand
people with whom we may disagree.
In honor of U.N. World Food Day, Public Conversations and The Family Dinner
Project are offering a free dialogue workshop for anyone who is working on
issues around access to healthy food. The workshop will introduce participants
to dialogue as a tool for building better relationships and more effective
interpersonal communication, even across contentious issues.
Join us on Monday, November 22, 9:30 am-noon for a free workshop.
For 20 years, the Public Conversations Project (www.publicconversations.org)
has been helping groups divided by values, worldviews, or identities have
critical discussions about what they care about most deeply, so that they can
live or work together.
The Family Dinner Project (www.thefamilydinnerproject.org) is a start-up
grassroots movement of food, fun and conversation about things that matter.
Families come together to share their experiences and insights to help each
other realize the benefits of family dinners.
For more information or to RSVP please contact Alison Streit Baron at:
abaron@publicconversations.org
Limited space available—please RSVP by November 19.
This workshop will be held at 51 Kondazian Street, Watertown, which is
accessible via bus 71 from Harvard Square. Free parking is available.
Link to this event...
On our website
On
Or tweet it! woww.it/food To subscribe to the Boston Food System list, click on the following:
https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
---------
Ongoing
---------
To members of the Climate CoLab community,
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Climate CoLab contest,
as well as a major upgrade of our software platform.
The contest will address the question: What international climate
agreements should the world community make?
The first round ended on October 31 and the final round runs through
November 26.
In early December, the United Nations and U.S. Congress will be
briefed on the winning entries.
We are raising funds in the hope of being able to pay travel expenses
for one representative from each winning team to attend one or both of
these briefings.
Learn more at http://climatecolab.org
We also encourage you to fill out your profiles and add a picture, so
that members of the community can get to know each other.
And please inform anyone you believe might be interested about the
contest.
Editorial Comment: I played a previous version of this simulation.
This time around, I like the 350 plan which is as close to zero
emissions as the exercise will get.
http://climatecolab.org/web/guest/plans#plans=
------------
Resource
-----------
Boston Food System
"The Boston Food System [listserv] provides a forum to post announcements of events, employment opportunities, internships, programs, lectures, and other activities as well as related articles or other publications of a non-commercial nature covering the area's food system - food, nutrition, farming, education, etc. - that take place or focus on or around Greater Boston (broadly delineated)."
The Boston area is one of the most active nationwide in terms of food system activities - projects, services, and events connected to food, farming, nutrition - and often connected to education, public health, environment, arts, social services and other arenas. Hundreds of organizations and enterprises cover our area, but what is going on week-to-week is not always well publicized.
Hence, the new Boston Food System listserv, as the place to let everyone know about these activities. Specifically:
Use of the BFS list will begin soon, once we get a decent base of subscribers. Clarification of what is appropriate to announce and other posting guidelines will be provided as well.
It's easy to subscribe right now at https://elist.tufts.edu/wws/subscribe/bfs
----------------------
Artisan Asylum http://artisansasylum.com/
Sprout & Co: Community Driven Investigations http://thesprouts.org/studios
Greater Boston Solidarity Economy Mapping Project http://www.transformationcentral.org/solidarity/mapping/mapping.html
a project by Wellesley College students that invites participation
-----------------------------------------------------
Links to events at 60 colleges and universities at Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com
Thanks to
Fred Hapgood's Selected Lectures on Science and Engineering in the
Boston Area http://fhapgood.fastmail.fm/site02.html
Boston Area Computer User Groups http://www.bugc.org/
http://www.mitenergyclub.org/calendar/mit_events_template
http://green.harvard.edu/events
--------------------------------------------------
Energy (and Other) Events is a weekly mailing list published most
Sundays covering events around the Cambridge, MA and greater Boston
area that catch the editor's eye.
Hubevents http://hubevents.blogspot.com is the web version.
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to Energy (and Other) Events
email gmoke@world.std.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)