Event

Oceans’ Health: An Ecosystem on the Brink

Abstract:
There are many serious threats facing our oceans today. Oceans’ Health: An Ecosystem on the Brink will explore two of these merging issues. First, ocean acidification: over the last decade scientists have shown that human-caused increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are affecting the chemistry of our oceans, altering the main food web and proving harmful for many forms of marine life. Continue reading “Oceans’ Health: An Ecosystem on the Brink”

Event

China’s Clean Energy: Current Research, Development & Cooperation

Abstract:
Diplomats of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago will discuss China’s current research and development program to produce energy in an environmentally benign fashion. The discussion will cover Chinese activities in the alternative energy arena including hydro, nuclear, wind, solar, clean coal and other green energy production endeavors. Continue reading “China’s Clean Energy: Current Research, Development & Cooperation”

C2ST in the News

Why The ‘13.7’ Community Rocks

By Adam Frank

Originally published at: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2012/03/25/149337934/why-the-13-7-community-rocks

I just wanted to pass a long a conversation I had last week when I gave a talk at the Chicago Council on Science & Technology. After I was done giving a presentation on my book, (in a beautiful auditorium on the Chicago campus of Northwestern University), a young man approached me. Rather than ask a question about string theory or my philosophy of science, he quite articulately described why he was happy to have found 13.7 Cosmos and Culture.

“The comments,” he said. “They are so thoughtful and civil.”

I could not agree more. When I go to other sites associated with well-trafficked media outlets and read the comments it can, sometimes, make me fear for humanity. But as the young gentleman observed, the comments on this blog are (in general) thoughtful, respectful, incisive and sometimes very, very funny. I learn a great deal from the commenters to these posts and it’s clear others do too.

“It’s like a breath of fresh air” said the young man before he left. “There is so much hostility everywhere. It’s great to see a place where there’s an actual conversation happening”.

True that.

Thanks everyone.