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UPDATE: This week in science: 10/7 - 10/12
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UPDATE: Come early to the Ask a Scientist event Tuesday evening, Oct. 7. The Fire Dept. has cut the capacity of the AXIS Cafe to 85 (down from 185!) and no one will be allowed to stand outside. More than 85 cannot be allowed in tonight. This restriction should be lifted by next month's meeting.
This week kicks off with a talk about the Moon at the Ask a Scientist monthly meeting Tuesday evening, featuring Jenifer Heldman, a planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center. Other events include an in depth look at global warming, at the Commonwealth Club on Wednesday, and a lecture and slide show about efforts to preserve birds at three World Heritage sites, at the Randall Museum on Thursday
Headlines first, followed by the details.
Tuesday, October 7th, 7:00 pm
The Moon
Jennifer Heldman, Planetary Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center
Ask a Scientist
Axis Cafe, 1201 8th Street (btw. 16th & Irwin) San Francisco
Wednesday, October 8th, 12:00 PM
Global Climate Change in the Decades Ahead: Fact versus Fiction
Rob Dunbar, Professor of Earth Science, Stanford University
Commonwealth Club of San Francisco
Thursday, October 9th, 7:30 - 9 pm
Birds of Three Remarkable World Heritage Sites (Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Manu Jungle) and the Steps Being Taken to Preserve Them.
Nancy DeStefanis, Executive Director of San Francisco Nature Education
Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco
Tuesday, October 7th, 7:00 pm
The Moon
Jennifer Heldman, Planetary Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center
Ask a Scientist
Axis Cafe, 1201 8th Street (btw. 16th & Irwin) San Francisco
LIMITED TO 85 PEOPLE!
Let's talk about the moon. In my opinion it's the best celestial body to observe — it's big enough to see in captivating detail without a telescope, and it doesn't thank you for your wonderment by burning out your eyeballs. And while it may lack the kaleidoscopic coloring, dynamic vitality, and exotic mystery of some of the other local orbs, our moon is the old friend we wouldn't want to lose. Tonight we'll learn all about our trusty sidekick — the theories on its formation, predictions about its future, its internal structure, its geological past and present, and the many ways in which it affects the earth. We'll discover how the moon impacts our climate, how it got locked in a synchronous rotation with the earth, how tides work, and why some scientists suggest that without the moon life on earth may never have developed.
BONUS: Weather permitting, we'll do some telescope-assisted skygazing after the talk. On tonight's menu is a lovely waxing half moon and glamorous gaseous Jupiter.
Wednesday, October 8th, 12:00 PM
Global Climate Change in the Decades Ahead: Fact versus Fiction
Rob Dunbar, Professor of Earth Science, Stanford University
Commonwealth Club of San Francisco
Rob Dunbar takes a fresh look at the controversy surrounding the global warming crisis. He discusses unprecedented changes in the environment, focusing on air-sea interactions, tropical marine ecosystems, polar climate and the transfer of chemicals between organisms and environments.
Commonwealth Club Office
595 Market Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco
Time: 11:30 a.m. check-in, 12-1 p.m. program
Cost: $8 Commonwealth/Stanford Club members, $15 non-members
Thursday, October 9th, 7:30 - 9 pm
Birds of Three Remarkable World Heritage Sites (Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Manu Jungle) and the Steps Being Taken to Preserve Them.
Nancy DeStefanis, Executive Director of San Francisco Nature Education
Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco
Lecture and Slide Show with Q&A. For more information, go to www.sfns.org; or contact Patrick Schlemmer at (415) 225-3830 or JKodiak@earthlink.net.
Free and open to everyone.
If you have a science event you'd like listed here, send email to: Science.Examiner@gmail.com
