Insurgent Science Series
Lee Perlman
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Highlighting challenging developments in the conception of nature and science, these lectures are sponsored by the Experimental Study Group and the Hindu, Baptist (American), Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ Chaplaincies, in conjunction with the Institute for the Study of Nature. All are welcome!
Web: http://isnature.org/Events/2009/IAP.htm
Contact: Lee Perlman, 24-612, lperlman@mit.edu
A Pattern Language for Animal Form
Stuart Newman New York Medical College
Dr. Newman presents his theory that the main driving force for the origination of multicellular form consists of the physical laws inherent to organisms' mesoscopic materials rather than, as the standard conception of evolution holds, genetic change driven by chance.
Fri Jan 16, 01:30-02:30pm, 68-181
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Insurgent Science Series: A Bigger Physics
Michael Augros, Center for Higher Studies, Thornwood, New York
Wed Jan 28, 01:30-02:30pm, 4-231
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Erwin Schrödinger warned in 1951 about the vanity of overspecialization and the importance of synthesizing knowledge. What could it mean to 'synthesize' all of natural science? To what extent is such a thing possible or even desirable?Whose job is it? And how would it relate to mathematics? Come join philosopher of science Dr. Augros to explore the possibility of a general theory of nature.
Web: http://isnature.org/Events/2009/IAP.htm
Contact: Lee Perlman, lperlman@mit.edu
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Math and Games
Melissa Gymrek
Fri Jan 23, 07-09:00pm, 24-619
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Come challenge your friends in popular games and then learn the math behind them. We'll have card games, computer games, board games, and some interesting math toys.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/esg
Contact: Melissa Gymrek, 24-612, mgymrek@mit.edu
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Obstacles to the Scientific-Technological Conquest of Nature
Svetozar Minkov
Thu Jan 29, 02-03:00pm, 24-619
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
This one-shot seminar will examine philosophical questions about the relationship between humans and nature. Before a large-scale effort to conquer nature for the good of humanity can be reasonably made, one needs to have attempted to measure the degree of the intelligibility and beneficence of nature and human nature.Is there a natural human good? Is it knowable? Can nature serve as either a theoretical or a practical guide for its own 'conquest'?
Web: http://web.mit.edu/esg
Contact: Lee Perlman, 24-611, lperlman@mit.edu
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Orienteering: Map and Compass Navigation
Catherine Olsson
Mon Jan 5, Wed Jan 7, Fri Jan 9, Mon Jan 12, Wed Jan 14, 02-04:00pm, 24-619
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 05-Jan-2009
Limited to 20 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Orienteering is a fast-paced sport combining map-and-compass navigation with all-terrain running. In this class you will learn the basics of orienteering such as reading and interpreting a map and using a compass to orient yourself, as well as more advanced techniques for choosing routes effectively, executing your plan cleanly, and recovering from errors. You will also get the chance to practice your skills on mini-courses set on the MIT campus. You don't need to have a good sense of direction or be in great shape; if you're quick-witted and can learn to use a map and compass to your advantage, then you can learn to orienteer! Please dress for the weather, and bring a compass if you own one. If you are interested in orienteering but can't make the IAP sessions, please let the contact person know.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/esg
Contact: Catherine Olsson, (425) 985-3707, catherio@mit.edu
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