IAP Independent Activities Period
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IAP 2009 Activities by Sponsor

Science,Technology & Society

An Inconvenient Meal: The Impact of Animal Agriculture on Global Warming and Climate Change
Ryan Shapiro
Wed Jan 28, 01-04:00pm, 2-131

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, animal agriculture accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) than any other human activity, including even transportation. Yet, the topic is almost wholly ignored by many leading environmental figures and advocacy organizations. This seminar addresses the factors that make animal agriculture the single largest contributor of GHGs, investigates the dearth of attention paid to this crucial issue, and assesses possible solutions to animal agriculture’s environmental impacts, ranging from dietary change to in vitro meat technologies.
Contact: Ryan Shapiro, (301) 602-3063, ryannoah@mit.edu

Designing Your Life
David Mindell, Lauren Zander, Gaby Jordan
Mon Jan 26, Wed Jan 28, 01-04:00pm, 1-190
Fri Jan 30, 10am-01:00pm, 4-270

Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 16-Jan-2009
Limited to 150 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)

This course (formerly called “Living an Extraordinary Life”) provides an exciting, eye-opening, and thoroughly useful inquiry into what it takes to live an extraordinary life, on your own terms. This course deeply addresses what it takes to succeed, and to be proud of your life and happy in it. You will tackle career satisfaction, money, your body, vices, your relationship to yourself. Address your own life and how you live it and learn from it. An inquisitive nature and willingness to face the truth are required.
Web: http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/311-span-classhighlightlivingspan-span-classhighlightanspan-span-classhighlightextraordinaryspan-lifemit
Contact: Lisa Chaney, (646) 309-0687, LChaney@mit.edu

How to Talk to the Press
Karen Weintraub, Christopher Reddy
Wed Jan 21, 12-01:30pm, E19-623, Feel free to bring your lunch

Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Limited to 20 participants.
Single session event

Ever wonder what's going through a reporter's mind when they're grilling you about your latest research? This 90-minute class is intended to offer faculty and researchers insights into the journalistic mind to help better convey ideas. Karen Weintraub, the Boston Globe's deputy Health/Science editor and a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT this year, will walk participants through the editorial process from story idea to publication, offering suggestions on how to present research more effectively to the general public. WHOI Associate Scientist Christopher Reddy regularly talks to the news media about environmental contaminants and has lectured to numerous scientific organizations about effective communication. This activity is co-sponsored by the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship.
Contact: Karen Weintraub, E19-623, (617) 283-8476, weintrau@mit.edu

Not Eating Animals: An Introduction to Vegetarian and Vegan Eating
Ryan Shapiro
Thu Jan 29, 01-04:00pm, 2-136

No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event

From factory farming to heart disease to global warming, the arguments in favor of vegetarianism are more compelling than ever. Not surprisingly, millions of Americans (and millions more around the world) are opting to limit or eliminate their consumption of meat. This seminar explores the ethical, health, and environmental benefits of eating without killing animals. It also discusses vegetarian and vegan food, recipes, and restaurants, as well as strategies for transitioning to a meatless diet. Special consideration will be paid to vegetarian and vegan eating tips for students.

We can also go out to eat afterwards if people want.
Contact: Ryan Shapiro, (301) 602-3063, ryannoah@mit.edu

Nuclear Weapons: Physics, History, and Abolition?
Prof. Aron Bernstein, Prof. Kosta Tsipis
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: None

Overview of the history and physics of nuclear weapons, their devastating effects including nuclear winter, initial scientist’s discussions about controlling their use and spread, cold war history of weapons deployment, treaties which limited their use, nuclear proliferation and non-proliferation treaty, and the current discussion about abolition of nuclear weapons. There will be time for questions and discussion.
Contact: Prof. Aron Bernstein, 26-419, 253-2386, bernstein@LNS.MIT.EDU
Cosponsor: Physics


Prof. Aron Bernstein, Prof. Kosta Tsipis
Overview: physics history, history of weapons numbers in the cold war, outlook for reduction and elimination.
by Prof. Aron M. Bernstein
Wed Jan 21, 03-04:30pm, 26-414


Prof. Aron Bernstein, Prof. Kosta Tsipis
Physics of weapons and delivery systems: by Prof. Kosta Tsipis
Thu Jan 22, 03-04:30pm, 26-414


Prof. Aron Bernstein, Prof. Kosta Tsipis
Nuclear weapons effects including nuclear winter: by Prof. Kosta Tsipis
Mon Jan 26, 03-04:30pm, 26-414


Prof. Aron Bernstein, Prof. Kosta Tsipis
Nuclear Proliferation Treaty Outlook for Nuclear Weapons Policy in the Obama Administration: by Prof. Aron M. Bernsein
Wed Jan 28, 03-04:30pm, 26-414

Superheroes and the Life Lessons They Teach Us
Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)

Superheroes can provide a roadmap for handling the vicissitudes of life. From superheroes, we can learn to use our talents and abilities, overcome adversity, use our alter egos to our advantage, and handle tricky moral dilemmas. Superheroes also teach us that being different than other people it can be a gift. Psychologist Robin S. Rosenberg (editor, Psychology of Superheroes) discusses relevant psychological research about these and other life lessons, and illustrates them with examples from superhero comics, television shows, and movies.
Contact: Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D., E51-185, (617) 864-8468, STS-IAP@mit.edu


Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
The first session will address Life Lesson #1: It's Okay to be Different, and Life Lesson #2: What Doesn't Kill Me Can Make Me Stronger.
Thu Jan 22, 12-01:30pm, 4-149


Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
The second session will address Life Lesson #3: Superheroes Aren't The Only Ones With Alter-Egos, and Life Lesson #4: The Costume Counts (additional Life Lessons will be discussed, time permitting).
Thu Jan 29, 12-01:30pm, 4-149


MIT  
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Last update: 30 September 2004