[act-ma] Energy (and Other) Events
George Mokray
gmoke at world.std.com
Sun Jan 9 17:28:35 PST 2011
MIT
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Health Reform in the U.S.
Jonathan Gruber, Professor of Economics
Mon Jan 10, 10-11:00am, E51-345
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
This talk will discuss the path to national health reform, the content
of the recent health care reform bill, and where we go from here
Contact: Ruth Levitsky, E52-252, x3-3399, levitsky at mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Monday, January 10, 2011
Wavelets
Speaker: Laurent Demanet
Time: 1:00p–2:30p
Location: 2-190
How much information is contained in a high-resolution digital
picture? For a long time, Fourier series were the dominant
mathematical tool to answer this question. The discovery of wavelets
in the mid 1980s, however, changed the way engineers nowadays think
about image compression. Wavelets are a series expansion scheme for
functions -- much like Fourier -- but with very different convergence
properties.
Web site: http://www-math.mit.edu/~eichmair/18.095
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Mathematics, Department of
For more information, contact:
Michael Eichmair
617-253-4385
eichmair at math.mit.edu
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Monday, January 10, 2011
Energy Information: Where to go, what to do
Speaker: Chris Sherratt, Angie Locknar
Time: 1:00p–2:00p
Location: 14N-132
Information on energy is everywhere! How do you find the scientific
and technical information you need and keep on the cutting edge of
what is published? Attend this hands-on session to find out.
Please register for this event at http://info-libraries.mit.edu/events
This event is part of Energy Futures Week. Other events are listed
here: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Libraries, MIT Energy Initiative
For more information, contact:
Locknar, Angie
locknar at mit.edu
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Monday, January 10, 2011
Biotechnology
Time: 1:30p–3:00p
Location: 68-181
Lamine Mbow, Unit Head, Immunology, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics
Jennifer Leeds, Ph.D., Director-Antibacterial Discovery, Novartis
Institutes for BioMedical Research
Sarah Calvo, Senior Computational Biologist, Broad Institute
Jason Kelly, Founder, Gingko Bioworks
Are you considering a job in industry, or perhaps starting your own
company? What are the main differences between academic and industry
labs? Are there labs that are ?in between?? Join us for an exciting
Q&A session with a panel of scientists who belong to different areas
of industry, and decide whether industry is the right choice for you.
Web site: http://web.mit.edu/biology/www/biology/iap.html
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Biology
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Energy Futures Week featured lecture: An Efficient Future for Energy
Use in the Built Environment
Neal Elliott Associate Director for Research, ACEEE
Mon Jan 10, 02-03:00pm, 32-141
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Over the past quarter century, building energy efficiency has focused
on improvements to components and equipment. While component
efficiencies increased dramatically, the size of our homes and the
number of energy using stuff has increased even faster. Looking
forward, the focus for energy efficiency in buildings will need to
shift to systems rather than components. This shift will involve
transformations in how we build, and where and how we live. This shift
does not mean that we can ignore component efficiency, because energy
using appliances are proliferating, but that we need to take a more
holistic approach to our communities.
Neal Elliott is the Associate Director for Research of the American
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), coordinating ACEEE's
overall research efforts. Elliott is an internationally recognized
expert and author on energy efficiency, energy efficiency programs and
policies, electric motor systems, combined heat and power and clean
distributed energy, and analysis of energy efficiency and energy
markets.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Contact: Jennifer DiMase, E19-370D, jdimase at mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Energy Initiative
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Energy Efficiency Research and Education at MIT (Panel Discussion)
Robert Armstrong, Leon Glicksman, John Reilly, Sarah Slaughter
Mon Jan 10, 03:30-05:00pm, 32-141
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Hear about and discuss innovations in energy efficiency research and
education at MIT with panelists from across the Institute.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Contact: Amanda Graham, agraham at mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Energy Initiative
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Efficiency Forward Forum
Susan Hockfield, Tom May
Tue Jan 11, 11am-12:00pm, E62 Lobby Sloan
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Join President Hockfield and NSTAR CEO Tom May along with invited
dignitaries as they kick off Efficiency Forward: Partnering for
Success - A Forum to Recognize Innovations in Energy Efficiency
Co-Sponsored by Campus Energy Task Force, Department of Facilities,
EHS Headquarters Office, Sloan School of Management
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Contact: Steven Lanou, slanou at mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Energy Initiative
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Energy Information: Maps and data to use with GIS
Speaker: Anne Graham, Lisa Sweeney
Time: 12:00p–1:00p
Location: 14N-132
Where are the power plants and the pipelines? How close are they to
population centers? In this session, MIT GIS Services will introduce
you to energy maps and spatial data available, and demonstrate GIS in
action on the energy front.
Please register for this event at http://info-libraries.mit.edu/events
This event is part of Energy Futures Week. Other events are listed
here: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Libraries, MIT Energy Initiative
For more information, contact:
Graham, Anne
grahama at mit.edu
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Energy Information: Industries and Statistics
Speaker: Katherine McNeill
Time: 1:00p–2:00p
Location: 14N-132
Interested in researching or working in the field of energy? Want to
find out how your energy project fits into the landscape of various
industries? This session will give you the skills to research the
business and statistical information on energy to find industry
overviews, market research, news and data. Please register for this
event at http://info-libraries.mit.edu/events
This event is part of Energy Futures Week. Other events are listed
here: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Initiative, MIT Libraries
For more information, contact:
McNeill, Kate
mcneillh at mit.edu
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Energy Education Open House
Jennifer DiMase
Tue Jan 11, 02-03:00pm, E19-319
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Stop by the Energy Initiative to learn about the Energy Studies Minor,
energy classes, student groups, fellowships, and current research
projects. Chat with students and faculty involved with energy.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Contact: Jennifer DiMase, E19-370D, 452-3199, jdimase at mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Energy Initiative
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Community Centered Innovation: Insights from Continuum Design
Lars Torres, Kate Mytty, Gaurav Rohatgi, Gianfranco Zaccai
Tue Jan 11, 03-05:00pm, 4-231
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Alison Hynd, Kate Mytty, Gianfranco Zaccai, Gaurav Rohatgi:
In 1999 Gianfranco Zaccai, founder and President of Continuum Design,
visited South Africa to participate in a design exercise intended to
develop solutions for a community facing extreme water problems. What
he came away with was a new set of insights and principles regarding
the design concerns of rural and peri-urban communities. Come learn
with Gianfranco, MIT alum Gaurav Rohatgi, and PSC staff as they share
their design sojourn and provide engaging, hands on design activities
that will prepare you for more productive design experiences in
resource scarce communities.
Sponsor: Public Service Center, IDEAS and the MIT Global Challenge
Web: http://www.continuuminnovation.com
Contact: Lars Torres, W20-549, (617) 324-5176, lhtorres at mit.edu
Sponsor: Public Service Center
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011
UN Climate Roundtable: What should we expect from the UN climate
negotiation process? A Discussion of International Climate Governance
Speaker: Rebecca Dell
Time: 10:30a–11:30a
Location: 5-231
The international community unanimously resolved to "prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system" at Rio Earth
Summit in 1992. In the 18 years since then, we have achieved one
binding international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions--the
Kyoto Protocol--but global emissions now exceed the worst case
scenario outlined in the 1990s. Many have found the international
process slow, confusing, and uninspiring, but there is no viable
alternative framework for addressing a truly international problem
like climate change.
Please join us for a round-table discussion on the UN climate
negotiations process, where we will try to clarify how the UN is
addressing climate change, what are some of the key sources of
conflict and obstruction, and where the UN is making progress (because
we are making progress in some areas). The discussion will be lead by
Rebecca Dell, a PhD student in climate science and the MIT student
delegate to the recent meeting of the parties to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change in Cancun, Mexico.
Light refreshments will be served.
Web site: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): MIT Energy Initiative
For more information, contact:
Jennifer DiMase
jdimase at mit.edu
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Technology in Humanitarian Crises: MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Effort in
Post Quake Haiti
Dr. Marc A. Zissman, Dr. Richard M. Heinrichs, Mischa M. Shattuck,
Amanda C. Schiff, Michael Hartnett
Wed Jan 12, 12-01:30pm, E40-496, Light Lunch Provided
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Join MIT Lincoln Laboratory staff on the one year anniversary of the
Haiti earthquake for a discussion about their efforts towards
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
This presentation will discuss the operation of the ALIRT 3-D laser
radar over Haiti and show examples of the collected data. The
information gleaned from this imagery was used to help determine the
migration of the greater than 750,000 people displaced by the
earthquake, in order to better plan for shipments of relief supplies.
Additionally, the development of a qualitative assessment tool and the
data collection methodology will be discussed. This will focus on how
real-time data supports decisions in humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief.
Contact: Dr. Marc A. Zissman, LIN-D-309, (781) 981-7606, maz at ll.mit.edu
Sponsor: Lincoln Laboratory
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Inspiration from Nature: Biomimicry Design Competition Preparatory
Lectures
Kachina Gosselin
Wed, Fri, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28, 01-03:00pm, 66-160
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Have you ever marveled at the swiftness of a cheetah? The adhesive
ability of gecko feet? The coherence of a flock of birds? Nature has
an amazing ability to solve challenges that seem at first glance to be
insurmountable. Peer into the design of natural systems and perhaps
glean insight into solutions to the pressing problems facing our
civilization. Compete to contribute to solving the greatest challenges
of our generation.
Coordinated with The Biomimicry Institute and with guest lectures in
topics from engineering to design to business development, this course
will introduce you to basic biomimicry tools and concepts,encourage
you to approach engineering problems from a systems thinking
perspective, and help you create technically novel solutions with the
simple elegance that nature inspires. This is a preparatory course to
prepare students for a new biomimicry design competition to be held in
the spring.
Sustainability is all around us, we just need to learn how to emulate
it.
Contact: Kachina Gosselin, (617) 893-1988, kachina at mit.edu
Sponsor: Mechanical Engineering
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Four Nuclear Lectures
Dr. Kosta Tsipis
Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Dr. Kosta Tsipis will present four nuclear lectures:
Jan. 12, 2010, 2-3PM, room 5-233: The Physics of Nuclear Weapons
Jan. 13, 2010, 2-3PM, room 5-233: Effects of a Nuclear Explosion in a
City
Jan. 19, 2010, 2-3PM, room 5-233: Nuclear Proliferation
Jan. 20, 2010, 2-3PM, room 5-233: The Origin, History and
Accomplishments of "Pugwash"
Contact: Dr. Kosta Tsipis, 3-435B, 253-2228, tsipis at mit.edu
Sponsor: Mechanical Engineering
The Physics of Nuclear Weapons
Dr. Kosta Tsipis
Wed Jan 12, 02-03:00pm, 5-233
Effects of a Nuclear Explosion in a City
Dr. Kosta Tsipis
Thu Jan 13, 02-03:00pm, 5-233
Nuclear Proliferation
Dr. Kosta Tsipis
Wed Jan 19, 02-03:00pm, 5-233
The Origin, History and Accomplishments of "Pugwash"
Dr. Kosta Tsipis
Thu Jan 20, 02-03:00pm, 5-233
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Financial Crisis -- What We Do and Don't Understand
Speaker: Bengt Holmstrom
Time: 2:00p–3:00p
Location: E51-395
IAP - The Financial Crisis -- What We Do and Don't Understand
Web site: http://student.mit.edu/iap/ns14.html
Open to: the general public
Sponsor(s): Economics Special Workshops/Seminars
For more information, contact:
Theresa Benevento
theresa at mit.edu
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"Fuel Your Mind" -- A Primer on Transportation Fuels, Current and Future
William H. Green (MIT Dept. of Chem. Eng.), George Huff & Jim Simnick
(BP Global Fuels Technology)
Thu Jan 13, 09am-04:00pm, 56-114
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up, lunch provided
How is crude oil converted into gasoline and other transportation
fuels? Is the gasoline available in Boston the same as what is
available in Chicago? What are biofuels and what is driving the demand
for these fuels of the future? Which fuel properties matter for
performance?
Please join us in this short course offered by engineers from BP and
Prof. Green to answer these and other questions, and to gain a better
understanding of transportation fuels, and fuel processing technology.
Topics to be addressed include:
1. Fuel Performance Criteria
2. Refining
3. Gasoline and Diesel
4. Biofuels, Ethanol & E85
Contact: William Green, 66-207A, x3-4580, whgreen at mit.edu
Sponsor: Chemical Engineering
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Climate CoLab Workshop
Robert Laubacher, Professor Thomas W. Malone, Joshua Introne
Thu Jan 13, 02-05:00pm, NE25-746
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Single session event
Prereq: None
The Climate CoLab is a web forum where people for all over the world
can work together to create proposals for what we should do about
climate change. It is a project of the MIT Center for Collective
Intelligence. The system combines web-based climate and economic
modeling, structured online conversation, and new kinds of group
decision making tools.
In this workshop, we invite students to learn about the Climate CoLab
and share their ideas about how the project might evolve in the
future. The workshop will start with a presentation on the Climate
CoLab by Sloan Professor Thomas W. Malone. We then will invite
students to undertake a series of tasks using the system. The final
part of the session will be a discussion of possible future directions
for the project, where we will welcome student input.
The workshop will be of value to students with an interest in
sustainability, climate change, and emerging energy technologies. It
will also be useful to students who would like to learn about next
generation Web 2.0 technologies.
Attendees should bring a laptop so they can use the Climate CoLab
during the session.
Web: http://climatecolab.org
Contact: Robert Laubacher, NE25-753, x3-0526, rjl at mit.edu
Sponsor: Sloan School of Management
----------------------------------------
Strategic Opportunities in Residential Energy Efficiency
Harvey Michaels
Thu Jan 13, 02:30-04:00pm, 56-154
The year ahead will be an important one for concept of enabling
efficiency as an energy resource, very challenging and with high
stakes for its long term viability. It’s a great time to get engaged!
In this session, we will discuss new strategies being developed or
tested to more successfully mitigate market barriers to efficiency in
homes, including consideration of:
• New models for utility and government-supported incentives,
including Green Communities
• Behavior/feedback systems, supported by Internet and “smart”
electric/gas meters.
• New business approaches, and policies promotive of innovation.
Please come and share your thoughts on:
• What are the big ideas that change everything?
• How will consumers respond to them?
• How do we align incentives with objectives?
• How can efficiency performance be effectively measured?
Harvey Michaels directs the multidisciplinary MIT Energy Efficiency
Strategy Project, which performs case research and analysis of
utility, community, and smart grid-enabled efficiency deployment models.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Contact: Harvey Michaels, hgm at mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Energy Initiative
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Residential Energy Savings: Real vs. Modeled
Michael Blasnik, Independent Consultant
Thu Jan 13, 06:30-08:00pm, 32-141
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Michael Blasnik will explain:
How to save the most energy in your home
Why real world savings don’t always equal modeled savings
Why the energy efficiency field needs great researchers
Michael Blasnik:
Has analyzed the energy use of millions of homes over the last 25
years
Heads the energy impact evaluation for the National Weatherization
Assistance Program
Is feisty, funny, and informative
This event is cosponsored by MITEI, Sustainability at MIT, the MIT Energy
Club, HEET, Cambridge Energy Alliance and Greenport
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Contact: Jennifer DiMase, E19-319, 452-3199, jdimase at mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Energy Initiative
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Wind Energy 101
Katherine Dykes
Fri Jan 14, 11am-12:00pm, 3-133
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Come join for an overview of wind energy fundamentals from the
physical resource, to the technology, to the economics, policy and
social impacts. For details on our wind energy activities, please see http://windenergy.mit.edu
Co-sponsored by the MIT Wind Energy Sub-Community of the Energy Club
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/iap
Contact: Katherine Dykes, dykesk at mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Energy Initiative
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Harvard
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1/11/11, 12:15pm ET, Harvard Law School **Please note earlier start
time for this date only**
RSVP is required via the form on the event page: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/luncheon/2011/01/wu
Topic: The Master Switch
Guests: Tim Wu, author of The Master Switch and Professor of Law at
Columbia University
Tim Wu presents his widely acclaimed new book THE MASTER SWITCH: The
Rise and Fall of Information Empires. "A Masterpiece" - Lawrence
Lessig. "A ripping yarn" - The Atlantic
About Tim
Tim Wu is an author, policy advocate and author of The Master Switch.
He is a professor at Columbia Law School, the chairman of media reform
organization Free Press. Wu was recognized in 2006 as one of 50
leaders in science and technology by Scientific American magazine, and
in 2007 Wu was listed as one of Harvard's 100 most influential
graduates by 02138 magazine.
Tim Wu's best known work is the development of Net Neutrality theory,
but he has also written about copyright, international trade, and the
study of law-breaking. He previously worked for Riverstone Networks in
the telecommunications industry in Silicon Valley, and was a law clerk
for Judge Richard Posner and Justice Stephen Breyer. He graduated from
McGill University (B.Sc.), and Harvard Law School.
Wu has written for the New Yorker, the Washington Post, Forbes, Slate
magazine, and others. He can sometimes be found at Waterfront
Bicycles, and he once worked at Hoo's Dumplings.
This event will be webcast live; for more information and a complete
description, see the event web page: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/luncheon/2011/01/wu
---------------------------------
Gorillas to Grizzlies: Conservation in Action from Africa to the
United States — Free Lecture and Booksigning
WHEN
Thu., Jan. 13, 2011, 6 – 7 p.m.
WHERE
Harvard Museum of Natural History
GAZETTE CLASSIFICATION
Education, Environmental Sciences, Lecture, Science, Special Events
ORGANIZATION/SPONSOR
Harvard Museum of Natural History
SPEAKER(S)
Amy Vedder and Bill Weber
COST
Free and open to the public
CONTACT INFO
617.495.3045
NOTE
Conservationists Amy Vedder and Bill Weber have devoted three decades
to ensuring the survival of endangered wildlife and wild lands around
the world. Vedder and Weber will discuss their pioneering work with
mountain gorillas in Rwanda, an effort combining wildlife and human
interests, and how this model can be applied to conserving North
America's charismatic animals and spectacular habitats.
LINK
http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/lectures_and_special_events/index.php
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Other
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Healing Haiti: Stories from Haitian Physicians
Dr. Inobert Pierre and Dr. Miliane Clermont from St. Boniface Hospital
in Fond des Blancs, Haiti
share their experiences for the one-year anniversary of the earthquake
Tuesday, January 11th
Harvard Medical School 12:30-1:30 pm
TMEC room 109, 260 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA
(Co-sponsored by AMSA, Students for Global Health)
Wednesday, January 12th
"We Will Never Forget - Nou Pap Janm Bliye"
Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave 4-9 pm (Co-sponsored
by AFAB, MACCHA and many other community based organizations)
Thursday, January 13th
Brigham and Women's Hospital 12:00-1:00 pm
Carrie Hall, 15 Francis St, Boston, MA
Cambridge Health Alliance 5:00-6:30 pm
Macht Auditorium, Macht Building, 1493 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA
All events are free and open to the public!
For more information, please email Zadok Sacks at zsacks at partners.org
<mailto:zsacks at partners.org>
or go to www.physiciansforhaiti.org <http://www.physiciansforhaiti.org>
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Tech Tuesday - Featuring Mobile Apps/ Devices/ Platforms and more!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET)
Cambridge, MA
Event Details
Where? Microsoft's NERD Center, 1 Memorial Drive Cambridge overlooking
the Boston skyline. Easily reached on the T at Kendall (Red Line),
there is also parking in the building.
Join your fellow geeks, tech savvy professionals, DIY-ers, press, and
other industry luminaries for this informal gathering.
MassTLC members interested in showcasing your mobile product, handset,
technology or platform to 300+ of the region's entrepreneurs,
investors and corporate decision makers contactLaura at masstlc.org.
Non-members interested in this opportunity contact Membership Director Kristen at masstlc.org
. This event is free to attend!
Presenting companies include:
AT&T, HeyWire, HTC, Malleable Devices, Microsoft, Motorola, Pyxis
Mobile, RIM, Samsung, Sprint, and Wireless ESP
A community meeting on the evening of Wednesday, January 12th at the
Great Hall, 6 Norfolk Street in Dorchester concerning the proposed
City land disposition and rezoning for Urban Agriculture in Mattapan/
Dorchester.
Sincerely,
Tad Read
Senior Planner III, BRA
617-918-4264
john.read.BRA at cityofboston.gov
register: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1069483855
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edSocialMedia Boston Tweetup!
Join edSocialMedia for a our Boston Tweetup! It's a terrific
opportunity for educators and administrators in the Boston area to
talk social media and schools.
When:
January 12th, 2011
5pm - 7pm
Where:
John Harvards Brew House
33 Dunster Street
Cambridge, MA
T- Harvard Square
Cost: FREE!
Boston Tweetup
Hosts:
Jesse Bardo, Director, edSocialMedia
Peter Baron, Partner, edSocialMedia
Join us
edSocialMedia is getting together in Boston for a great evening of
social media and education discussion. We are excited to be kicking
off our Making Facebook Pay Dividends: From Inquiry to Alumthe
following day could not think of a better way to celebrate.
Contact Info
Please kindly direct all inquiries to info at edsocialmedia.com or call
us at 617-855-5106.
http://bostweet.eventbrite.com/
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1st Business Meeting of the Internet Society - New England Chapter (in
formation)Thursday, January 13, 2011 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (ET)
Cambridge, MA
Event Details
Please join us for the first business meeting of Internet Society -
New England (US) Chapter (in formation) meeting. We ask that you
register for event planning purposes so that we may have an indication
of the number of participants expected.
The meeting space has been provided by the Harvard University Division
of Continuing Education and is located at 1 Story Street, Cambridge,
MA. The building is located on the corner of Brattle and Story
Streets in Harvard Square and the entrance is on Story Street; the
meeting room is on the third floor.
The meeting agenda will include the discussion of the draft bylaws,
consideration of any changes to the bylaws, adoption of the bylaws,
and election of the chapter officers and committee chairs. The
solicitation of nominations and the draft bylaws can be found on the
chapter website at http://isoc-ne.org.
We will have an audio conference bridge available for this meeting and
the teleconference bridge information will be published on the chapter
website prior to the meeting. We seek and encourage your active input
and participation.
Should you have any questions, nominations, or comments on the draft
bylaws, please forward them to info at isoc-ne.org.
Regards,
Hampton Watkins
Toral Cowieson
John Sax
http://isoc-ne-02.eventbrite.com/
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BASEA Forum
Thursday, January 13th, 7 pm, Clayton Handleman: "Our Renewable
Energy Future"
People, even climate-change non-sceptics, often ask "Will there be
enough renewable energy to really make a difference? Can renewable
energy really provide all of the country's electrical needs? If so,
by when? And how?"
Our January Forum speaker is a long-time BASEA member and board member
who will help us answer these questions: Clayton Hadleman of
Heliotronics will give an over-view on the future and importance of
renewable energy. His presentation will give BASEA members and
friends, as well as those less familiar with the subject of renewable
energy, the tools to communicate with others on this subject, and
become educators themselves.
In a presentation that is inspiring, fun, thought provoking - and a
little bit scary - Clayton will provide answers that many will find
surprising. Liberal use of graphics and visual aids will help put
into perspective the big energy picture in this country and to a large
degree throughout the developed and developing world. A compelling
case will be made that it is likely that we will achieve 20%
renewables in about 10 years but that there are barriers to getting
significantly beyond that. Those barriers will be identified as will
be some of the most promising solutions.
This talk originated as part of a one day teacher training about
renewable energy in the classroom. It has been designed to put
renewable energy into perspective so that the teachers can be
conversant on the impact that renewable energy will have on their
students' futures and the opportunities that it offers. From
interested citizens to government officials, from architects to
renewable energy professionals, this talk will provide new insights
into how and why renewable energy is growing at a rate that has
surprised even the optimists, and the ramifications of this change in
our world.
Location: First Parish in Cambridge Unitarian Universalist
3 Church Street, Harvard Square
Time: Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m
------------------------------------------
Arlington Weatherization Barnraising
Ring in the New Year by cutting carbon and helping the community!
Arlington HEET's next event will be Saturday, January 15 from 9 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m. at 164 Mount Vernon Street.
On the great list of things we’ll be doing:
• Putting some polyisocyanurate rigid insulation in a knee wall,
along the roofline
• Some fireblock work where the chimney exits the attic, which has
been converted to a living space
• Wrapping pipes
• Improving safety on a number of items (dryer vent, chimney opening)
• Lots of work in the basement to stop air flow both into the home
and up to the living area
• Weather sealing three doors,
• And a bunch of other fun things
This is going to be another great day doing great work. Bonus: If
you’re short with extremely long arms we’ve got some work for you!
If you can make it, please RSVP to arlHEET at gmail.com.
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Upcoming
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MIT Independent Activities Period
January 3 - 28
http://web.mit.edu/iap/
IAP is a month-long celebration of learning where anyone at MIT, from
a professor emeritus to the cleaning staff, can present a course or
lecture. It is primarily for the MIT community but if you don't make
a scene you can partake of the educational banquet too.
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Plasma Science and Fusion Center IAP Series
Peter Catto, Abhay Ram, John Rice, Paul Rivenberg
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
This series introduces plasma physics research and areas of related
interest at the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. See URL below.
Web: http://www.psfc.mit.edu/
Contact: Paul Rivenberg, NW16-284, x3-8101, rivenberg at psfc.mit.edu
Sponsor: Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Using models to study climate
John Marshall
An approach to the study of climate that emphasizes modeling
hierarchies, but based on a common set of modeling tools. Prof.
Marshall will illustrate some of the science that such models
facilitate in the context of paleo climate (focusing on the past 50
million years), exploring, for example, whether more than one stable
climate might exist for a given external forcing.
Tue Jan 18, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218
Climate change, nuclear proliferation and fusion energy
Rob Goldston, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Tue Jan 18, 03-04:00pm, NW17-218
Fifty Years of Fusion
Dale Meade, Fusion Innovation Research and Energy (FIRE)
Wed Jan 19, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218
An Alcator chronicle, or What happened to Alcator B?
Ron Parker
Wed Jan 19, 03-04:00pm, NW17-218
The challenge of fusion burn and ITER
Steven Cowley, Culham Center for Fusion Energy
Thu Jan 20, 11am-12:00pm, NW17-218
Recreating deep interior states of planets and stars in the laboratory
Rip Collins
Developments in inertial confinement fusion have led to new ways of
exploring highly compressed materials, such as those found deep inside
giant planets and low mass stars, where the crushing force of gravity
makes matter extremely dense. Recent experiments show that such
compressed materials have rather exotic properties; and some
fundamental rules of condensed matter, chemistry, and plasma physics
break down.
Thu Jan 20, 03-04:00pm, NW17-218
MIT study on the future of natural gas
Daniel Cohn
Use of shale gas has created a large increase in the availability of
low cost natural gas, and with it new opportunities for reducing CO2
and oil dependence. This talk will discuss the MIT interdisciplinary
study on the future of natural gas.
Fri Jan 21, 10-11:00am, NW17-218
Diagnosing plasma turbulence in tokamaks
Anne White
Scientists have made great progress in understanding and predicting
turbulent transport in tokamaks, but challenges remain. Future fusion
reactor development depends on using fluctuation diagnostics to
monitor plasma turbulence, and comparing the results with advanced
theory and simulations. This talk considers recent advances in
diagnosing turbulent transport in tokamaks, and the path to predicting
transport in ITER.
Fri Jan 21, 11:15am-12:30pm, NW17-218
Tour of Alcator C-Mod and the Versatile Toroidal Facility (VTF)
Tour guide TBD
Visit the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, a well-tested approach to fusion
research that has direct applications to ITER, the world's largest
tokamak, currently under construction in France. Compare this to the
Versatile Toroidal Facility, a small student-built tokamak used to
explore magnetic reconnection, the process observed in solar flares.
Fri Jan 21, 01:30-02:30pm, NW17-218
---------------------------------------------------
Introduction to Nuclear Power
Benoit Forget, Paul Romano, Jacob DeWitte
Tue Jan 18 thru Fri Jan 21, 10:30am-12:00pm, 4-149
Enrollment limited: first come, first served
Limited to 50 participants.
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Course 1: Historical perspective of nuclear fission; Overview of
radioactive decay and nuclear fission; Basic concepts of a nuclear
power reactor. Course 2: Introduction of nuclear reactor safety.
Discussion of reactivity and feedback mechanisms. Overview of defense
in depth concepts. Discussion of Chernobyl accident. Course 3:
Overview of the fuel cycle; From mining to waste disposal, this course
will discuss ore processing, enrichment, spent nuclear fuel and long
term disposal. Course 4: Overview of closed-fuel cycles possibilities
such as Pu recycling and Minor actinides recycling. Introduction to
fast reactors.
Particularly geared for Freshman.
Contact: Benoit Forget, 24-214, (617) 253-1655, bforget at mit.edu
Sponsor: Nuclear Science and Engineering
--------------------------------------------
Income Inequality in America
Frank Levy
Mon Jan 24, Tue Jan 25, Wed Jan 26, 10-11:00am, 9-450A
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
In 2008, the top 1 percent of households received about 21% of all
income, twice its income share in 1990 and roughly equal its share in
1929 at the end of the Gilded Age. Average household income in the top
1 percent doubled over these years (adjusted for inflation) while
income of the average household grew by 5 percent.
This activity will consist of three sessions reviewing what we know
about the causes of income inequality including immigration,
technological change, the growth of the financial sector and
international trade. We will also devote some time to discussing what
is known about the consequences of inequality for national life.
Contact: Frank Levy, 9-523, x3-2089, flevy at mit.edu
Sponsor: Urban Studies and Planning
---------------------------------------
MIT Physics Lecture Series:g
Exoplanets and the Search for Habitable Worlds
Professor Sara Seager
Mon Jan 24, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
For thousands of years people have wondered, “Are we Alone?” With
about 500 planets discovered to orbit nearby stars, the existence of
exoplanets is firmly established. Astronomers are now able to
routinely measure planetary sizes, masses, and atmospheres for a
subset of hot, big exoplanets. The race to find habitable exoplanets
is on with the realization that big Earths orbiting small stars can be
both discovered and characterized with existing technology. Professor
Seager will answer the four questions she gets asked most often:
“What could aliens see, looking at Earth from afar?”; “When will
we find another Earth?”; “Can we go there?”; “If we cannot go
there, why look?”
Contact: Nancy Boyce, 4-315, 253-4461, nboyce at mit.edu
Sponsor: Physics
--------
Other
--------
The first Nerdnite of 2011 is at a special time and place – January
17 at the A.R.T Oberon Theater in Harvard Square
We’ll return to the Middlesex on the last monday of February
The next Nerdnite:
Monday January 17, 2010 — 8pm at the Oberon
2 Arrow Street, Cambridge
In Harvard Square
$5 at the door or in advance from the Oberon website
Click http://boston.nerdnite.com/2011/01/07/jan-17-special-nerdnite-event-at-the-oberon/
to buy advance tickets
The lineup:
Talk 1: “R. Buckminster Fuller: Prototype of the American Nerd”
by D.W. Jacobs
Talk 2: “Derivatives Work: The Brief Histories of “Happy
Birthday” and “Who Let the Dogs Out”
by Ben Sisto
------------------
GreenPort Forum:
Growing Community-Scale Energy in New England: What Vermont's
District Heating Efforts Could Mean for Cambridge
with speaker Ralph Meima, Board Co-Chair, Brattleboro Thermal Utility,
Inc.
Ralph Meima is Program Director, MBA in Managing for Sustainability,
Marlboro College Graduate School, Brattleboro, VT. Until he joined
Marlboro College in 2006, Ralph Meima was Assistant Professor of
Organizational Management at the School for International Training.
He has written books and articles on environmental management and
policy. Other research interests include simulation design,
experiential education, CSR, and sustainable development. Meima serves
on the board of the Vermont Environmental Consortium, and is Co-
Chairman of the Board of Brattleboro Thermal Utility, which is
developing a biomass district energy system. Meima began his career
as an IT industry engineer.
Brattleboro Thermal Utility's mission is to create a community energy
system for the Town of Brattleboro, Vermont generating both
electricity and thermal energy, using biomass as a fuel, for the
benefit of multiple stakeholders and the town as a whole. Their long-
term aim is to eliminate Brattleboro's dependency on fossil fuels
(primarily oil and natural gas) for heating, and obtain most of its
electricity from renewable local sources.
District energy could have direct applications in Cambridge, as the
most efficient means of delivering heat and energy to our homes.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
7:00pm
Cambridgeport Baptist Church
459 Putnam Av, Cambrige
(corner of Magazine St. and Putnam Av)
For more information, contact Steve Morr-Wineman at swineman at gis.net
--------------------------
*Skillshare: Art of the Schmooze - Thursday, January 20 from 6PM-8:30PM*
The NonProfit Center, downtown Boston
This highly interactive, fast-paced skillshare hosted by Robbie
Samuels will
help you make the most out of Connecting for Justice the following
week.Forming and cultivating relationships is at the heart of any
successful
fundraising campaign, volunteer drive, committee effort or community
building activity. This workshop will give you the confidence to
pursue your
personal goals. Learn how to get in and out of conversations smoothly,
how
to create a welcoming space by considering yourself a host and the
difference between croissants vs. bagels.
*RSVP:* http://www.sojust.org/calendar/15792339/ and *spread the word:*
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176827112338467
-------------------------
It is now possible to order tickets for "R. Buckminster Fuller: THE
HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE" in Cambridge, MA. Performances
start on Jan 14th and run through Feb 5th. During previews (1/14 -
1/18) all tickets are $35 (for A and B sections). After previews
tickets are from $25 - $65 (the $25 tickets are for the last two rows
in the theater).
You can take advantage of a special offer to see the Saturday, January
22nd 2:00pm or the Sunday, January 23rd 7:30pm performance by using
the Promotional Code THIRTYVERTI for $35 tickets (Normally $50-$65)
for those two specific performances. This discount can not be combined
with any other offers such as Student, $25 advance or Senior Discount
and are subject to availability.
Tickets are on a first come, first served basis, so please order your
tickets for the play now.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.AmericanRepertoryTheater.org,
by phone at 617.547.8300, or in person at the A.R.T. Box Office, 64
Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Please register for the event on-line at
http://synergeticscollaborative.org/registration.01.2011.html
Jan 22 Special Exhibit
====== ======= =======
After the Saturday, January 22nd 2:00pm performance, the Synergetics
Collaborative, Foundation for New Directions (FND), Museum of
Mathematics (MoMath), and American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) will
present an exhibit featuring a special geometry activity led by George
Hart of MoMath. Synergetics Collaborative, MoMath and FND will have
people on hand to discuss, explain, demonstrate and engage
participants with the displays. Some displays will be hands-on.
Jan 23 Discussion/Seminar
====== ==================
On Sunday, 23 January from 10am to 4pm, the Foundation for New
Directions (FND) will host a discussion seminar on "Building on Marvin
Solit's Work". We plan to break in time so that interested
participants can go to the theater to see the Dymaxion Car #4
presentation (see next item).
Please either bring a potluck or pre-register and bring $15 so we can
provide enough food for lunch and snacks.
Jan 23 Special Presentation
====== ======= ============
After the Sunday, January 23rd 2pm and 7:30pm performances, the
Synergetics Collaborative and American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) will
present a special presentation by Thomas T. K. Zung on Lord Norman
Foster's Dymaxion Car #4. Thomas T. K. Zung was Buckminster Fuller's
long-time architectural partner, editor of the book Buckminster
Fuller: Anthology for a New Millenium, and a Distiguished Fellow to
the Stanford University Libraries.
Anyone with a ticket stub for a performance of the A.R.T. production
of R. Buckminster Fuller: THE HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE
will be able to attend the special events at the A.R.T. by presenting
their ticket stub to gain access. The special events are scheduled
for 4:30pm after a matinee performance and 10pm after the evening
performance.
Please register for the event on-line at
http://synergeticscollaborative.org/registration.01.2011.html
More details are on the event web page at
http://synergeticscollaborative.org/snec.announce.meeting.2011.01.html
Editorial Comment: I have met the writer and director of this play
and friends who saw it last summer in Washington DC enjoyed it. I
will most definitely be at George Hart's presentation, having attended
a couple of his presentations, learned a lot, and had much fun
building geometric sculptures of his design.
If you want to see my own geometric modeling, you can watch this video
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEinwxzzUEs
------------------------------
BREAD AND PUPPET THEATER
The Return of Ulysses
and
Decapitalization Circus
Reducing the proceedings of the historic dramma per musica to 75
minutes, brazenly updating the Baroque accents and adding two timely
prologues, (Peter Schumann) labelled his marvellous mishmash a
"respectful truncation?."
["The Return of Ulysses," <http://www.ft.com/> , Dec. 6, 2010]
Boston Center for the Arts
CYCLORAMA
January 24 through January 30
presented in partnership with the Boston Center for the Arts as part
of the Cyclorama Residency Series
(Boston, MA 02116) Bread and Puppet Theater presents ?The Return of
Ulysses? and ?Decapitalization Circus? : two separate performances
presented in partnership with the Boston Center for the Arts as part
of the Cyclorama Residency Series. Performances, Art Exhibit, and
Cheap Art Sale run from January 24 through January 30. All held in
the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA), 539 Tremont
St., South End, Boston. Wheelchair accessible. Tickets for the
performances available for purchase [cash or
check only] in the Cyclorama one hour before each performance. For
advance tickets, log onto www.breadandpuppet.org <http://www.breadandpuppet.org/
>
or call 866-811-4111 (toll free). For detailed information regarding
the week?s events, call the BCA's Bread and Puppet Theater information
line at
617-800-9539 or log onto <http://www.bcaonline.org/> www.bcaonline.org.
Detailed listings information:
Evening Performances [recommended for ages 12 & older]:
Bread and Puppet Theater: The Return of Ulysses
Jan. 27-Jan. 30, Thurs.-Sun., 7 pm
$12 general admission [$10 students, seniors, & groups of 10 or more]
Description: This "respectfully truncated," rough-hewn, and bold DIY
adaptation of Claudio Monteverdi's opera was first developed this past
June by Bread and Puppet in collaboration with the Theatre Department
of Concordia University in Montreal and the Montreal Baroque
Festival. The production was initially performed as a dress rehearsal
in the DB Clarke Theatre at Concordia and then presented as a festival
performance in the plaza of the Centre Mondial. During July & August
in Glover, VT (Bread and
Puppet?s base of operations), the opera was pared down to
approximately 75 minutes, including 10 minutes of prologue. The
performances have been conceived to include 20 volunteer puppeteers
and 15-20 volunteer singers and instrumentalists in the chorus and
orchestra with Peter Schumann playing the role of Penelope. Schumann
describes the plot as follows: "In order to commit genocide on their
competitors, the Trojans, the tricky Greeks employ their multitalented
sky, full of custom tailored divinities, to justify the
crime, just as we employ our Judeo-Christian sky, occupied by a divine
air force and permitted by the in-god-we-trust court system, to
justify our atrocities in Afghanistan, Palestine and elsewhere. By
order of Jove, the boss, and with special help from his daughter
Minerva, Ulysses finally returns home, where he has to murder 100 evil
suitors in order to be happily reunited with wife and property." The
piece includes two prologues, "Modern Sky" and "Antique Sky." For
Boston, The Return of Ulysses will be performed
by Peter Schumann and the Bread & Puppet Company, along with a large
number of local volunteer puppeteers and musicians. Informal talk
back with the artists follows each performance. Sourdough rye bread
will be served and cheap art will be for sale after each performance.
Family-Friendly Matinees:
Bread and Puppet Theater: Decapitalization Circus
Jan. 29-Jan. 30, Sat.-Sun., 4 pm
$10 general admission [$5 students, seniors, and pre-school children
(2 &
under free)]
Description: The family-friendly "Decapitalization Circus"
demonstrates in numerous death-defying stunts the fantastic effects of
the capitalization of life in the U.S. and citizens? courageous
efforts of decapitalization. The performers represent the whole scale
of the social spectrum from benign billionairism to despicable
homeless anti-social-elementarianism. All the acts are FDA and FBI
certified displays of patriotic correctness and defy all imaginable
forms of terrorism. The Possibilitarians, a multi-instrumental
variety ensemble, provide the appropriate-inappropriate sounds for the
Circus. Performed by Peter Schumann and the Bread & Puppet Company,
along with a large number of local volunteer puppeteers and
musicians. Take note that some of the circus acts are politically
puzzling to adults, but accompanying kids can usually explain them.
The audience is welcome to examine all the masks and puppets after the
performance. Cheap art will be for sale after each performance.
Visual Art Exhibit:
Bread and Puppet Theater: NOLANGUAGE, visual art installation created by
Peter Schumann
Jan. 24-Jan. 30, Mon.-Sun.
Free and open to all.
Description: Bread and Puppet Theater Artistic Director Peter
Schumann?s most recent visual art exploration, ranging from very large
paintings to very small string booklets, which depict matters that
concern us all.
Exhibit details:
--Mon., Jan. 24, 6-9 pm: opening reception, with refreshments, an art
talk given by Schumann, short skits performed by the touring company,
and live music performed by the Boston Typewriter Orchestra (www.bostontypewriterorchestra.com
<http://www.bostontypewriterorchestra.com/> ) and the Dirty Water
Brass Band (www.dirtywaterbrassband.com <http://www.dirtywaterbrassband.com/
> ).
--Tues.-Fri., Jan. 25-28: regular Cyclorama hours: 9am-5pm [Thursday &
Friday hours extended up to and after the evening performance].
--Sat.-Sun., Jan. 29-30: one hour before and after each matinee and
evening performance.
For this residency at the Cyclorama, the Bread and Puppet touring
company includes Schumann, along with Maura Gahan, Greg Corbino,
Maryann Colella, Susie Perkins, among others. Both the evening and
matinee performances will be performed by the company and a large
number of local volunteers and musicians, including the popular
Somerville-based Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society Brass Band
( <http://www.slsaps.org/> www.slsaps.org), who is the host band for
the yearly HONK! Festival (www.honkfest.org
<http://www.honkfest.org/> ) held in Davis Square.
In addition to Peter Schumann?s NOLANGUAGE art installation, the
Cyclorama will also be decorated with the unique Bread and Puppet
collection of powerful black-line posters, banners, masks, curtains,
programs and set-props. All pieces are created by Schumann, including
sculpting and painting all the major masks and puppets, with input
from the company. After each evening performance there will be an
opportunity to savor Schumann's famous sourdough rye bread, smeared
with garlic aioli; and there will also be many opportunities during
the week to purchase the theater's legendary "cheap art."
For more information on the Bread and Puppet Theater, log onto
<http://www.breadandpuppet.org/> www.breadandpuppet.org.
ABOUT THE BOSTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS:
The Boston Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit performing and
visual arts complex that supports working artists to create, perform
and exhibit new works, builds new audiences, and connects art to
community. Visit <http://www.bcaonline.org/> www.bcaonline.org for
more information.
------------------
Request for Help
------------------
The Somerville Winter Farmers Market is beginning its first year! It
will be Saturdays 10-2 at the Armory on 191 Highland Ave in
Somerville, MA. January 8th through March 26th. Please spread the word
to your friends, family and coworkers.
ALSO----We are looking for musicians, as well as people interested in
leading skillshares and workshops on a variety of topics having to do
with food or
sustainability in general. It would be great to collaborate!
Please email me at adrianne.schaefer at gmail.com with suggestions,
leads, or contacts.
Thanks!
Adrianne Schaefer
Market Manager
Somerville Winter Farmers Market
------------
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://www.environment.harvard.edu/events/calendar/
--------------------------------------------------
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 at world.std.com
More information about the Act-MA
mailing list