Provocative Public Lectures

There are three provocative public lectures coming up this month at the University of Utah.  

Two are this week, are hosted by The Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, and will be given by Myles Allen, who is visiting from the University of Oxford.  The first explores the role of climate change in extreme weather events.  

The second explores what it would take to stop global warming.  


Each of these is being given in the L.S. Skaggs Applies Science Building, which is a new building (and my home) just off of University Street.  I don't think it shows up on Google Maps yet, but it is immediately west (and connected to) the Stewart Building (see https://map.utah.edu/?buildingnumber=18). Do not confuse it with the Skaggs Biology Building which is a bit farther to the east.  

The third talk is an evening Frontiers of Science lecture being given by Nobel Laureate Martin Chalfie on October 22.  Parking and RSVP information is available at https://science.utah.edu/events/frontiers-of-science-martin-chalfie/. 


The talk is entitled The Continuing Need for Useless Information, a subject that appeals to me.  The abstract states that "real discovery happens when scientists are free to explore without needing to justify usefulness in advance." 

Hear hear!  

Dr. Chalfie plans to discuss "how we can create space for the unexpected discoveries that drive future scientific breakthroughs," something that is desperately needed in our growing higher education bureaucracy.  In addition to students, staff, faculty, and the general public, University administrators are strongly encouraged to attend.

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