It is funny that I picked the busiest week for me this month to start writing blog posts again. For readers who have been following me – I am again working on reviewing the literature re: women in science (and that will be coming soon!). Thanks again for being patient 🙂

Right now my brain is split into many pieces: one for editing research grants, one for helping out with a research roundtable, one for planning upcoming public events, one for writing blog posts, and one for my personal life (yes, I do have one apparently :P). But my busy schedule also means that there are some public science talks coming up!

This week, there are 3 international roundtable events happening at the UBC Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.

Since its founding two decades ago, the mission of the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies has been to create collaborative, interdisciplinary, basic research programs for scholars at all stages of their career. It is one of only 30 similar institutions worldwide devoted to the free pursuit of learning and research at the highest levels.

I have been helping out as a coordinator for one of the roundtables. While these roundtable discussions themselves are not public, a requirement for these events is that each must present a public lecture. Here are the three upcoming public lectures via the Institute:

The Universe: Its Structure and Its Support of Life

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013 (TODAY!)

7:30pm-9:00pm in Room 1013 at the UBC Earth Science Building (2207 Main Mall)

No RSVP required, but make sure you arrive a little bit earlier to get a seat. There is a plan to film the session to make it publicly available in the future.

This is a public lecture that I am involved in organizing. The two speakers, Graca Rocha (Staff Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California and Member of the Planck Satellite Collaboration) and Pascal Lee (Staff Research Scientist Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California and Member of the Planck Satellite Collaboration) will be talking about our understanding of the Universe and what the future holds for us in searching for another civilization in our Universe.

Ocean Acidification

Thursday, October 24th, 2013

7:00pm-9:00pm in the Auditorium at the UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum ( 2212 Main Mall)

RSVP required – register online at pwiasoceanacidification.eventbrite.ca

Several experts will be speaking about the science of ocean acidification and how it affects the marine ecosystems. Topics will cover an introduction on ocean acidification, its effects on coral reefs, the research experience from Scandinavia, and what we can do in the future. There will be a poster session after the lecture, so you will have a chance to see the research projects done by UBC students and post-docs.

Am I My Brain?

Friday, October 25, 2013

7:00pm-9:00pm at the Royal Bank Cinema of the UBC Chan Centre (6265 Crescent Road)

RSVP required – email bacanim@mail.ubc.ca

How do we define who we are? Am I my brain? Join a group of scholars, writers, and artists in the discussion of neurocentric thinking – “the worldview that situates the brain as the key organ that provides meaning to our lives.” The evening will begin with a performance by Sarah Chase, a world renown dance/literary artist, and will follow with short presentations by scholars.

And don’t forget that I continue to update upcoming events on the Events page. You can subscribe to the Google calendar on the page by clicking on its icon at the lower right corner of the calendar.

Have fun and hope to see you there!