You can watch a short video about the Scientists Fair here (video).

The purpose of this event is to not only acquaint people to scientific knowledge, but also to how that knowledge is obtained. We want people to ask these experts how theories are supported with experimentation, what hypotheses were tested and confirmed or falsified, and to what extent is there consensus amongst their colleagues about a given theory.

 Participants talking with physicists Dr. Sean Tulin and Dr. Brian Nord

• Date: 05/18/2013
• Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Location: Museum of Natural History

Located on 6885 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, the center is open 7 days a week from 10:00am to 6:00pm.  The admission is $7 per person, $5 for children under 11 and seniors, and no charge for toddlers.

From the website: The Center’s primary objectives are education and conservation. We also participate in the rehabilitation and re-release of endangered native animals and the rescue and placement of displaced pets.

Members of the Ann Arbor Science & Skeptics will receive $1 off of admission with the following coupon (redeem at the entrance).

Our special guest will be Dr. Gordon Moore, geologist and assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan.  Dr. Moore will talk about the science of studying volcanoes.  And what’s a discussion about volcanoes without some cool pictures of volcanoes? We’ll have some of those as well.

The first part of the event will be for general socializing and ordering refreshments. After which, there will be some announcements, and then we will start the conversation at approximately 4:30.

The Origin of Life is a symposium free and open to the public

Friday, April 5, 2013; 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

340 West Hall

Registration is not required.

For more information, please visit http://lsa.umich.edu/cscs.

Directed and produced by Vivek Palavali, neurosurgeon from Flint, Michigan and supporter of local science and freethought groups throughout the area, this documentary presents a sophisticated and wide-ranging examination on the state of healthcare in America.

The screening will be presented by the director himself, in the lower level of Elmo’s Hideaway (Elmo’s T-Shirts on 220 Main Street).  The movie will start at approximately 7:00pm.  There will be a Q&A directly after the movie. There is no charge to attend this screening.

…a research team led by two University of Michigan biologists has used a large-scale genetic study of the lowly house dust mite to uncover an example of reversible evolution…

Cryptic clams: U-M biologists find species hiding in plain view

Two University of Michigan marine biologists have identified three cryptic species of tiny clams, long believed to be members of the same species, which have been hiding in plain view along the rocky shores of southern Australia for millions of years.

Young supernova remains found by U-M astronomer

The remnants of a supernova—among the youngest ever found in the Milky Way—have been discovered by a University of Michigan astronomer

Other Stories:

• Changes in U.S. population coming sooner than expected
• Do blood thinners + stroke treatment = danger? Study indicates the risk is low
• Stressed-out tadpoles grow larger tails to escape predators
• U-M’s new solar car marks transition for nation’s top team
• Protected areas successfully prevent deforestation in Amazon rainforest

All Camp Explorations programs include daily experiments, hands-on activities, related games, journaling and plenty of fun!  We offer 8 sessions and each session is a new experience. Session topics include Archaeology, Paleontology, Astronomy, Forensic Science and much more!  Mix and match any of our programs with other University of Michigan programs from our friends at KidSport and Outdoor Adventures. We also offer aftercare for a nominal fee.

A complete listing of camp sessions, along with more details, is available online (Camp Explorations information is on page 6). Email Brittany Chunn (brchunn@umich.edu) or call 734.647.6421 for more information.

Register early — several camp sessions filled up last year! 

Scheduled to begin its 10 year mission after 2018, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will search for the first luminous objects of the Universe to help answer fundamental questions about how the Universe came to look like it does today. At 6.5 meters in diameter, JWST will be the world’s largest space telescope. This talk reviews science objectives for JWST and how they drive the JWST architecture, e.g. aperture, wavelength range and operating temperature. Additionally, the talk provides an overview of the JWST primary mirror technology development and fabrication status. (JWST_Poster_FINAL_LoRes)

You can like this group on Facebook to find out about more fun, future events.

We will be screening a critically acclaimed documentary called The Revisionaries, which describes the controversial actions of the 2009-2010 Texas Board of Education that mandated science textbooks to introduce language that would weaken the theory of evolution by natural selection.

The first part of the event will be a few brief announcements, and then we’ll start the screening at approximately 1:30pm.  And after the film, we’re hoping to have an audio conference call with Revisionaries director, Scott Thurman.

There is no charge for this meet-up, but we are accepting donations for the 2013 Scientists Fair.

If interested, I had the privilege of interviewing Thurman about the making of the film on the Critical Wit podcast (audio).  You can listen to the short 20-minute conversation here.

RSVP here.

Carl Cohen is a professor of philosophy at the University of Michigan.  You can find out more about his activisim in a variety of controversial areas by visiting his wikipedia page.

I’ve provided a list of conversation highlights and time marks for easier locating: (how Carl Cohen become involved in animal rights at 1:00), (on animals being used in research at 5:00), (explaining rights and obligations at 9:00), (what animal research would be too far or not allowable at 15:00), a discussion of rights and interests at 24:00), (how animals were used in testing Polio vaccines at 32:00), (on using mice in labs at 44:00), (on Nobel prizes in medicine based on animal research at 53:00), (on “consent” at 1:00:00), (analogy between animals and humans who are cognitively impaired at 1:08:00), (on pain and suffering at 1:14:00), (return to “consent” and sex with animals at 1:22:00).

Our special guest will be Dr. Carl Cohen, professor of philosophy.  Carl is an advocate for animal testing in scientific research and has strong opinions on the issue of animal rights in general.

You can familiarize yourself with some examples of Carl’s writings/lectures here:

• The Case for the Use of Animals in Biomedical Research
• Carl Cohen: Why Animals Do Not Have Rights (video series)

The first part of the event will be for general socializing and ordering refreshments. After which, there will be some announcements, and then there we will start the conversation at approximately 5:45.

As a courtesy to the host and restaurant staff, please RSVP for you and other guests that you are bringing, so that I can provide an accurate tally.  Thanks!

RSVP here.

Skepticamps are informal, lively gatherings promoting science and critical thinking.  Participants are encouraged to discuss and question both traditional skeptical topics and new subjects.  Attendance is free, though all attendees are encouraged to help by either speaking, helping set up/clean up, or making a donation.  No one, however, will be turned away because they don’t have a specific task.

Last year’s event attracted skeptics from around the Midwest.  A range of topics were presented from psychology to conspiracy theories to youth outreach.

Over 100 people are expected to attend Chicago Skepticamp 2013.  Everyone who will be attending Chicago Skepticamp 2013 should register at http://chicagoskepticamp2013.eventbrite.com/#.  More information will be available at http://chicagoskeptics.net/skepticamp/.

Founded in 2006, Chicago Skeptics seeks to promote science and critical-thinking skills. Chicago Skeptics sponsors speakers and organizes discussion groups.  They also organize social events and concerts.  Past events include speeches by Hemant Mehta, Brian Dunning, and Rebecca Watson.  George Hrab has performed three concerts for Chicago Skeptics.

More information about Chicago Skeptics can be found at http://chicagoskeptics.net/.  Chicago Skeptics are also on Twitter @chicagoskeptics.

Additional information about Skepticamps around the world can be found at http://skepticamp.org.

Event Contact:
William Brinkman
wbrinkman2007@me.com

(from the website) The American Nuclear Society Student Section at the University of Michigan will hold an outreach event for the population of Ann Arbor, MI and the surrounding community, where members of the public and students can ask their questions on nuclear energy, its regulation, safety, future and a few other topics.

Panelists will include representatives from Region III of the USNRC (United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission) to address questions and concerns on regulation of existing and new power plants and environmental impact; professors who are experts in Nuclear Reactor Design and Reactor Safety; and panelists from the local nuclear power industry and electric company to talk about the economics (current and new reactors) and the use of nuclear power in our local energy mix.

The topics of the event would cover a Fukushima recap and summary of events, future of nuclear power, safety of current nuclear plants and comparison of environmental effects, economics, and safety compared with other power sources.

This is a structured town hall meeting intended to answer all types of questions on nuclear energy with a general Q&A period at the end.

(download pdf flyer here)

Published on January 13, 2013 (cross-posted from our group’s Meetup.com page)

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I went to this and it was amazing, esp. for those involved in animal rights… at the Gallery Project 215 South Fourth Avenue, Ann Arbor

JANUARY 3 THRU FEBRUARY 10

Curated by Linda Kalof, Rocco DePietro, and Gloria Pritschet

From the website:

Gallery Project presents Interspecies, a multimedia exhibit in which 33 local, regional, and national artists, filmmakers, and scientists explore issues of cooperation and other forms of novel interactions between different animal species including humans.

The Interspecies exhibit focuses on the complex and changing relationships between humans and animals and between various animal species. As a culture, our understanding of these relationships is often based on false and outdated assumptions about animal intelligence and behavior. New research mainly from field biologists and anthropologists is finding evidence of intergroup cooperation and communication including such behaviors as sharing of territories and food, cooperative hunting, reciprocity, mutualism, care giving, play, and anti-predator behaviors such as alarm calls and signaling. While cooperation is the primary focus of the exhibit, other forms of interactions will be explored including exploitation. We are also interested in what happens when animal habitats are encroached by humans and vice versa.

Sean Tulin is a theoretical particle physicist at the University of Michigan.

• Free story time in our Planetarium at 6 & 7 pm, featuring Love, Splat by Rob Scotton. Limited to 36; children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Free DNA and Race demonstration at 6 pm.
• Free dinosaur tour (30 minutes) at 7 & 8 pm. Space on tours is limited to 15 people.
•  Planetarium shows ($3) at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 & 8:30 pm. Shows are 30 minutes long.

From the website:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks tells the story of a young black woman who died of cervical cancer in 1951-and left behind an inexplicably immortal line of cells known as HeLa. Henrietta Lacks, whose cells-harvested without her knowledge or consent-contributed to scientific advancements as varied as the polio vaccine, treatments for cancers and viruses, in-vitro fertilization, and the impact of space travel on human cells.

Located in the Multi-Purpose room (in the lower level of the main branch), there will be several professors and researchers from the University of Michigan with expertise in general fields of knowledge, available to answer your questions. Some of the topics will include evolution, climate change, the Big Bang, and more.

You can watch a short video about the Scientists Fair here (video).

The purpose of this event is to not only acquaint people to scientific knowledge, but also to how that knowledge is obtained. We want people to ask these experts how theories are supported with experimentation, what hypotheses were tested and confirmed or falsified, and to what extent is there consensus amongst their colleagues about a given theory.

I hope we can get your participation.

Our special guest will be Dr. Sean Tulin, theoretical particle physicist.  Sean was one of our guests at last year’s Scientists Fair.  Sean will help answer our questions and provide explanations for how theoretical particle physics provides insight into the laws of nature.

The first part of the event will be for general socializing and ordering refreshments. After which, there will be some announcements, and then there will be an informal conversation about particle physics

As a courtesy to the host and restaurant staff, please RSVP for you and other guests that you are bringing, so that I can provide an accurate tally.  Thanks!

RSVP here.

(picture of Sean Tulin taken from Ann Arbor Science & Skeptics: Scientists Fair)

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The Sky Tonight: Star Talk

Saturdays at 11:30 am, 1:30 & 3:30 pm; Sundays at 1:30 & 3:30 pm PLUS: December 27 and 28 at 11:30 and 1:30 PLUS January 2, 3, 4 & 21 at 11:30 am & 1:30 pm And on Martin Luther King Day. January 21, at 11:30 and 1:30

Bright stars, constellations, planets, and telescopic objects in the current night sky will be discussed in this live “star talk.” Then leave Earth and “fly” out into space to examine the planets in the current sky.

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Season of Light

December weekends: Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 PLUS December 27 and 28 at 12:30 PLUS January 2, 3 & 4 at 12:30 pm

An elegant and sophisticated program about the coldest and darkest of seasons — a time which holds some of the warmest and brightest celebrations of the year. The show traces the history and development of many of the world’s most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season.

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Light Years from Andromeda

STARTING JANUARY 5th:  Saturdays at 12:30 & 2:30 pm

A beam of light leaves the Andromeda Galaxy and travels across intergalactic space. On a nearby planet, intelligent life evolves. As the light speeds across the light years, the primitives on the planet form cultures and civilizations — and begin to wonder about the universe surrounding them. When the light reaches Earth, some of the descendants of the early hunters have just escaped the bonds of their world’s gravity, and visited the Moon.

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Black Holes

STARTING JANUARY 6th: Sundays at 2:30 pm

Recorded narration by Liam Neeson. Features striking, immersive animations of the formation of the early Universe, star birth and death, the collision of giant galaxies, and a simulated flight to a supermassive black hole.

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Larry Cat in Space

Monday, January 21 (Martin Luther King Day) at 12:30 pm

A playful, imaginative cartoon about an inquisitive cat who stows away aboard a space ship and visits the Moon. Primarily targeted at grades K-3 but enjoyable for everyone, the show teaches several things about the Moon and includes a short live night sky discussion.

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All ages admitted.  Planetarium prices are $5 for adults, seniors, & children.

About the Museum – www.lsa.umich.edu/ummnh
The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am-5 pm, and Sunday 12-5 pm. The Museum is located at 1109 Geddes Avenue in Ann Arbor; the main entrance is one block west of Washtenaw Avenue.  Admission to the Museum is free for individuals and families; groups of 10 or more must call to make a reservation.  For more information, call (734) 764-047.

You can register online here.

The special guests at the dinner will be Ron Lindsay, the CEO of Center for Inquiry, and Alan Kinniburgh, the Director of Development at Center for Inquiry.

There won’t be a special guest speaker at this meet-up; this is a purely social meet-up. So there will likely be multiple conversations happening at once.

Colonial Lanes is located on South Industrial (off of Eisenhower). As you walk up to the building, the entrance to the restaurant part of the establishment is on the left.

I’m enjoying it because it does a good job of concisely explaining astronomical phenomena to the lay public.  And I also like how it brings attention to people who are doing research about astronomy.

The url is http://michastrostudent.blogspot.com and I’d recommend you to bookmark it or subscribe to it, so you can help support local science communication.

Place:  Rochelle Park Condominum Clubhouse, 2250 Rochelle Park Dr., Rochester Hills, 48309.
Date:  Sunday, December 9, 2012
Time:  5-8 pm

Directions:    From M59, take the Crooks Road exit, go North on Crooks to the third light, turn right/East on Hamlin Rd, go about 2/3rd mile on Hamlin to Rochelle Park Drive; turn right/North on Rochelle Park Drive and stay on it until you get to the Clubhouse.  You cannot miss it as this is a small condominium complex.

The tentative format of the evening will be as follows:

5:00-5:30 all arrive with their potluck items
5:30-5:45 start eating
6:45-7:00 commence the entertainment.

At this time, the entertainment will include a sing-along of non-religious holiday songs (100 song books have already been made up) and comedy by our very own Sean Nash.

Instructions for signing up for the holiday party Send an email to Eva Cantarella, letting her know you plan on attending  and the type of potluck item you will bring (e.g., appetizer, salad, side dish, main dish/entree item or desert). Alcohol is permitted, but BYOB or soda. The Clubhouse rules permit a maximum of 99 persons. So, sign up early and let me know if you intend to bring someone with you.  This is crucial for planning.  If you sign-up and later learn you cannot attend, please let me know that too.

Attire? Casual.

To sign up, all you need to do is send an email to Eva Cantarella, organizer for the DAM Holiday Potluck Party, at EvaCant@aol.com.

Next Tuesday (November 13th), the Ann Arbor section of the Optical Society of America is having an event, in which members of the public can make their own color holograms. (13Nov2012_AAOSA_Meeting).  You can like this group on Facebook to find out more fun, future events.

You can register by printing out this form (pdf) and mail it in with your fee.  There is also a free reception on Friday evening from 7pm to 10pm for those who register.

The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center is located at 2900 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

The Michigan Atheists are a group that fights for the separation of church and state.  When policy-makers overstep, the Michigan Atheists try to inform the secular community so that an appropriate reaction can take place.

Good luck to Candace!

If anyone knows of any other skeptics who are running for political office, please email me at chris@annarborscienceskeptic.com (or leave a comment below).

From the MI Skeptic website: His paper details how he and his team documented the step-by-step process in which organisms evolve new functions. Blount and his teammates analyzed 29 genomes from different generations to find the mutational pieces of the puzzle. We were lucky to have a system that allowed us to do so.”

The Michigan Skeptics Association meet at C.J.’s Brewing Company, located in Compuware Arena on Beck Road, just off of M-14.  You can find out more about the event, location, and time by RSVP’ing at MI Skeptic’s Meetup event, Facebook event or Google Plus event.

Tom is the author of Choosy Women and Cheating Men: Evolution and Human Behavior.

Note: The conversation contains some adult discussion on sex and sexual behavior.  Not all views expressed in this conversation are necessarily shared by the members of the group.

There won’t be a special guest speaker at this meet-up; this is a purely social meet-up. So there will likely be multiple conversations happening at once.

Colonial Lanes is located on South Industrial (off of Eisenhower). As you walk up to the building, the entrance to the restaurant part of the establishment is on the left.

This video is a showcase of the Ann Arbor Science & Skeptics “Scientists Fair” from May 2012. The purpose of the event was to invite the public to come out and talk with scientists about topics of which they have interest. There were scientists available to talk about the Big Bang, Evolution, Climate Change, Particle Physics, and Exploring Mars.

If you are interested in participating in a future, similar event. Please contact the group at admin@annarborscienceskeptic.com.

Our special guest will be Dr. Tom Shellberg, retired professor of biology at Henry Ford Community College. Tom is the author of Choosy Women and Cheating Men: Evolution and Human Behavior. He has also written a paper for Human Ethology Bulletin (page 9).  He was also featured on an episode of Atheists Speak Up! which is produced by the Michigan Atheists (youtube).

The first part of the event will be for general socializing and ordering refreshments. After which, there will be some announcements, and then there will be an informal conversation about evolution, natural selection, and human behavior.

As a courtesy to the host and restaurant staff, please RSVP for you and other guests that you are bringing, so that I can provide an accurate tally.  Thanks!

*picture of Tom Shellberg taken from Michigan Atheists: Atheists Speak Up

RSVP here.

BIO: Jeffrey L. Boore, Ph.D., is CEO of Genome Project Solutions, Inc. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of California Berkeley. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Biology from Penn State University. He retired at the rank of Lt Colonel after more than 20 years in the US Air Force and Air National Guard. He was previously Head of Evolutionary Genomics (and currently a guest researcher) at the DOE Joint Genome Institute (Berkeley National Laboratory) where he was instrumental in guiding the transition from human genome sequencing to being a comparative genomics facility and in establishing the “Community Sequencing Program“, which allocates $20 million per year to genomics projects. Dr. Boore has led 22 grant-funded projects totaling over $12 million, overseen numerous whole genome sequencing projects, authored over 100 scientific publications, delivered over 230 scientific presentations, and served on numerous advisory boards and panels, including those to the National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, and National Institutes of Health.

Colonial Lanes is located on South Industrial (off of Eisenhower). As you walk up to the building, the entrance to the restaurant part of the establishment is on the left.

RSVP here.

In 1995, the University of Michigan Department of Physics began sharing some of the latest ideas in the field with the public in the Saturday Morning Physics lecture series. Designed for general audiences, the lectures are an opportunity to hear physicists discuss their work in easy-to-understand, non-technical terms. The multimedia presentations include hands-on demonstrations of the principles discussed, along with slides, video, and computer simulations. [website]

The Saturday Morning Physics lectures series are located on the University of Michigan campus, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM.  The lecture is held on 170 Dennison on central campus. There is no charge, although donations are accepted.  And there are refreshments available from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM.  The Church Street  Parking Structure is available at a cost of $2.00 per vehicle.

Here’s the schedule for the Fall term

October 6, Bing Zhou (U-M Physics)
The New Particle Discovery at LHC with the ATLAS Experiment
After decades of searching, evidence for the existence of the Higgs boson was finally found at CERN. This is a tremendous step forward in Physics made possible through the efforts of the LHC experiments (ATLAS and CMS). Professor Zhou will present a brief history on the Higgs hunting in the past decades. She will report the experimental evidence of the new particle discovery and ongoing research related to the studies of the new particle with the ATLAS experiment.

October 13, James Liu (U-M Physics)
The Physics Behind the Music
What is music, and what distinguishes music from noise? Physics tells us that musical tones are carried through the air by sound waves. We will examine the physics of sound waves and see how musical tones are produced by various instruments. We will see how the interplay between physics, mathematics and music enhances the beauty of all three subjects.

October 20, Silas Alben (U-M Mathematics)
How Flexible Bodies Move and Interact in Fluids
Swimming fish use a wide range of body and fin motions to propel themselves through fluids. Professor Alben and collaborators study the motions of a generic type of fish body–a flexible sheet–in a fluid. They use computer simulations and laboratory experiments to understand the basic physics of these fluid-structure interactions. Professor Alben will discuss the attraction of flexible bodies to vortices, and how multiple flexible bodies can interact through their vortex wakes.

October 27, Stephen Forrest (U-M Physics)
Solar Powering Your House or Saving the World One Electron at a Time
The major push in the United States and other countries around the world for the development of low cost solar energy to electrical energy conversion is based on the assumption that solar is the most abundant form of energy on Earth, and it represents our best hope for replacing fossil fuel energy sources in the near term. However, is this assumption realistic? Professor Forrest will discuss the challenge ahead in making solar energy a major source of electrical energy, and then will discuss how to achieve that goal through tailoring nanoscale materials to make potentially very low cost solar cells. Finally, he will discuss a practical implementation of solar power generation: his off-grid house in Vermont uses solar as one of its main sources of energy. How Professor Forrest managed to make a solar powered system and its benefits and faults will be described.

November 3, Adam Simon (U-M Earth and Environmental Science)
Volcanoes and Precious Metal Deposits: What is the Connection?
Volcanoes are a manifestation of a large-scale recycling program wherein nature transfers elements among Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, crust and mantle. One recognized byproduct of this complex recycling program is the formation of ore deposits rich in metals such as gold, silver and copper. While volcanoes are relatively common, metal-rich ore deposits are not. Thus, while geologists have a relatively good understanding of the processes that cause volcanoes to erupt, we do not yet have a comprehensive model that describes why some volcanic systems yield metal deposits and other do not. In this lecture, Professor Simon will describe the general characteristics of volcano-related metal ore deposits and how our science team combines field and experimental research to shed light on nature’s recipe for ore deposit formation.

November 10, Alicia Aarnio (U-M Astronomy)
The Sun as a Star
Our closest star provides astronomers with a unique opportunity to observe, in high spatial and temporal resolution, the spectacular interaction of hot plasma and magnetic fields which occurs on a daily basis. While we cannot observe these same phenomena in such detail on distant stars, what we do see in solar-type stars at a variety of ages helps us to piece together the history of our Sun and unravel how our solar system came to be. In a mutually beneficial way, solar physics and astrophysics research complement each other well, studies of each serving to fill gaps in our understanding of the other. In this lecture, I will discuss our view of the Sun in time: today’s Sun helps us interpret what we observe in stars, and young, solar-type stars give us a glimpse of the solar system in its youth, in the epoch of planet formation.

December 1, Keren Sharon (U-M Astronomy)
Gravitational Lensing — Nature’s Largest Telescopes
Gravitational lensing deflects light from distant sources when it travels close to massive objects, such as clusters of galaxies. Some of these clusters become very effective lenses, magnifying the images of the galaxies behind them, and allow us to see galaxies that otherwise would be too faint to observe even with the biggest telescopes on earth or in space. In this talk, Dr. Sharon will show some examples of spectacular gravitational lenses and explain how she and her colleagues use them to study the Universe when it was a fraction of its current age.

December 8, Heidi Wu (U-M Physics)
Cosmic Rhapsody: From the Echo of the Big Bang to the Orchestration of the Universe
The cosmic microwave background, the microwave radiation ubiquitous in our universe caused by the sound wave in the hot plasma after the Big Bang, has taught us the initial conditions of the universe. Based on these initial conditions, cosmologists can simulate the formation or the “orchestration” of the large-scale structure in the universe. After an introduction about the recent progress in the field of cosmology, Dr. Wu will discuss how she and her colleagues use cosmological simulations to better understand the evolution of the universe, and how these simulations help them interpreting the results of observations in the quest for the mysterious dark energy.

Our special guest will be Chris Bailey, of the paranormal investigation group called Grimstone Inc.  Chris was a guest back in August of 2011.  He can appreciate the skepticism that most of us share about the existence of paranormal phenomena and will be ready to hear our reservations.  I urge you to explore the website, especially the Press Release section for information about the group and past investigations.

Chris is a physical scientist by trade, and has been interested in the paranormal ever since he was a child.  You can listen to my interview of him here on Critical Wit podcast.

The first part of the event will be for general socializing and ordering refreshments. After which, there will be some announcements, and then we’ll start the informal Q & A at approximately 5:45pm.

RSVP here.

The recent review of organic vs conventional produce agrees with previous systematic reviews that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that organic produce is healthier or more nutritious that conventional produce. Despite the scientific evidence, the alleged health benefits of organic produce is the number one reason given by consumers for buying organic. This likely represents the triumph of marketing over scientific reality.

As many of you know, we had a meet-up back in February to discuss organic farming.  We had UM Professor, Dr. Catherine Badgley, help foster a conversation that consisted of a Q & A about the science behind organic farming practices.  You can listen to our conversation here.

I emailed Dr. Badgley about the study and the reporting and asked her to provide a comment.  She mentioned that she had not read the full paper, but she wanted to give some initial impressions from the media reports.

There are a number of important points about the recent report in the news.  First, it has a narrow view of why organic agriculture is important to human and environmental health. Second, it minimizes its own conclusion that pesticide residues occur more often or in higher concentrations on conventionally grown food.  Third, the report is summarizing across studies of many different kinds of foods; the answer may differ substantially for different kinds of foods.

There won’t be a special guest speaker at this meet-up; this is a purely social meet-up. So there will likely be multiple conversations happening at once.

Colonial Lanes is located on South Industrial (off of Eisenhower). As you walk up to the building, the entrance to the restaurant part of the establishment is on the left.

Miles blogs at Confessions of a Supply-Side Liberal at blog.supplysideliberal.com and you can follow him on twitter at @mileskimball.

In this group conversation, we cover a range of topics. Therefore, I’ve provided a list of these topics and the approximate time during the recording that they come up: (on being a supply-side liberal and the concerns with too many regulations and government-mandated certifications at 3:00), (on Walmart at 33:20), (on immigration as a moral and financial value at 46:10), (on subsidies at 55:30), (on trade, deficits, and retirement savings at 1:05:00), (on trade deficit with China at 1:28:00), (on wealthy people who save money at 1:31:00), (on ethical finance at at 1:38:00), (on the stimulus, role of the federal reserve, and Miles’s government’s extending lines of credit idea at 1:44:00), (on doing experiments and testing economic theories at 2:01:00).

Our special guest will be Dr. Miles Kimball, Professor of Economics and Survey Research at the University of Michigan.  Kimball is the blogger at Confessions of a Supply-Side Liberal.  According to his blog, he “is an independent who grew up in an apolitical family. He holds many strong opinions—open to revision in response to cogent arguments—that do not line up neatly with either the Republican or Democratic Party.”  Kimball will help foster a conversation about how we can be better critical thinkers and skeptics when we encounter economic arguments.  This meet-up will hopefully help us to recognize and better understand where our own ideological biases may be affecting our reasoning.

The first part of the event will be for general socializing and ordering refreshments. After which, there will be some announcements, and then we’ll start the informal Q & A at approximately 4:45pm.

RSVP here.

In this casual group conversation, Shaneen provided many examples of experimentation, protocols, and technological advances in astrobiology research.

Mentioned in the podcast was a reference to some astrobiology books that Shaneen recommends.  Here is that list:

• The Search for Life on Other Planets. Bruce Jakosky. (AADL)
• The New Worlds  – Extrasolar Planets. Fabienne Casoli and Thérèse Encrenaz. (AADL)
• Life in Space: Astrobiology for Everyone. Lucas John Mix. (AADL)
• How to Find a Habitable Planet. James Kasting. (University of Michigan Alumnus) (Amazon) (Soon to be in paperback)
• The Planet Mars: A History of Observation and Discovery. William Sheehan (Amazon)
• Mars: The Living Planet. Barry DiGregorio. (Amazon)
• What is Life?: With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches. Erwin Schrodinger. (Amazon)
• Talking about Life: Conversations on Astrobiology. Chris Impey. (Amazon)
• Destination Mars: New Explorations of the Red Planet. Rod Pyle. (Amazon)

From the website:

Maker Faire is the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth—a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement.  It’s a place where people show what they are making, and share what they are learning.

Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, artists, science clubs, students, authors, and commercial exhibitors. They are of all ages and backgrounds. Maker Faire’s mission is to entertain, inform, connect and inspire these thousands of Makers and aspiring Makers.

Tickets are available either through The Henry Ford or at the door. I highly recommend getting there early as there is much to see (and parking quickly becomes difficult). Be sure to catch the Coke Zero & Mentos Spectacular and Life Size Mouse Trap!

• Maker Faire Detroit
• Saturday & Sunday July 28-29
• 9:30 am – 6 pm
• The Henry Ford

Our special guest will be Shaneen Braswell, astrobiologist from the University of Michigan.  Shaneen Braswell currently is a research assistant in the Planetary Science Laboratory under the direction of Dr. Nilton Renno at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on characterizing the effects of solutes on the growth and survival of Mars microbial analogs.  Her research interests lie at the intersection of space exploration, engineering and biology.

The first part of the event will be for general socializing and ordering refreshments. After which, there will be some announcements, and then we’ll start the informal Q & A at approximately 4:30pm.

RSVP here.

For more information on the July 11th screening, visit http://www.aadl.org/events/list?id=14467.

Mendel works with the volunteer group called the Ann Arbor Backyard Beekeepers (Facebook page).

From the library’s website:

Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet – vanishing from their hives. Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomenon has brought beekeepers to crisis. The 90-minute 2009 documentary follows two commercial beekeepers as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. The two friends plead their case on Capitol Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean on the quest to protect their honeybees. Local beekeeper Richard Mendel, Vice President of the Southeast Michigan Beekeepers Association, will lead the post-film discussion.

You can listen to and/or download a short, 20- minute audio interview with Richard Mendel about the science of beekeeping, and bee colony collapse disorder here.

Science helps us understand our world, but art helps us understand science.

This exhibit features illustrations and models from a wide range of scientific fields, as well as tools and techniques artists use to help explain complex scientific information. From insects to ink, dinosaurs to digital imaging, art and science are more closely linked than you might have thought! This exhibit is also on display in the Lower Level Display Cases of the Downtown Library.

The exhibit runs through July 22.

Redshift: Images From the Infrared Spectrum by Gale Nobes (Malletts Creek Branch: Exhibits)

This unique nature photography exhibit by Gale Nobes, Michigan artist and former chairman of the Muskegon River Watershed Council, consists of twenty-five black and white infrared photographs. Enjoy these stunning images of the beaches, dunes, woodlands, and weather that make up the Lake Michigan environs, with special emphasis on the rugged, wind-swept beauty of the dunes. Many of these photos also focus on the subtle and intricate textures and patterns caused by the collaboration of wind, water, sand, and time.

Nobes’ black and white infrared photography creates images that are at once surreal and evocative of the beauty of the natural world. Digital infrared photography allows him to revisit the expected view of nature, quite literally, in another light.

The exhibit runs through July 27th.

You can “explore the historic campground with fellow CFI Michigan members, friends and family and enjoy the beauty of the Michigan summer.”

Click here for more information.

From the website:

Long Lake Outdoor Center (Inside Yankee Springs Recreation Area) 10370 Gun Lake Rd, Middleville, MI  View Map

This beautiful campground located inside the Yankee Springs Recreation Area offers a variety of cabins, a large dining hall/lodge with giant fireplaces, a craft house and sports fields, amongst acres of beautiful forest along Long Lake with access to the Yankee Springs trails.

Activities include: group activities & games, hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking. Swimming and motorized boating are available at Gun Lake.

The registration includes lodging, meals, and all activities.

Can’t come for the whole retreat? Join us for the day on Saturday: Adults $20 and Children/Students $10. (Include meals & facility rental fee)

Financial assistance is available on an as needed basis: Apply here for financial assistance. Please email michigan@centerforinquiry.net with questions.

The Story Collider events are recorded and made into audio podcasts, which you can subscribe to on the website or in iTunes.  Some of my personal favorite episodes are the stories by Erin Barker, Seth Lind, and Ben and Brian’s).

On Thursday, June 21st, the Story Collider will be hosting an event here in Ann Arbor at Live!  It’s free and open to the public.  This will be the fourth time Brian and Ben have put on the show here in Michigan.  If you’re otherwise not doing anything, I would encourage you to check it out.  It’s really a fun time!  And if you go, make sure you get there early!