Science Circle

Humans in Space, Part II
2024-05-11 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Auditorium
After a decades-long hiatus, humans are once again focused on returning to the Moon, and we are seriously considering voyages to worlds beyond it for the first time. This is the first of a two-part series on how we got into space decades ago and our more recent efforts to push beyond the confines of the Earth.
In the last few decades, both national and commercial entities have developed plans to go to the Moon, and beyond. A de facto Space Race 2 has begun, but this time there is a more diverse set of ‘players’ and they have a more diverse set of reasons for going there.
China determined to became the third nation in space as early as the late 1960s. Their quest was suspended in the 1970s but revived in 1992, resulting in the first crewed mission in 2003. China has continued efforts alone since then, resulting in a crewed space station currently in Earth’s orbit. Recent uncrewed missions to the Moon are part of a program with the goal to land humans near the lunar South Pole and to build a base there within the next decade, and then to push on to Mars.
In the 2000s, the United States at first planned a solo return to the Moon, but that plan was scrapped in favor of the Artemis Accord, a collaboration of many countries and commercial entities. In addition to successful uncrewed missions, including craft orbiting the Moon today, the uncrewed Artemis I launched in December 2023 and safely returned to Earth in a rehearsal for the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972 that was originally scheduled for late 2024 but has now been pushed back to at least September 2025. Artemis 3 in intended to be a crewed landing on the Moon. A joint lunar space station called Gateway is also in the design stage.
The most fascinating part of these efforts to put humans in space is not the details of the missions themselves, but the very real human side associated with them. Come join us at The Science Circle to learn about why and how we have decided to go back to the Moon and beyond and all of what is involved in doing so.
By Phil Youngblood

Classical Concert
2024-05-12 07:00 - 08:00, 2024-05-19 07:00 - 08:00, 2024-05-26 07:00 - 08:00, 2024-06-02 07:00 - 08:00, 2024-06-09 07:00 - 08:00, 2024-06-16 07:00 - 08:00, 2024-06-23 07:00 - 08:00, 2024-06-30 07:00 - 08:00 | The Lighthouse Café

Moon Base meeting
2024-05-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-27 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-03 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-10 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-17 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-07-01 10:00 - 23:00 and 2 more dates | Moon base

Mathematics Club
2024-05-16 16:00 - 17:00 | Maths Club
The ANGLE BONE’S CONNECTED TO THE MATRIX BONE…

A note about our next WALK DOWN A LOGIC CHAIN OF CONNECTEDNESS:
For Mathematics Club of Science Circle at 4 PM PDT on Thursday 16.May 2024 in the Maths Dojo, we are going to continue our EXPLORATION of the ANATOMY of MATHEMATICS, beginning with deriving a formula for the SUM OF ANGLES for trigonometric functions, SIN and COS. With this very useful result, we can look at 2×2 matrices that cause PURE ROTATION in the plane when multiplied by a 2×1 column matrix as a matrix representation of a planar vector. We will also apply the SUM OF ANGLES formulae to show how even this calls out for the invention of the pure IMAGINARY NUMBER, i (in which”i” ^2 = – 1) which extends the REAL NUMBERS to the field of COMPLEX NUMBERS. We will see how de Moivre’s theorem from 1707 emerges:
for any complex number with a given angle α, de Moivre’s theorem relates that complex number to the nth power to a complex number of angle = n * α. At the conclusion, a challenge will be tossed out to our Maths Club participants to prove this theorem by the PRINCIPLE of INDUCTION. We will plan on revisiting this with an inductive proof of de Moivre’s Theorem the following week (23.May 2024).

In MATHEMATICS, it makes things generally easier to KEEP IT REAL, but DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR IMAGINATION because IMAGINARY NUMBERS EXIST just as surely as the number days in a week exist.
We hope to see you there!
– Tagline, tour guide and Sensei of Maths dojo

Discussion
2024-05-18 10:00 - 11:00 | The Lighthouse Café
5 topics for discussion, suggested by our members. The choice is yours. We use a voting station to determine which topic will be discussed.
1. Artificial Intelligence
2. Ethics in Science
3. Green deal
4. The Woke trend and consequences
5. How to stop wars
You can vote on Saturday at the Polling Station at the Lighthouse.

Mathematics Club
2024-05-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Maths Club

Empowering Our Low-Watt Brains
2024-05-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Empowering Our Low-Watt Brains

The typical human brain runs on only 12-watts of power – less than a refrigerator light bulb. Thus, our brain has an amazing array of tricks to maximize the returns on that dim wattage. This presentation considers proven tactics to better understand our own brains, and how to best connect with the minds of others

Steven R. Van Hook (Kip Roffo) is a researcher in transcultural relations, teaching courses in cross-cultural communications and international marketing for the University of California and other universities in the United States and abroad. He’s been a social worker, newspaper columnist, radio talk show host, TV news anchor, and television bureau chief in Moscow. He has a PhD specializing in transcultural education, and has research published in scholarly journals including UNESCO’s Prospects and the Journal of Research in International Education.

Genome Island
2024-06-01 10:00 - 11:00
June is a Field trip month at The Science Circle. This year we will open it with a tour given by Dr. Mary Anne Clark on her Genome Island.

Darwin IV
2024-06-08 10:00 - 11:00 | HMS The Beagle
Darwin proposed a theory of evolution focused on inherited elements. And these elements (which we now term “genes”) existing in discreet locations in genomes are passed down from generation to generation freshly coding for the new individual. Or so we thought. In a small number of cases, science has found that the phenotype or expression patterns of the parent influence the phenotype of the offspring. A slight vindication of Darwin’s evolutionary theory competitor Lamark.
This talk will describe several examples of inheritance based on the condition of the parents that are not the typical gene code inheritance pattern. It will also describe the basics of the mechanism known as epigenetics which describes how gene expression is controlled.
A presentation on location by Dr. Stephen L. Gasior

Educare
2024-06-15 10:00 - 11:00
This presentation provides a first-hand update on academia’s
response to virtual world learning over the past decade-plus. Steven Van Hook
(Kip Roffo) brings more than 20 years’ experience as an educator, author, innovator, and course designer. He will cover the evolving university response Virtual World educational possibilities, citing administrator, instructor and student concerns including:

Appeals and protests of Virtual World learning
Cost-effective program development
Best VW teaching tactics and practices
Benefits and necessities of immersive experiential learning
Field-trip to the Educare VW campus

Bio: Dr. Steven R. Van Hook has taught communication and culture classes for
universities in the USA and abroad for 25 years, developing one of the first hybrid virtual courses for UCSB in 2000. He has led in academic positions including faculty senator, ombudsman, curriculum development, accreditation review, and instructor mentoring. He is President of Educare Research, a nonprofit program serving international educators and students. He’s been a newspaper columnist, radio reporter, TV news anchor, and science podcast host. He was a television producer and bureau chief in Moscow, USSR from 1989-91; and for three years directed public education media programs in Ukraine through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He has served as a trainer and officer for organizations including VISTA, Head Start, as a licensed Master Captain by the US Coast Guard, and a private pilot. He has a PhD specializing in transcultural learning, and is published in scholarly journals including UNESCO’s Prospects, and by SAGE. He has presented on virtual world education to administrators and groups at UCLA, UCSB, VWBPE, VWEC, The Science Circle, and elsewhere. Research website: http://wwmr.us

SL21B: The Science Circle, Chemistry Island & Mathematics Club
2024-06-22 10:00 - 11:00
Over the past few months, Dr. Phil Youngblood and his colleagues Dr. Mike Shaw & Dr. Robert Hendrix worked hard on three exhibitions on the SL21B site. Today they give an overview of their work.

Second Life 21 Birthday
2024-06-29 10:00 - 11:00
Today Dr. William Schmachtenberg & Roy Sutton show their exhibits at Second Life’s 21st Birthday

Resolving Polarization
2024-07-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Nymfs Forum
Polarization has become a significant issue in contemporary society, often leading to division and conflict rather than constructive dialogue. To address this problem, we are launching an initiative that leverages the tradition of Oxford Union debates and the innovative platform of Nymfs Forum. Our goal is to reduce polarization and foster a culture of open, respectful, and informed discussion.

Oxford Union Debates
The Oxford Union is renowned for its history of rigorous debate and intellectual discourse. By organizing a series of debates modeled after this prestigious institution, we aim to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to engage in meaningful conversations. These debates will:
– Encourage Critical Thinking: Participants will be prompted to think deeply about their own viewpoints and consider opposing arguments.
– Promote Understanding: By hearing directly from those with different opinions, participants can gain a better understanding of the complexities of various issues.
– Foster Respectful Dialogue: The format of these debates emphasizes respect and civility, ensuring that even the most contentious topics can be discussed without descending into hostility.

Nymfs Forum
Complementing the Oxford Union-style debates, Nymfs Forum will provide a digital platform for ongoing discussion and engagement. This forum will:
– Bridge Gaps: By allowing individuals to engage in conversations online, we can reach a broader audience and include those who may not be able to participate in live debates.
– Facilitate Continuous Dialogue: Unlike one-time debates, the forum allows for continuous, evolving discussions that can adapt to new information and changing perspectives.
– Encourage Diverse Participation: The online nature of the forum makes it accessible to a wide range of people, encouraging participation from various demographics and geographies.

Objectives
Our initiative aims to achieve several key objectives:

Reduce Misunderstandings: By providing a platform for clear and respectful communication, we hope to reduce the misunderstandings that often fuel polarization.
Build Empathy: Engaging with different perspectives helps build empathy, making it easier for individuals to see issues from others’ points of view.
Promote Collaboration: Through constructive dialogue, we can identify common ground and promote collaborative solutions to shared challenges.
Enhance Civic Engagement: By encouraging thoughtful discussion on important issues, we hope to enhance civic engagement and empower individuals to participate more actively in their communities.

Conclusion
Polarization is a significant barrier to progress, but through structured debate and continuous dialogue, we believe it can be overcome. By combining the rich tradition of Oxford Union debates with the accessibility and reach of Nymfs Forum, we aim to create a space where ideas can be exchanged freely and respectfully. Together, we can reduce polarization and build a more understanding, empathetic, and collaborative society.

Feeding the World
2024-07-13 08:00 - 09:00 | Auditorium
A documentary hosted by Dr. Stephen L. Gasior
