Is nationalism beneficial or dangerous in the context of globalization?
2021-11-27 21:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Fireside
Is nationalism beneficial or dangerous in the context of globalization?
“While globalization will make the world smaller and more accessible, we must continue to appreciate its vibrant diversity.” -Jean-Philippe Courtois

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Classical Concert
2021-11-28 07:00 - 08:00, 2021-12-05 07:00 - 08:00, 2021-12-12 07:00 - 08:00, 2021-12-19 07:00 - 08:00, 2021-12-26 07:00 - 08:00, 2021-12-29 07:00 - 08:00, 2022-01-02 07:00 - 08:00, 2022-01-09 07:00 - 08:00 and 1 more date | The Lighthouse Café

Open Sim Archaeology Tour
2021-12-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Science Circle Opensim Grid
Archaeology in Open Sim

Introduction to Aspiring Archaeologist region Aka Altun Ha
The region features three main components.
#1 The Jonson site: A reproduction investigation site of the Monongahela, used for field school on land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers in Blairsville, PA
#2 The Prehistoric Overview: A museum style exhibit displaying distinctive cultural periods from Paleoindian through the Contact Period
#3 Concepts and methods: This section features various posters and displays illustrating techniques used for researching significant cultural findings.
By Marion Smeltzer, MA Practicing Public Archaeologist

If you would like to attend the Archaeology tour on the SC grid, follow the instructions here

Open Sim Abyssinia Tour
2021-12-04 21:00 - 22:00 | Abyssinia
Open Sim Abyssinia Tour
Abyssinia, which is intended as a living museum & educational resource on the Science Circle’s OpenSim grid, is my reconstruction of ancient archaeological sites in Tigray (northern Ethiopia) & Eritrea that date from at least 1000 BCE through roughly 800 CE. I excavated at several of these sites decades ago (1969-1972), & now am restoring parts of them virtually to their prominence during their heyday. Currently I have constructed two major buildings & other parts of Yeha, capital of the kingdom then known as Di’amat, located in Tigray.

I created a similar project on Second Life more than a decade ago, but technical & financial issues prevented its continuation, so I am grateful to be able to created it again.

Framed within the striking dragon-tooth mountains characteristic of the region, Yeha was the administrative & religious capital of a kingdom that controlled trade along the Red Sea together with its counterpart & related South Arabian kingdom Saba’ in what is now Yemen, The language, culture, religion, & architecture of the two kingdoms bear strong similarities, indicating their close contact.
Skip dedicates this project to the people of Tigray, as well as those of Ethiopia & Eritrea, with urgent hopes for return to peace & stability.

There are two major buildings in Yeha from that period, the Great Temple, which still remains largely standing, & the administrative palace, whose ruins are known as Grat Be’al Gibri (the field of the tax collector). I participated in the first two seasons of excavation at the latter, during which the front of the building, including a colonnaded portico, were opened.

Subsequent more recent excavations on both buildings by a joint German-Ethiopian team have revealed many additional details about them, which are incorporated in my full-scale recreations of the buildings, which can be fully explored. I also included several other structures which represent other aspects of the city as it must have appeared at that time, including houses, a market, a pavilion for a royal festival, farm fields, & a representative war elephant, which were one of the exports from the kingdom to the Mediterranean & the Middle East. As time & space permit, it is my intention to add other important sites from both Tigray & Eritrea.

This project has gained greater significance for me since the tragic war which has been fought throughout Tigray since November 2020, causing great human suffering & destruction. Many of the sites & artifacts that have been or will be represented are located in Tigray, which now is undergoing the upheaval of disastrous civil war.

This is an excursion in OpenSim with Archaeologist Skip Dahlgren.
We have prepared a tutorial on how to register an account and enter the Science Circle open sim grid, click here to view it.

Discussion: Science / Sci Fi Movies and books
2021-12-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Fireside

Open Sim Genome Tour
2021-12-11 10:00 - 11:00 | The Science Circle OpenSim project
Open Sim Genome Tour
The Genome Islands on the Science Circle Grid are an Open Sim version of Genome Island on Second Life. On the Science Circle Grid, the virtual laboratory activities have been organized into four islands: Mendel, Crick, Hooke and Huxley.
Mendel houses the transmission genetics, including Mendel’s Abbey and a Garden Walk that includes the monohybrid and dihybrid crosses, X-linked traits, and interacting genes. It also includes a meiosis activity, which illustrates the chromosomal behavior that underlies the Mendelian Laws.
Crick represents molecular genetics, including the experiments that identified DNA as the genetic material, illustrations of the organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes and chromosomes, and galleries featuring selected genomes, including nuclear, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. The bioinformatics building compares genes and chromosomes of different species. Two areas each concentrate on the genes of a single species: fruit flies and humans. Fly Base, named for the online database, offers various experiments with Drosophila genetics. Likewise, the Human Genetics building illustrates different aspects of human genetics. The central feature of Crick is Chromosome Hill, which has large models of human chromosomes.
Hooke focuses on cell biology, ranging from models of the macromolecules found in living organisms, to a model of a cell big enough to walk around in. Various sections of the Hooke walkway feature membrane models, experiments with enzymes and membrane transport, comparison of plant and animal tissues and illustrations of both cell respiration and photosynthesis.
Huxley is still under construction but will represent organismal diversity.
By Mary Anne Clark, Professor of Biology, Texas Wesleyan University

If you would like to attend the Genome tour on the SC grid, follow the instructions here

Archaeology in Open Sim
2021-12-11 21:00 - 22:00 | Science Circle Opensim Grid
Archaeology in Open Sim
Introduction to Aspiring Archaeologist region Aka Altun Ha
The region features three main components.
#1 The Jonson site: A reproduction investigation site of the Monongahela, used for field school on land owned by the Army Corps of Engineers in Blairsville, PA
#2 The Prehistoric Overview: A museum style exhibit displaying distinctive cultural periods from Paleoindian through the Contact Period
#3 Concepts and methods: This section features various posters and displays illustrating techniques used for researching significant cultural findings.

By Marion Smeltzer, MA Practicing Public Archaeologist.
You will need an Open Sim account to join us for this fieldtrip, you can find a tutorial on how to create an account HERE.

Fireside Chat Dating Dynamics
2021-12-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Fireside
Following on from “Choking on Red Pills: A Biological Take on Modern Dating Dynamics,” Stephen Gasior holds a Fireside Chat.
Choking on Red Pills Citations – PDF & Choking on Red Pills Citations – txt

Hosted by Dr. Stephen Gasior (Xootfly)

Dr. Stephen L. Gasior

Reference work in the library

Previous lectures on film

Podcasts

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SC Region Tour
2021-12-18 21:00 - 22:00 | Science Circle region
SC Region Tour!

The Science Circle owns a region with more than fourteen beautiful locations. Today we visit them with you, answer your questions and listen to your ideas about regional development.
SC is an alliance of scientists and teachers, who in turn are given regional space to display their work. Some exhibitions are permanent, others are replaced by new acquisitions.
Recently Steven Van Hook, CEO of Educare, left his plot in the region to open a much needed “How to Educate in SL” region. We expect to have a tour in June 2022!
However, Steven’s departure offers his SC colleagues the chance to showcase their project.
During the regional tour we offer you the opportunity to share ideas or projects with us. So that our home base remains attractive, challenging and innovative.
By Jes Stannard & Chantal Jager

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Cirque du Mystere
2021-12-25 10:00 - 11:00
On Saturday, December 25 at 10 AM & 9 PM PST, we’ll treat you to a compelling murder mystery, facilitated by MadPea.
To participate you need a HUD of 500 L$, which you will receive from The Science Circle.
We enjoyed your presence in 2021 and with this Murder Mystery experience we hope to offer you a fun and challenging end to the year.

Cirque du Mystere
2021-12-25 21:00 - 22:00
Cirque du Mystere
We’ll be treating you all to a compelling murder mystery facilitated by MadPea, so bring your magnifying glasses!
To participate you’ll need a 500L$ HUD, which you will receive from the Science Circle.
Thank you for a thrilling 2021, and a great start to the East calendar, we hope to see you again in the new year!

Follow the Food
2021-12-27 07:00 - 08:00 | Auditorium

Chouchou
2021-12-28 07:00 - 08:00 | Chouchou
Chouchou is a Japanese music duo consisting of vocalist juliet Heberle and pianist arabesque Choche, which is formed in a virtual world where there’s no national borders or boundaries.
Chouchou cinematic HUD is a fantastic tool to be completely soaked in the world of Chouchou.
You’ll feel like you’re in a cinema by just wearing this HUD.
HUD free of charge at entry point.
– Chouchou –
Vocal: juliet Heberle
Music: arabesque Choche
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Follow Your Food
2021-12-30 07:00 - 08:00 | Fireside
Follow Your Food
Corn, rice, and wheat constitute 51% of the calories humans consume. However, many other heritage crops are important local staples or more highly identified with a culture. Modern agriculture is also starting to recognize the nutritional value or hardiness of many of these crops. This event recognizes these less mainstream crops. Stephen Xootfly will present on 3 upcoming heritage crops: tef, cassava, and sorghum and some of the crop engineering happening with them.
But, this is a participation event. So, bring to the table either a snippet (picture) of some important crop from your heritage and/or a prepared dish and recipe.

David Rumsey Map Islands
2021-12-31 07:00 - 08:00 | David Rumsey Map Islands
Image credits to the “David Rumsey Map Collection Center,” from Stanford Libraries in Second Life.
David Rumsey donated his entire physical map collection to Stanford University, where it is housed in the David Rumsey Map Center at the Stanford University Library.
David Rumsey Cartography Map Islands
Today we visit these four beautiful regions and it is advisable to read the accompanying description below in advance. These regions offer different cartographic visualizations and activities. You can also use a “Flight pack” to facilitate navigation in the regions.

ABOUT DAVID RUMSEY MAP COLLECTION
The David Rumsey Collection was started nearly 20 years ago, and focuses primarily on cartography of the Americas from the 18th and 19th centuries, but also has maps of the World, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. The collection includes atlases, globes, school geographies, books, maritime charts, and a variety of separate maps, including pocket, wall, children’s and manuscript.
Digitization of the project began in 1997. The project was undertaken for numerous reasons: Maps are uniquely suitable to high-resolution scanning because they contain large amounts of detailed information, which can be seen more readily when the viewer is able to zoom in and enlarge images on a computer screen. Viewed over the Internet, rare maps become available to those who previously had no access to such collections or were not aware of the maps’ existence. In their original form, maps and atlases can be large, delicate, and unwieldy. Digitization increases their accessibility, and combined with an online catalog allows the viewer a variety of ways to search the collection.
Presenting individual maps in a digital format literally breaks the boundaries of an atlas’s bookbinding, allowing the viewer to view single maps independent of their original encasing. With Luna Imaging’s Insight® software, the maps are experienced in a revolutionary way. Multiple maps from different time periods can be viewed side-by-side. Or, the end user can create their own collection of maps by saving groups of images that hold particular interest. Complete cataloging data accompanies every image, allowing for in-depth searches of the collection.
Materials that were created in America and that illustrate the evolution of the country’s history, culture, and population distinguish the collection. Close inspection of the maps often reveals the rise and fall of towns, mining excavations, the unfolding of the railroads, and the “discovery” of the American West by European explorers. The collection also includes European imprints containing maps of the Americas that were influential to American cartographers, as well as maps of other parts of the world distinguished by great craftsmanship, significance and beauty.
ABOUT CARTOGRAPHY ASSOCIATES
Cartography Associates, founded in 1996, promotes the distribution of digital facsimiles both in print and electronic media. Specializing in both primary source documents and cutting-edge technology, Cartography Associates is committed to developing tools that integrate cataloging with visual images on the Internet. CA’s vision is to offer users the best of both worlds: the powerful searching, access, and user functionality made possible by technology, combined with the visual beauty, technical mastery and intellectual richness of original source materials.
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Images copyright © 2000 by Cartography Associates. Images may be reproduced or transmitted, but not for commercial use. For commercial use or commercial republication, contact carto@luna-img.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. By downloading any images from this site, you agree to the terms of that license.
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THE WELCOME GIFTSHOP
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FIRST FLOOR:
8 dynamic map viewers. These map viewers allow you to look at maps in great detail. You can pan and zoom maps by clicking on the buttons associated with each task.
SECOND FLOOR:
Free giveaways. David Rumsey has offered to giveaway 40 various maps for use in your SL home as wall hangers. In addition to these beautiful maps, we have also created some fun objects as well. Orrery’s and globes can be used in your library or home for decorative purposes. A great way to take the experience home with you.
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WORLD MAP – PUSH PIN ANNOTATION
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We love hearing where people come from. The world map that sits outside the gift shop build is a dynamic map that allows public annotation. Simply click on any surface of the world map to rez 1 push pin. Then follow these instructions.
– Locate your hometown.
– Click on the surface of the world map to rez a red map pin.
– Touch and hold the push pin, then move it to your hometown.
– Type in the name of your hometown.
– Type in your comments > hit enter.
– Your comments are now tagged onto the map for everyone to read.
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YOSEMITE TERRAIN
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While you are here, you will notice that the entire region is covered in a map terrain. The map you are looking at is a map of Yosemite. The terrain elevation you are also looking at is “real terrain” brought into SL by utilizing real topography height elevation models. In essence you are really flying through Yosemite. If your avatar was about 3 inches tall, this entire estate would represent a 1:1 scale.
As you near the center of the estate you will see a circle platform that houses some controls. You can set the bright effects, and alpha effects of each sim. Try clicking on “elevation off” to see the map represented as a flat map.
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CELESTIAL & GLOBE SPHERES
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Our estate houses 2 large spheres. These spheres are impressive in size, and level of detail. Explore the world globe, or gaze into the celestial skies. You can even fly inside of it (phantom) and see what’s hidden inside.
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GRAND CANYON PARRALAX
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The grand canyon illustration that you see framed on our sim has very impressive details. The sense of depth in this image is amazing, so we decided to show it as a layered parralax so that you can appreciate its sense of depth.
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OLD NEWYORK 1836
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Explore the streets of NYC in 1836. This map has superb detail, down to the street level. While you are viewing the map, try changing camera angles to look at it straight on. You can also sit on the map pointers.
– Right click and sit on the map pointer (choose a color)
– Click on the map pointer color that you are sitting on.
– Mouselook tab should appear. When this does, use your arrow keys to move around the map.
– When done, simple click on the “standup” tab.

A Biological Perspective on Mating Dynamics in a Sex Ratio Imbalanced Population
2022-01-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
The basic tenet of biology is reproduction to continue the species. Evolution and genetics has programmed every species’ to follow behaviors to ensure the next generation. This genetic programming influences the mating game between the sexes in those species even in “higher” cognitive species such as humans. The interplay between conscious and subconscious driven behaviors is increasingly complicated to understand as society becomes increasingly complicated compared to “cave-man” days. One aspect of human biology without intervention is that the birth rate of male to female is 50/50. One aspect of most historical and modern societies is a cultural trend towards life-long pair bonding being encouraged and even legally enforced in some cases. Research has suggested a correlation to economic and social stability in such monogamy encouraged societies.
China and India are notable case exceptions to the gender balance. Cultural practices has lead to an overabundance of men. These have important consequences for the mating game in those countries now and the foreseeable future. Japan similarly has had cultural practices leading to a current stagnation of dating today, developing the monikers: dating “‘herbivores” and “celibacy syndrome”
This presentation will explore initially the biology of sexual reproduction in vertebrates and humans, the development of monogamy practices in history, then look to reconcile or at least understand better the current society/cultural situation in these countries.

Presentation by Dr. Stephen Gasior (Xootfly)

Dr. Stephen L. Gasior

Reference work in the library

Previous lectures on film

Podcasts

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The Future is Now
2022-01-01 21:00 - 22:00 | Auditorium
The Future is Now
In a daily fog of uncertainty, we may lose track of transformational changes just over the horizon. So where are we headed? Some of the world’s smartest people in government, social research, academia, business, economics, science, and other fields have looked 20 years into the future and seen a time of abundance and shared opportunities. Let’s update on evolving technologies and trends from an optimistic perspective beyond the turmoil of today.

Dr. Steven R. Van Hook has taught transcultural communications and global affairs for twenty years. He’s been a newspaper columnist, radio reporter, and television bureau chief in Moscow; and has directed public education programs through the United States Agency for International Development, VISTA, and Head Start. He has a PhD specializing in transcultural learning, and is published in scholarly journals including SAGE, and UNESCO’s Prospects. Research website: http://wwmr.us

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The Role of the Greeks in Science and Math Concept
2022-01-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
The ancient Greeks were instrumental in developing fundamental concepts in a wide range of science and math disciplines such as Palaeontology, Geometry, Medicine, Astronomy, and Physics. I am by no means an expert on this topic but will present what I know in voice and participants are free to share their knowledge on this topic in local chat.
Presentation by Dr. Bill Schmachtenberg

Dr. William Schmachtenberg

Reference work in the library

Previous lectures on film

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Deep Learning
2022-01-08 21:00 - 22:00 | Auditorium
Deep Learning
In 2021 I had the opportunity to give a presentation on computer vision and bias in artificial intelligence. I touched on a subset of AI methods termed “Deep learning”. In this presentation I hope to discuss the principles and utility of these methods, share some of my experiences in learning about and applying them and tell you why I think it’s super cool that computers can mimic processes in our brains to process information.
A presentation by Karthik P., Graduate Student.

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2020s Vision: The Future Is Nearly Now
2022-01-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
In a daily fog of uncertainty, we may lose track of transformational changes just over the horizon. So where are we headed? Some of the world’s smartest people in government, social research, academia, business, economics, science, and other fields have looked 20 years into the future and seen a time of abundance and shared opportunities. Let’s update on evolving technologies and trends from an optimistic perspective beyond the turmoil of today.
Presentation by Dr. Steven Van Hook

Bio: Dr. Steven R. Van Hook has taught transcultural communications and global affairs for twenty years. He’s been a newspaper columnist, radio reporter, and television bureau chief in Moscow; and has directed public education programs through the United States Agency for International Development, VISTA, and Head Start. He has a PhD specializing in transcultural learning, and is published in scholarly journals including SAGE, and UNESCO’s Prospects. Research website: http://wwmr.us

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Events or discoveries that inspire your love for Science
2022-01-15 21:00 - 22:00 | Fireside
Events or discoveries that inspire your love for Science

“Beautiful, beautiful. Magnificent desolation.” -NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin as he followed Armstrong onto the moon’s surface
“Every brilliant experiment, like every great work of art, starts with an act of imagination.” -Jonah Lehrer

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The James Webb Space Telescope: A Summary
2022-01-22 09:30 - 10:00 | Auditorium
The James Webb Space Telescope: A Summary
I briefly review the science mission of the JWST and discuss its potential discoveries. I do this in the context of the discoveries of Webb’s predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope.
– W. F. Wall / Syzygy Asymptote

Dr. William Wall
Previous work in the Library

Previous presentations in the Film Collection

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