Science Circle

Trivia
2018-11-24 06:00 - 07:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Auditorium
While the American part of SC celebrates Thanksgiving, the remaining cultures share an online hour of Science Trivia.
Come join us at this favourable time for Australia, Japan, India, Russia and Europe!

VWBPE 2019
2018-11-17 11:00 - 12:00 | Auditorium
Following the upcoming “Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education” (VWBPE) we invite you to participate in the consultation with our board Saturday after Mike Shaw’s “Recent developments in solar cells- perovskites” presentation.

VWBPE March 2011
(Including Deepthinker Oh, Yan Lauria, Arisia Vita, Quaezar Agnomen, Vic Michalak and Chantal)

In recent years, SC has twice participated in this international, annual conference in Education and we would like to discuss with you how we will implement our third contribution in April 2019. Our objective for participation is obviously aimed at raising awareness and expanding our network.

VWBPE 2019 re:Vision – Call for Proposals Opens
Rising from VRevolution, our Legacy of learning seeks to re:Vision the future of creation within the ecosystem of digital spaces that comprises VWBPE.
The call for proposals for VWBPE 2019 is now open.
Re:Vision plays a role in how multifaceted communities are contributing to and expanding best practices in virtual spaces to support play, creation, and learning. VWBPE invites you, the innovator in these endeavours, to share your re:Vision at the conference. When you submit your proposal, consider how your community contributes to the knowledge base of innovation and change through the increasingly complex landscape of digital technology.
In keeping with this vision, VWBPE welcomes the collaborative partnership of vLanguages.
Following the success of 2018, we continue the three conference presentation formats this year: Spotlight Presentations, Hands on Technology Workshops, and Compass Points Roundtable Discussions. Details of the formats and tracks are found in the Call for Proposals.
The deadline for Presentation proposals is 14 January 2019.
Proposals for Exhibits and Immersive Experiences are open now as well. The deadline for these is 11 February 2019.
How do you re:Vision the old to make way for the new in these brave new digital spaces of play, learning, and creation? What are your colleagues and collaborators working on? Encourage them to submit a proposal as you do the same. VWBPE wants to hear from you!

"Recent developments in solar cells- perovskites"
2018-11-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Harvesting energy from sunlight continues to be an active area of research which has the potential to benefit society at large. The best silicon-based solar cells have efficiencies around 25% after decades of research. Recently, solar cells based on materials which adopt a structure analogous to the mineral perovskite have shown the potential for high-efficiency conversion of light to electricity. This talk will illustrate the basics of how a solar cell works, why the perovskite structure seems to work for this application, and the various pros and cons of the particular varieties of perovskite used in such cells.

— Mike J. Shaw
Previous work in the Library
Previous work in the Film Collection

Is this the first time you will attend a presentation with us?
Follow this link first.

Art History Tour
2018-11-10 07:00 - 08:00 | Motoko Museum of Art History
Title: Liberalism vs. Conservatism in Art? – Art History part.3
I presented twice about Art History before.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 (Saturday, Nov 3rd 2018)

I and comet Morigi installed The Modern Museum as a collaboration platform for finding cross-disciplinary relation in modern history. And motoko Moonwall expanded my idea, introduced 2nd axis, “Left eye’s Art” vs. “Right eye’s Art” in her Art history museum but she died by lung cancer in 2015 before completion.
She introduced “Mannerism/ Baroque” vs “Classicism/ Renaissance”, combined two Art historians, Heinrich Wolflin and Gustav Hocke, but both studies are based mainly on Eastern Art and not enough for finding relations between Eastern world and Western world.
So I proposed new hypothesis, memory of “Hunting (migratory) life in glacial period” vs. “Agricultural (Sedentary) life in Holocene”.
It is interesting that several researchers in evolutionary psychology, cognitive neuroscience, etc. have similar idea for “Liberalism” vs “Conservatism” in politics.
Location guided tour Motoko Museum of Art History
Tour in voice, in English and Japanese.
Presentation Nov 3rd
Liberal or Conservative in USA
English
Japanese
Upper/Lower Chamber of G20 country
Left-Middle-Right Eye’s Art

— Hajime Nishimura
Previous work in the Library

Art History part 3
2018-11-03 07:00 - 08:00 | History of Art museum
Title: Liberalism vs. Conservatism in Art? – Art History part.3
I presented twice about Art History before.
Part 1
Part 2
I and comet Morigi installated The Modern Museum as a collaboration platform for finding cross-disciplinary relation in modern history. And motoko Moonwall expanded my idea, introduced 2nd axis, “Left eye’s Art” vs. “Right eye’s Art” in her Art history museum but she died by lung cancer in 2015 before completion.
She introduced “Mannerism/ Baroque” vs “Classicism/ Renaissance”, combined two Art historians, Heinrich Wolflin and Gustav Hocke, but both studies are based mainly on Eastern Art and not enough for finding relations between Eastern world and Western world.
So I proposed new hypothesis, memory of “Hunting (migratory) life in glacial period” vs. “Agricultural (Sedentary) life in Holocene”.
It is interesting that several researchers in evolutionary psychology, cognitive neuroscience, etc. have similar idea for “Liberalism” vs “Conservatism” in politics.
Locations: Presentation at lecture hall of Epidaurus of The Science Circle
and short guided tour at Motoko Museum of Art History
Presentation is in voice chat in English and Japanese.

Liberal or Conservative in USA
English
Japanese
Upper/Lower Chamber of G20 country
Left-Middle-Right Eye’s Art

— Hajime Nishimura
Previous work in the Library

Open board meeting
2018-11-02 07:00 - 08:00 | SC Board parcel
Every first Friday of the month, we hold an open board meeting for the benefit of our members. Here you can contact us with your questions, create ideas and hopefully together with us, give substance to our plans for the future.
During every open board meeting you will find a screen above the water with our current statistics, these are updated monthly and are there for your information.
Program
1. Opening
2. Does the board have subjects to discuss?
3. Concentrated topic with members
4. Questions & ideas from our members
5. Closing

NOTE: a transcript of all board meetings is stored and made available to the board of directors for future reference. It will not be publicly available.
If this time does not suit you, please send your questions etc via IM, notecard or email to Jes or Chantal. We will submit your question, idea or comment to the board and provide you with the answer.

"Science Fiction, movies & series"
2018-10-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Monthly panel discussion
With this week as subject “Science Fiction, movies & series”

Panel participants:

Tagline
Mike Shaw
Syzygy Asymptote

Moderator: Beragon Betts

1. Europa Report
2. Ex-Machina
3. “Extinction” – a very recent movie on Netflix
4. “Gattaca” – not as recent a movie about genetic nature versus nurture
5. “I, Robot” – movie based on Isaac Asimov stories about robots.
6. “The Matrix” – this is science fiction, but with problems. Exciting movie though.
7. 2001 A Space Odyssey
8. Surrogates (2009 – with Bruce Willis)

Registration of future panel participants via Beragon Betts

Exploratorium
2018-10-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Exploratorium region
Following the coming departure of the Exploratorium from SL (April 2019) we visit the interactive Second Life museum together.

The exhibitions are in their current state, for us as an educational institution, unusable and we would like to hear from you which of these exhibitions are worth replicating in Mesh and should be made available in our own region.
In all likelihood, the vision and years of work of Paul Doherty for the Exploratorium in a Virtual World will inspire us and enable future projects in physics, astrophysics, mathematics and technology.
Join us Saturday at 10 AM PDT, discover and experiment with the many exhibitions, photograph or write down your favourites and talk to us about new ideas!
Wikipedia about Exploratorium

"Analog Computing Devices"
2018-10-06 10:00 - 11:00, 2018-10-06 07:00 - 08:00 | Auditorium
“Analog Computing Devices”
A spectrum of devices that were used for a thousand or more years before the modern electronic computer, including the abacus, astrolabe, quipu, slide rule, the Antikythera device, Babbage’s calculators, and other tools used to calculate and compute numbers and dates and positions or record them
Phil will show and describe them and compare how they work to the digital computer.
A large abacus and slide rule and possibly other devices he can demonstrate during the presentation in an interactive session with the audience!
Phil Youngblood / Vic Michalak

— Phil Youngblood
Previous work in the Library
Previous work in the Film Collection

Is this the first time you will attend a presentation with us?
Follow this link first.

Open Board Meeting
2018-10-05 07:00 - 08:00
Every first Friday of the month, we hold an open board meeting for the benefit of our members. Here you can contact us with your questions, create ideas and hopefully together with us, give substance to our plans for the future.

During every open board meeting you will find a screen above the water with our current statistics, these are updated monthly and are there for your information.
Program
1. Opening
2. Does the board have subjects to discuss?
3. Concentrated topic with members, this month; FB & Crowdfunding & social media support
4. Questions & ideas from our members
5. Closing

NOTE: a transcript of all board meetings is stored and made available to the board of directors for future reference. It will not be publicly available.
If this time does not suit you, please send your questions etc via IM, notecard or email to Jes or Chantal. We will submit your question, idea or comment to the board and provide you with the answer.

“Fermi Paradox re: aliens”
2018-09-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Monthly panel discussion
With this week as subject “Fermi Paradox re: aliens”
The Fermi Paradox — Where Are All The Aliens? (6 minutes)
The Fermi Paradox Compendium (110 minutes)

Panel participants:
Phil Youngblood RL – Vic Michalak SL
W.F. Wall RL – Syzygy Asymptote SL
Sumanta Ray RL – SR (sumantaray1986) SL

Moderator: Beragon Betts
Registration of future panel participants via Beragon Betts

Volcano!
2018-09-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
ABSTRACT:
The eruption of Kilauea in Hawaii is the latest example of the active role of volcanoes on the Earth. This presentation will present research on what makes certain volcanoes explosive and others gentle. I will also present research on ancient volcanoes in Virginia. Some of these volcanoes are well understood in terms of plate tectonic theory. Others as researched by James Madison University geologists are still a mystery to science.

by Dr. William F. Schmachtenberg (Dae Miami SL)
Previous work in the Film Collection

Is this the first time you will attend a presentation with us?
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Open board meeting
2018-09-19 07:00 - 08:00
From September on, every third Wednesday of the month, we hold an open board meeting for the benefit of our members. Here you can contact us with your questions, create ideas and hopefully together with us, give substance to our plans for the future.
Depending on the turnout in the first weeks, we determine a future location in our own region. By means of a Landing Point you will always arrive at the right location.
If this time does not suit you, please send your questions etc via IM, notecard or email to Jes or Chantal. We will submit your question, idea or comment to the board and provide you with the answer.

Two part talk by Dr. Gasior & debate
2018-09-16 08:00 - 09:00 | Auditorium
“Reducing Irreducible Complexity”
“A Biological Basis for Morality”
In this two part talk, Dr. Gasior discusses two crux arguments in the evolution versus religion debate.
One counter concept to Darwinian evolution is the argument that biological systems are designed. And, an irreducibly complex machine must have had a designer. A deconstruction of this line of reasoning will be produced along with an example of how evolution works to develop biological machines via analogy with handgun development.
Regardless of the truth of religion, many people find comfort and feel a need for a system of morality with an omniscient and punishing/redeeming entity. Science does not per se offer a specific system of morality and in fact it is argued it creates a potential sense of loneliness and isolation. The second segment puts forth a biological basis for morality from our understanding of biological diversity and Darwinian evolution.
The second segment will begin by watching the first couple minutes of the following video which sets up the conversation.
No God = No Morals? (a compilation)

Beragon Betts will then lead the discussion of 30 minutes.
If you would like to participate in the panel, please contact Beragon via IM from your SC group in SL.

Dr. Stephen L. Gasior
Previous work in the Library
Previous work in the Film Collection

Is this the first time you will attend a presentation with us?
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Science Trivia
2018-09-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Because the academic year has started again, we also like to give our teachers the opportunity to make a relaxed start and that is why we will play two full hours of Science-Trivia.
Walk in when it suits you, put on some background music, take care of tea, coffee or something stronger and arrive home.
Saturday, September 8th from 9 AM to 11 AM PDT you have the opportunity to beat our scientists in a steaming science quiz.
~Team SC

"Sterile Neutrinos: a new particle not known to our Standard Model?"
2018-09-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Photo: PNAS

Abstract:
Over the last year, sterile neutrinos have been in the news.
There is some suggestion that evidence for them is present in experimental data, but it’s still very uncertain. If they’re real, it would be very exciting for particle physics, which has the interesting conundrum of a model that is *too good* — in that it’s been decades since there has been any real surprises in particle physics. A new and unknown particle would mean that we’re finally venturing into deeper explorations of the fundamental nature of high-energy physics; it could potentially have cosmological implications as well. In this talk, I’ll give a summary of the Standard Model of Particle Physics, and describe how amazingly (and, indeed, disappointingly) successful it’s been in predicting and explaining the results of particle physics experiments. I will describe what neutrinos are, and how regular neutrinos differ from sterile neutrinos. Finally, I’ll talk about the possibilities that we’ve seen sterile neutrinos, and what the implications are.

— Rob Knop
Homepage
Blog
Previous work in the Library
Previous work in the Film Collection

Science Trivia
2018-09-01 09:00 - 10:00 | Auditorium

SC Trivia test hour
2018-08-25 09:00 - 10:00 | Auditorium
After the previous test run we added 600+ Science, History & General knowledge questions.
Time set: 30 seconds
Range: 20 meters

Trivia Test run
2018-08-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Auditorium
Would you like to accompany us for an hour of Science Trivia?
Today we are testing the game!

“Updating Darwinian Evolution Part II: The Role of Sexual Selection”
2018-06-30 09:00 - 10:00 | Auditorium
The most common conception of evolution is that the hardiest survive. Darwin proposed another type of competition–that for mates within a species. When competing for mating partners the ability to find the right match and display your wares become important forces shaping the evolution of physiology, chemistry, and the brain. This talk explores the science of sexual selection in humans. Sexual selection has been well established in animal species for half a century, but the ability to study it in humans is relatively recent. Using the documentary The Science of Sex Appeal as a scaffold, this talk helps us update Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.

Optional Discovery video (not available everywhere)

Dr. Stephen L. Gasior
Previous work in the Library
Previous work in the Film Collection

Is this the first time you will attend a presentation with us?
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Psychological benefits of walking in a virtual nature
2018-06-29 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual Island of Natmoud
Abstract
Can the benefits of nature walks for psychological well-being and cognitive ability be replicated in a purely virtual environment? The island of Natmoud was built in the virtual world of Second Life (SL) to see whether immersion in such an environment is possibly therapeutic. Residents of SL were invited to visit Natmoud and comment in writing on their experience while there. Reading and analyzing these comments with TROPES semantic software allows us to identify the main factors contributing to a relaxing and comforting atmosphere. The implicit hypothesis that a virtual representation of nature can be soothing is confirmed. We also find that wildlife – which is abundant on the island * –appears to be the main feature that catches the attention of walkers. Given that these verbatim transcripts from a small convenience sample reflect, with one exception, the emotions felt by women, the results cannot really be generalized. In the analyses, the anonymity of the avatars is preserved by using initials, even though in all the cases the participants consented to the reproduction of the emotions they expressed.
Related PDF

— Benny Rigaux-Bricmont

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Big data: road to the future or just weapons of math destruction?
2018-06-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Big data: road to the future or just weapons of math destruction?

Big Data are like the God Janus: on the one end they offer great advantages, make our lives easier by offering us unlimited possibility to better organize our work and our everyday life; they allow us to achieve a better understanding of the world around us and can be used to monitor and control the environment, in practice they are changing our world and our lives in ways which would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
On the other end, however, if ill used -either by negligence or on purpose- they can become “Weapons of Math Destruction” leading to wrong decisions which can badly affect the weakest and poorest part of our society. The Data Anlytics phenomenon is only the most recent case of misuse of big data.
==========================
— Giuseppe Longo
Professor of Astrophysics

Accademico Pontaniano
Associate – California Institute of Technology
Associate . INFN and INAF

Previous work in the Film Collection

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"Catalysis in Wonderland part 2"
2018-06-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Catalysis in Wonderland, Part II: An SL presentation of classic transition-metal chemistry.
Abstract:
Organic chemistry follows certain rules. Starting in the 1950’s, we began to find ways that transition metals (e.g. chromium, iron, nickel, rhodium, gold and many others) could bend the rules of classic organic chemistry and facilitate chemical transformations which would otherwise be onerous. One example of the utility of transition metals as applied to organic chemistry is in catalysis, i.e. the transformation of starting materials into products through an easy-to-traverse sequence of steps. Today, catalysts mediate a wide range of reactions, from improving the quality of air (e.g. catalytic converters) to the production of plastics, medicines and other chemical transformations. This talk is a continuation of our discussion of catalysis where we will review the basics of “organometallic” catalysis reactions such as “oxidative addition”, “insertion”, and reductive elimination. These steps allow a metal complex to catalyze a reaction without itself being changed. These principles will be illustrated through lecture and scripted objects. The talk will discuss in detail the issues of “handedness” and how a catalyst can imprint its “handedness” on the final product.

— Mike J. Shaw
Previous work in the Library
Previous work, including “Catalysis in Wonderland part 1” in the Film Collection

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"Student Virtual World Science Projects in Sine Space"
2018-06-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Members here at Science Circle regularly attend our meetings for online discussions and collaboration. On June 9, I will discuss my attempts to get my students to collaborate and work together online. Sine space seems to provide the online networking in a safe networked environment we need. One of my students has created a space colony for Europa, and another has created a geological simulation called Eagle Rock, based on an actual area in Virginia. The creator of the sims can control who has access to the sim and can even delete it if so desired.
An optional field trip will be given at the end of the lecture. Details on how to log in will be giving at the end of the lecture. These sims can be accessed with a web browser and a guest account. Although the sine space client for pc and an account is recommended at https://sine.space.

Take a Virtual Geology Field Trip to Eagle Rock, Virginia!
by Dr. William F. Schmachtenberg (Dae Miami SL)
Previous work in the Film Collection

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Interactive tour of Brodmann's Brain
2018-06-01 07:00 - 08:00 | Brodmann’s Brain
Join us for an interactive tour of Brodmann’s Brain! Within this giant cortex we can see and stimulate the fMRI mapped areas which correlate to fear, desire, love, coordination, meditation, speech, and more!
This model and others being developed provide a platform for exciting educational opportunities in biology, psychology, and health, behavioral, and social sciences. Sponsored by Whole Brain Health on Inspiration Island, featuring brain research post-doc OsanGar, Thuja Hynes and Lissena Wisdomseeker.
Previous work from Lynne Berrett (Lissena Wisdomseeker) in the Library
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Tumblin' Dice - Probability Theory & Statistics...
2018-05-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Tumblin’ Dice – Probability Theory & Statistics as a basis for Modern Science
Probability Theory & Statistics represent something very basic to human existence and are indispensable to scientific rigor. This presentation will survey some of the stepping stones that form the basis of computational mathematics commonly used in analysis of data from experimentation. This includes some mathematical history and some set theoretic considerations for basic statistics with emphasis on discrete sample (outcome) space.
By Tagline (Guest speaker)
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"The Anthropocene Epoch"
2018-05-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2018-05-19 06:00 - 07:00 | Auditorium
There is a saying that in English goes, “One cannot see the forest for the trees.” The traditional meaning is that it is difficult to see the bigger picture if you cannot see beyond your own little part in it. So it goes with seeing the bigger picture of global changes because we live on such a small part of our planet, and for such a relatively short time.
In March 2008, The Science Circle officially began its tradition of presentations of a variety of science topic with “The Anthropocene Epoch.” Ten years later, we will again explore the concept of geological epochs and evidence that humans have had such a significantly high impact on our planet that we are even now leaving evidence in rock and ice layers, in the atmosphere, and in the fossil record, that will be evident thousands and millions of years from now.
Some of the questions we will explore are: “How has the Earth changed over its history?”
“What caused those changes?” “What was the impact and how long did it last?” “How do we know?” “What natural changes are occurring right now on Earth?” “How are humans changing our planet and by how much?” “Are humans the only living things changing the Earth?” “What are the possible short and long-term consequences of our activities?” “Is there anything we can do about it?”
This is a subject that is having an impact on every one of us for centuries to come. Come join us!
Phil Youngblood / Vic Michalak

— Phil Youngblood
Previous work in the Library
Previous work in the Film Collection

Is this the first time you will attend a presentation with us?
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"Stephen Hawking's Last Paper... "
2018-05-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Auditorium
Photo: NASA

“Stephen Hawking’s Last Paper: his and other theoretical cosmologist’s ideas about the multiverse”
More information soon!

— Rob Knop
Homepage
Blog
Previous work in the Library
Previous work in the Film Collection
