Science Semester: Book Reading and Discussion Group
Next session: Thursday, September 12, 2024 | 1:30pm-3:30pm
Details:
Second Thursdays of Each Month September 12-December 12, 1:30-3:30 pm
The Science Semester lead by Steven Skalak is a group of four readings in modern science aimed at a broad audience with experience ranging from a lifetime of scientific inquiry to the merely interested. The group will follow the basic book group format of reading the book followed by a discussion meeting at which participants can share their reactions and own life experience as it relates to the topic. Participants are expected to acquire their own reading materials, list of required material below.
Sept. 12 - Storm in a Tea Cup by Helen Czerski. The physics behind everyday life. Revealing the physics of ordinary and familiar and connecting to the larger science issues of our day.
October 10 - The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee. Modern biology book that traces the history of untangling the mystery of genetic influence on our lives, personalities, identities, fates, and choices. It races the effort to understand the gene from ancient times to present and uses the compelling sorry of the author's own family history.
November 14 - Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker. Our whole world is built on math, from the code running a website to the equations enabling the design of skyscrapers and bridges. most of the time this math works quietly behind the scenes... until it doesn’t! All sorts of seemingly innocuous mathematical mistakes can have significant consequences.
December 12 - Surely, You're Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman. A light-hearted walk through the adventures of Nobel prize winning physicist during his varied career from Los Alamos to Princeton to Caltech.
This program is in partnership with the Charlottesville Newcomers Club.
Register below.
Members only.
Location:
The Center
Seats available: 7