Scientia 2003-2004
an institute for the history of science and culture founded by Salomon Bochner
Thanks to all our speakers for a wonderful colloquium
series during the 2003-04 year
2003-2004 Scientia Program
Human Fragility and Resourcefulness— Are We Fit Enough to Survive?
Modern humans evolved some 200,000-150,000 years ago in Africa. Entering Europe in the midst of the last great ice age, they out-competed Neanderthals (possibly through superior language skills and social structures) and ultimately out-competed the mammoth and saber-toothed tiger. They also developed complex linguistic and social systems, recorded their aspirations and fears in cave paintings and petroglyphs, and buried their dead. They coped and survived in a world of mystery and unknowns, eventually inhabiting all of it.
As human society developed, our species prospered and multiplied until we became powerful and numerous enough to impact the world in ways that now rival Earth’s natural forces. Is humankind genetically equipped to deal with these forces using skills we inherited from the Stone Age? Our species is now being challenged to protect itself from both natural and anthropogenic forces that will certainly test our evolutionary success. These forces, and our responses to them, will determine our future and perhaps even our survival as a species. A natural extension of last year’s Scientia theme, "Evolutionary Biology as Paradigm Science," this year’s Colloquia will explore specific tests of our fitness and the resourcefulness of our response to these tests.
Scientia is an institute of Rice University faculty founded in 1981 by the mathematician and historian of science Salomon Bochner. Scientia provides an opportunity for scholarly discussion across disciplinary boundaries; its members and fellows come from a wide-range of academic disciplines.
Scientia sponsors an annual series of colloquia (past years' programs are listed at bottom of this page) devoted to the exploration of a broad topic from a variety of points of view. These colloquia are open to the general public. The topic of the 2003-2004 Scientia colloquia is Human Fragility and Resourcefulness— Are We Fit Enough to Survive?. Most colloquia consist of a speaker, a panel of discussants who respond to the speaker's remarks, and a period for questions from the audience. Unless otherwise noted, the colloquia will take place on the specified Tuesdays at 4:00 pm in the Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library (enter Library, make two lefts to the elevator, take elevator to third floor, Room is to left). A wine and cheese reception will follow each event.
The high point of the year is the distinguished Bochner Lecture, which is held instead in the evening.
Fall, 2003 Colloquium Schedule:
Tuesday, 21 October 2003, 4:00 p.m., Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
James B. Blackburn, Houston Attorney and Adjunct Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Rice University
Title: "Rethinking Environmentalism: Lessons from the Texas Coast"
Abstract: From 1969 to 1976, most of the major United States environmental laws were passed. These laws were based upon post-war environmental thinking and new information indicating that humans were having a profound impact on the environment as well as on themselves. Since the 1980s, the United States has been and continues to retreat from environmental thinking, and it is nowhere more evident than on the Texas coast. Mr. Blackburn will present several key coastal policy examples that focus upon the use of scientific information in environmental decision-making as well as on issues associated with valuation of natural capital, based on his experience as an environmental policy analyst and litigator over the last thirty years on the Texas coast. Portions of this presentation will be excerpted from his forthcoming Book of Texas Bays: Stewardship and Activism on the Texas Coast, to be published by Texas A&M Press.
Tuesday, 18 November 2003, 4:00 p.m., Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
Carolyn Sumners, Director of Astronomy and Physics, Houston Museum of Natural Science
and Adjunct Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University
Title: The Exploration Paradigm: Can We Get Off this Planet if We Need To?
Abstract: Reassessing our Gravity Well: can we or should we climb out? -- Weighing the biological effects of microgravity, interplanetary impacts, coronal mass ejections and cosmic rays. The risk analysis of human exploration grows more dynamic as does the disconnect between science fact, science fiction and science future. When is a virtual voyage good enough? What are the legacy of Apollo and the reality of Tranquility Base? This lecture will provide a unique perspective from the developer of the Challenger Learning Center, the author of Cosmic Pinball (a book about the probabilities associated with Earth impacts), and a veteran of 33 years of public astronomy education.
Tuesday, 2 December 2003, 4:00 p.m., Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
POSTPONED UNTIL THE SPRING SEMESTER - WATCH FOR UPDATES
Spring, 2004 Colloquium Schedule:
Tuesday, 20 January 2004, 4:00 p.m., Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
Robert F. Curl, Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor of Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry,
Rice University
Title: "Is our intelligence impairing our chances for survival?" Video archive available here:
Abstract: The reasoning and communication abilities of our species has furthered our survival and expansion throughout the globe until the biggest danger that we face has become ourselves. The knowledge created through the scientific revolution has vastly enlarged humanity's capacity for both constructive and destructive purposes. Example: What sort of existence will we have when terrorists obtain the bomb and biological weapons?
Tuesday, 17 February 2004, 4:00 p.m., Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
Neal F. Lane, University Professor and Senior Fellow, Baker Institute for Public Policy Rice University
Title: Things that go 'click' in the night - the nuclear conundrum
Abstract: The world was stunned in August of 1945 by the news that a new and unbelievably powerful 'atomic bomb' - a weapon that derives its awesome power from nuclear fission - had been dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending WWII. Since that time, nuclear technology has found peaceful uses, e.g., for the generation of electrical power, treatment of forms of cancer, and research into the fundamental nature of matter and the origins of the universe. But there is widespread public concern about the danger of accidents that could spread harmful radioactive material over a wide area and harm people. And, after 9/11, fear of terrorists exploding a "dirty bomb" (a conventional, non-nuclear, bomb that spews out radioactive material) has grown. Moreover, nuclear weapons technology has advanced significantly in the past 50 years; and many nations have nuclear weapons and the means of delivering them. Other nations - some not so friendly - are suspected of having this capability. Thus, it is not surprising that most people are frightened by anything "nuclear" or "radioactive" - anything that 'clicks' a Geiger counter. The conundrum, or puzzle, is the following: Most likely, we will need more nuclear energy in the future to help meet the world's growing energy needs and address the negative impacts of global warming and climate change, largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. At the same time, it is hard to see how we can have more nuclear energy without incurring increased risks of human exposure to radioactive materials and the proliferation of nuclear weapons to unfriendly groups or nations - perhaps risks even to our survival as a species. In order to resolve this conflict, it is likely that we will be asked to give up certain freedoms that we associate with American democracy. We will have to decide how this balance between security and freedom is to be set. The purpose of this talk is to describe some of the issues and pose a few questions, in the hope of encouraging dialogue.
Monday, 15 March 2004, 8:00 p.m., McMurtry Auditorium, Duncan Hall
The Bochner Lecture
Speaker: Prof. Lee M. Silver,
Professor of Molecular Biology and Public Policy, Princeton University
Title: Biotechnology and the Reconstruction of the Soul. Video archive available here:
Tuesday, 13 April 2004, 4:00 p.m., Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren Library
Speaker: Ronald L. Sass, Harry Carothers and Olga Keith Wiess Professor of Natural Sciences and Department Chair
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University
Title: How difficult is it to believe in global warming?
Abstract: Scientists actively study and critically assess global climate change at four different levels: (1) detecting a directional change in the global climate (warming), (2) attributing that change to anthropogenic causes (greenhouse gases), (3) modeling future climate to determine the degree of change (warming) under different economic and cultural scenarios and (4) an emerging study of possible human and environmental responses to climate change either by strategies of mitigation or adaptation. It is evident that the degree of uncertainty among scientists and level of skepticism among informed others increases as one progresses from an assessment of detection, to attribution, to prediction and finally to response. Professor Sass will address his remarks to these four topics, attempting to provide reasonable evidence for a particular position at each level and a consideration of the validity and accuracy of those positions
Last revised, June 2004, eb
