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9/22/15
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ISC is thrilled to host
XKCD's creator Randall Munroe at 1871 on Dec. 10. Tickets will go fast, so
reserve a seat ASAP. Then make plans for who you'll invite to join you for
lunar eclipse
viewing Sunday night at your choice of lakefront locations (see below). And get your early bird tix for
Science Cocktail Party before the price goes up on Thursday (Sept. 24). Ya gotta plan folks, ya gotta plan.
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Randall Munroe, creator of XKCD, discusses "Thing Explainer"
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ISC is excited to host Randall Munroe, creator of the famous comic XKCD, at Chicago's 1871 Tech Incubator, where he'll discuss his latest book, "Thing Explainer." XKCD (if you've been living under a rock and are not yet a fan) is "a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math and language." If you go check it out now for the first time, know you'll likely be there for hours.
Thursday, December 10, 2015 6:00pm
1871 Tech Incubator
12th Floor, Merchandise Mart
222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza (
map)
Chicago, IL 60654
Tickets are $40 and include one copy of the book.
Purchase tickets here.
A while ago, I posted the comic Up Goer Five, an annotated blueprint of the Saturn V rocket with all the parts described using only the thousand most common English words. Today, I'm excited to announce that I'm publishing a collection of large-format (9"x13") Up Goer Five-style blueprints. The book is full of detailed diagrams of interesting objects, along with explanations of what all the parts are and how they work.
The titles, labels, and descriptions are all written using only the thousand most common English words. Since this book explains things, I've called it Thing Explainer. The diagrams in Thing Explainer cover all kinds of neat stuff-including computer buildings (datacenters), the flat rocks we live on (tectonic plates), the stuff you use to steer a plane (airliner cockpit controls), and the little bags of water you're made of (cells).
Thing Explainer will be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on November 24th. You can preorder it now; click here for links to more information and options.
Or, in the spirit of the book:
I had a good time drawing Up Goer Five, so I decided to draw more pictures like that and make a book of them. The book explains things, so it's called Thing Explainer. You can't have Thing Explainer yet, but if you want, you can order it now, and you'll get it about a month before the end of the year. Touch these blue words to learn how to get Thing Explainer.
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Total Lunar Eclipse visible from Chicago Sept. 27
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Chicagoans have a special opportunity to view a rare total lunar eclipse the evening of September 27, 2015. Illinois Science Council has arranged with the Chicago Park District to extend access hours at two lakefront parks so residents can get an unobstructed view of a total lunar eclipse. Montrose Beach Park, on the City's north side, and Rainbow Beach Park, on the south side, will both remain open until 11:30pm on September 27th for free eclipse viewing. You must stay on the beach or in the park and not go in the water. Take a jacket and blanket for optimal lunar relaxation. (We're working on a moon-themed music playlist. Check our Facebook page for details.)
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the shadow caused by the earth's blocking sunlight from hitting the moon. A total eclipse means the moon is completely blocked from the sun's light, which only happens when the sun, earth, and moon are closely aligned. When this happens, the moon can take on a dark red appearance.
The eclipse will last 3 hours and 20 minutes from beginning to end; partial eclipse begins at 8:07pm and ends at 11:27pm. The moon will be totally eclipsed for about 1 hour 12 minutes with the maximum eclipse at 9:47pm. Fingers crossed for clear skies that night!
Also, the Adler Planetarium will host a special Lunar Eclipse Viewing Party from 7-11:30pm with special lectures and programs that evening.This family event will include t
elescope viewing from the plaza, special lectures by Adler astronomers & educators, access to the Space Visualization Laboratory and eclipse and moon-related educational programs and special theater shows. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for members and children. More details and tickets here.
Northwestern University's Department of Astronomy will also h
ost lunar eclipse-viewing from 8:00-11:30pm on September 27 on the top level of Visitors Center Parking Garage, 1847 Campus Drive, Evanston (
map
).
Admission is free and open to the public.
Multiple telescope stations will be available.
Astronomers from NU's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (
CIERA
) will be available to answer questions.
Check out this cool NASA video that shows what the lunar eclipse looks like if you were standing ON the moon.
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ISC Accepting Interns
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College students are invited to apply to intern with ISC. Positions are unpaid (but we'll cover travel expenses and write you a good rec letter) and we're happy to work with your school if you're seeking course credit. Projects involve program development and execution, fundraising events and research, database management, marketing and social media. Learn about the nonprofit sector in a fast-growing field with a (super cool) entrepreneurial organization. Chicago location is preferred for events, but work can happen virtually. Send resume with cover letter explaining why you'd like to work with ISC to Monica Metzler. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
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Early Bird discount tickets end this Thursday!
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Early bird discount tickets on sale only through this Thursday, Sept 24. Go to ScienceCocktail.org to reserve your tickets now! #ScienceCocktail. The event takes place at D.I.R.T.T. Environmental Showroom, 325 N. Wells Street, Chicago.
There will be smart, fun, interesting and beautiful people (often the same people), hors d'oeuvres, open bar with our signature Pop-Rock Cocktail, cool science experiments you'll participate in, plus a photo booth, and raffle prizes all in the name of science and fun. There's also a special group rate to buy four, get one free, so grab your friends or make some!
Illinois Science Council thanks our great sponsors:
If your company is interested in being a sponsor, contact Monica Metzler at
[email protected]
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"Dark Matter and Dinosaurs" with Lisa Randall, PhD
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Dr. Randall will be discussing her new book: "DARK MATTER and the DINOSAURS: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe" in which she tells a breathtaking story that weaves together the cosmos' history and our own, illuminating the deep relationships that are critical to our world - and the astonishing beauty inherent in the most familiar things. "Dark matter" and "dinosaurs" might sound like an unusual pairing. The book explores a speculative scenario in which a disk of dark matter - the elusive stuff in the universe that interacts through gravity like ordinary matter, but that doesn't emit or absorb light, dislodged a comet from the Oort cloud that was ultimately responsible for the dinosaurs' extinction.
Working through the background and consequences that led to this proposal, Randall teaches us an enormous amount-both established and speculative-about dark matter, our Universe, our galaxy, asteroids, and comets, and the process by which scientists explore new concepts. Many people are fascinated by the idea of a multiverse - other universes not within our reach. But at least as fascinating are the many hidden worlds, both biological and physical, that we do have a chance to explore and understand. Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs teaches us about known structure in the Universe and the Solar System, speculates further about possible missing elements, and illustrates the importance of preserving the elements on Earth-so long in the making-that are vital to our existence.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015 6:00-7:30pm
Harold Washington Library Center
Pritzker Auditorium (
additional seating in adjacent rooms with a simulcast)
400 S. State Street, Chicago IL 60505 (
map)
Books will be available for
purchase and the author will autograph books at the conclusion of the program.
Details and registration
here
.
Lisa Randall, PhD, studies theoretical particle physics and cosmology at Harvard University where she is Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Randall is the recipient of many awards and honorary degrees. Professor Randall was included in Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" of 2007, was among Esquire Magazine's "75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century." Professor Randall's two books, Warped Passages
(2005) and
Knocking on Heaven's Door
(2011) were New York Times 100 Most Influential Books. Her ebook,
Higgs Discovery: The Power of Empty Space, was published in 2012.
Photo credit: Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
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More cool science stuff to check out...
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In honor of the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein publishing his scientific theory of relativity, Northwestern University's Department of Physics and Astronomy is hosting special talks at the Dearborn Observatory. For more info on the free "Einstein Evenings," and links to great additional resources, click here.
Geek Bar and the Chicago Council for Science & Technology are hosting "Speakeasy" talks on a variety of science topics. Dr. Bala Chaudhary will discuss "Dirty Secrets - Managing Soil Systems for a Sustainable Future" on October 6. Info and links to registration are here.
As part of the
Field Museum's "Evolution at Revolution" series, paleontologist Peter Mackovicky, will discuss his evolutionary research in Antarctica on Oct. 7 at Chicago's
Revolution Brewery. Info and advance ticket links
here.
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Ask a Scientist, Shop for Science and Get Involved in Promoting Science
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More cool stuff for you from your friends and fans at Illinois Science Council:
We've created a new feature on our website allowing you to "Ask A Scientist" anything you're wondering about ho the world works. Questions will be screened by members of ISC's Associates Board and may get featured in an upcoming blog post. Associates (many of whom have PhDs in science fields) will answer the questions or tray to find local researchers who will. It's just one more way ISC supports human curiosity!
 You shop online, right? So support ISC when you do!
When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Illinois Science Council. (Yeah!!) There's no extra cost to you and all items are exactly what you find elsewhere on Amazon.
Bookmark this link
and support us every time you shop. Do this and tell all your friends, family and colleagues too. Why? Because you support science so it's an easy way to put your money where your mind is!
If you love the idea of public science outreach for adults (and we know you do because you're reading this. Busted!), you should consider joining ISC's Associates Board. This fun group of volunteers give of their time and talent to help ISC put on the Science Cocktail Party, the Pi Day Fun Run, and all our programs. Find more information and an application on our website here.
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