Cosmos 1980 versus Cosmos 2014

Paul Salazar

Jan 04, 2015

What foundation did Carl Sagan create in 1980 with “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage”, and how did Neil deGrasse Tyson and others improve upon that foundation with “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” in 2014?

One might have thought at Sagan’s time that we had reached an incredible frontier in our understanding of the universe, but in fact in the decades that followed, tremendous advances in particle physics, astrophysics, astronomy, and revolutionary theories in cosmology opened new doors and raised even deeper questions about our place in the universe.

We will explore these developments and discuss “what’s new in astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology” by considering Cosmos 1980 versus Cosmos 2014.

Paul Salazar is a lifelong amateur astronomer, blogger and public speaker on the topic of astronomy. Paul has given talks at the California Academy of Sciences, the Exploratorium, and CuriOdyssey, and is an occasional guest on KGO, KFOG and KALW. He is a member of the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers and gives ‘star talks’ at events throughout the Bay Area. Paul is a graduate of the Stanford University School of Engineering and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and when he is not out under the stars he can be found working as an executive at Hazelcast, a Palo Alto-based startup. Paul lives in San Francisco.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2015-01-04): Cosmos 1980 versus Cosmos 2014 (Paul Salazar) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

Life in a Global Community: Social Service in Uganda

Annie Ashmore

Dec 28, 2014

Annie Ashmore
Annie Ashmore

Annie Ashmore, a sophomore at U.C. Davis, has been volunteering to lobby and raise funds and awareness about human rights issues in Uganda and the Central African Republic since 2009. This summer, she was able to travel to Uganda for the first time and work directly in a village school and orphanage. In this talk, she will discuss her work, its challenges, and her plans for further work in the Kampala area.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2014-12-28): Life in a Global Community: Social Service in Uganda (Annie Ashmore) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

Seven Ways to Boost Creativity, Health, and Well-being

Dr. Michelle Chappel

Dec 7, 2014

 

Michelle Chappel
Michelle Chappel

Research shows that enhancing creativity improves our well-being. Getting the creative juices flowing lessens anxiety, boosts physical and mental health, and makes us better problem solvers. This interactive talk will present seven keys to unlock creativity based on a unique blend of psychology, Eastern philosophies, and success stories from the speaker’s workshops over the past 18 years. Participants will learn how to hone their creative skills, reduce stress, gain greater life-work balance, and lead more fulfilling healthier lives. (See www.michellechappel.com)

 

Why Women?

Why Women?

Mary V. Hughes

Oct 19, 2014

 

Mary V. Hughes
Mary V. Hughes

American women comprise no more than 25% of the decision-makers across sectors in the US (e.g., corporate boards and executives, the US Congress, law firm partners).

The U.S. ranks well below many industrialized nations when it come to the status of women and policies that support them.

Why does that matter and what is the U.S. losing by failing to support the advancement of women? What would the country gain if women were full partners in all aspects of work and civic life?

Mary V. Hughes is a political strategist, author, and the architect of the Close the Gap CA campaign, www.closethegapca.org.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2014-10-19): Why Women? (Mary V. Hughes) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

A Contemporary Renaissance in India

A Contemporary Renaissance in India

Lopa Mukherjee

Oct 12, 2014

 

Lopa Mukherjee
Lopa Mukherjee

The first Renaissance in India came from the urge to win freedom from colonial rule.

After independence the euphoria of freedom quickly disappeared. The onerous task of rebuilding a nation loomed ahead.

Very soon it was found that there were still more enemies to conquer. Not external enemies this time, but internal ones.

The post-independence generation of Indian artists and intellectuals rose to meet the challenge.

Lopa Mukherjee is a writer and documentary film-maker, www.lopamukherjee.com.

Join us as we hear Lopa give this multimedia presentation of these renaissance people.