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.

 

Hiking Life’s Appalachian Trail

Susan Cabrera

Dec 14, 2014

Life is an interesting and complex journey full of twists and turns, highs and lows, and unexpected adventures. Susan Cabrera will compare life experiences with a hike on the Appalachian Trail, and invite audience participation. Susan has a master’s degree from Stanford University in Counseling Psychology with emphasis in behavior modification, and has worked in several different capacities at Stanford. She is also an executive management consultant, author, and lecturer. Her non-spiritual poetry book “Life in the Fast Lane” will be available for sale at this event.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2014-12-14): Hiking Life’s Appalachian Trail (Susan Cabrera) 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)