3rd Monday of Every Month

Monday, August 18th, 2008 7-9 PM
Where:Atlas Cafe
What: Power to the People: Robots and Representational Democracy
Who: Dr. Ken Goldberg, UC Berkeley
The Deets: Is there decision-making strength in numbers? Professor Goldberg and his students are looking into questions raised by robots and social networks -- and working on a new class of interfaces and games based on networked robots and cameras that quantify a measure of "leadership" to bring about group discovery and decision-making based on the power of crowds.

Ken will report on experiments and questions raised by robots and social networks, ranging from Ouija boards to human "tele-actors,"and tell a true story about how invasions of privacy led him and his students to study how robots can assist in monitoring the natural environment. Ken will describe a robotic system they've deployed to assist the search for the Ivory Billed Woodpecker, a bird of extreme interest to birdwatchers, ornithologists, and conservationists whose last confirmed sighting was in 1944. Ken will also describe the Berkeley Center for New Media, a highly cross-disciplinary center with over 110 affiliated faculty from 30 Cal Departments.

Monday, September 15th, 2008 7-9 PM
Where:Atlas Cafe
What: Water Wars: Bottled vs. Tap
Who: Kishore Hari - that's me!
The Deets: $6 a gallon. That’s not the cost of gas, but the cost per gallon when you buy a 20 oz bottled water at the store. Last year alone, Americans chugged 8 billion gallons of bottled water and that number continues to rise. We’re constantly inundated with hundreds of water choices: artesian water from Fiji, vapor distilled with added electrolytes, spring water from the top of Mt. Shasta, carbon-neutral mineral water from Scotland, and of course good ol’ tap water.

So which is best for me? We’ll examine the safety, health, environmental, and personal factors that go into that choice so we can finally answer: Is bottled water better than tap?


Science in Action Events
Science in Action is a series of tours, trips, and hikes intended to put you in the middle of active science in the Bay Area.

If you're interested in attending, send me an email.

Limited to 20 people, RSVP to reserve your spot!

Friday, September 19th 4 PM - 530 PM

What: Speakeasy Ales & Lagers Brewery Tour
Cost: FREE
Spend a Friday after talking beer with the head brewmaster at Speakeasy.

Details: We'll spend about an hour and change touring the brewery, gets up close and personal with the brewmaster, and talking the art and science of a good brew. This is a true DIY experience, you'll get closer to the equipment on this tour than any other.

After the tour is over, we'll move into the bar where pints are $2.50. The entire selection of Speakeasy beers will be available, plus a couple extras you'll only get at the brewery. You're welcome to stay until 8. (And there's a chance of some live music as well)

The brewery is served by the T muni line, 19 and 44 bus, so don't worry about driving after the event.