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UnfrozenArctic

Arctic Unfrozen – Jun 8

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Earth’s Arctic endures the dual threat of climate change and geopolitical competition. Sea ice is melting, and permafrost is thawing. At the same time, global interest is growing rapidly as the region continues to transform from frozen expanse to contested international waterway. The consequences of the emerging “Arctic Anthropocene” are truly global — from rising sea levels due to melting glaciers to tensions between great powers determined to protect their territories and resources, and the well-being of Indigenous peoples who have fought for centuries for rights and recognition.
 
Wonderfest joins Commonwealth Club World Affairs to present Dr. Mia Bennett, Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Washington, in conversation with Andrew Dudley, co-host of “Earth Live,” about her new book Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic. 
 
This event can be enjoyed in-person only. Pre-register with the Commonwealth Club / World Affairs via the “Tickets” link, below. Use promo code WONDERNAUTS for a $10 ticket discount.

Dr. Mia Bennett

WHAT: Arctic Unfrozen
WHO: Dr. Mia Bennett, Assoc. Professor of Geography, University of Washington [https://www.cryopolitics.com/mia-bennett/]
WHERE: Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium, Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA 94105
WHEN: Monday, June 8 — 5:30pm (1 hour)
COLLABORATORS:
Commonwealth Club World Affairs [https://www.commonwealthclub.org]
HOW: During the last stage of online ticket purchase from the Commonwealth Club (via the "Tickets" link, below), use promo code WONDERNAUTS to secure a discount of $10.
Tickets
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Replacement Anatomy – Oct 9

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The human body may be hard to improve, at least from the perspective of modern medical innovation. Still, we try — especially as these wonderful mortal machines start to fall apart. Mary Roach, New York Times bestselling author of Stiff and Fuzz, follows the astonishing evolution of body-part replacement, from sculpting noses of brass to crafting body parts using stem cells & 3-D printing. While such advancements can be lifesavers, they often beg a difficult bioethical question: How and when does a person decide they’d be better off with a prosthesis? Wonderfest joins the Commonwealth Club for a fascinating conversation with Mary Roach as she investigates the moral, medical, and metaphysical implications of remaking ourselves from the inside out.

Two types of tickets are available: in-person and online-only. Pre-register with the Commonwealth Club / World Affairs via the “Tickets” link, below. Use promo code WONDERNAUTS for a $7 ticket discount.


Mary Roach

WHAT: Mary Roach: Adventures in Human Anatomy
WHO: Mary Roach, Science Writer — author of Stiff, Fuzz, Grunt, Boink, et al! [https://maryroach.net]
WHERE: The Commonwealth Club, Taube Auditorium, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA 94105
WHEN: Thursday, October 9 — 6pm (1 hour)
COLLABORATORS:
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California [https://www.commonwealthclub.org]
HOW: Get tickets by clicking the "Tickets" box, below. During purchase from the Commonwealth Club, use promo code WONDERNAUTS to secure a discount of $7.00 for either type of ticket, in-person or online.
Tickets
ScienceReporting

Science Reporting – Apr 29

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Radio and TV journalist Ira Flatow produced his first science stories back in 1970 during the inaugural Earth Day. Since then, he has worked for Emmy Award-winning science programs and covered science for a number of high-profile news organizations, and has hosted the popular public radio program “Science Friday” for more than three decades. In his career, Flatow has interviewed countless scientists, journalists and other experts about the most exciting developments in science. Now the Commonwealth Club (with Wonderfest!) welcomes Ira in conversation with local journalists to speak about the role of science writing in the current cultural climate.

Ira’s interviewers: Annalee Newitz, science journalist and co-host of the Hugo Award-winning podcast “Our Opinions are Correct” |  Ezra David Romero, climate and water reporter for KQED news | Naveena Sadasivam, fossil fuel and climate change writer at Grist independent media organization.

Two types of tickets are available: in-person and online-only. Pre-register with the Commonwealth Club via the “Tickets” link, below. Use promo code WONDERNAUTS for a $10 ticket discount.


Ira Flatow

WHAT: Science Friday and the Future of Science Reporting
WHO: Ira Flatow, Radio/TV journalist and Science Friday host
WHERE: The Commonwealth Club, Taube Auditorium, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA 94105
WHEN: Tuesday, April 29, — 6:00 PM (1 hour)
COLLABORATORS:
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California [https://www.commonwealthclub.org]
HOW: Get tickets by clicking the "Tickets" box, below. During purchase from the Commonwealth Club, use promo code WONDERNAUTS to secure a discount of $10.00 for either type of ticket, in-person or online.
Tickets
3AgesOfWater3

3 Ages of Water – June 27

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As the “universal solvent,” water supports interesting chemistry, geology, and, of course, biology. If there is an elixir of life, it is water. In The Three Ages of Water, Dr. Peter Gleick describes the long, fraught history — and future — of humanity’s relationship with this precious resource. Water has shaped civilizations and empires, and it has underpinned centuries of technological advance: from agriculture and public health, to our search for life on other worlds. But is our current relationship with water all wet? Drawing from the lessons of the past, Dr. Gleick charts a visionary path toward a sustainable future for water and for the planet.

Dr. Peter Gleick is a hydrologist and climatologist who co-founded Oakland’s nonprofit Pacific Institute. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a MacArthur Fellow, and winner of Wonderfest’s Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. Dr. Gleick will principally be discussing ideas in his new book, The Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future.

 


Dr. Peter Gleick

WHAT: The Three Ages of Water
WHO: Dr. Peter Gleick, Co-Founder & Senior Fellow, Pacific Institute [https://www.gleick.com]
WHERE: BookShop West Portal, 80 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 [https://www.bookshopwestportal.com]
WHEN: 2023-06-27 — 7pm, Tuesday, June 27 (1.5 hour)
HOW:

This free event is co-presented by San Francisco's BookShop West Portal and by Wonderfest. To purchase Dr. Gleick's book, please visit BookShop West Portal. To support public science outreach, please donate modestly (or immodestly!) to Wonderfest via the Eventbrite form below.