The following are the science presentations that were offered during Context 20 in 2007."Human Evolution and the Evolution of Intelligent Design Creationism"
Dr. Jeffery McKee
Creationists claim that there are no "transitional forms" in the fossil record, and that life is too complex to have evolved. Yet the fossil, genetic, and morphological evidence supporting notions of human evolution is so overwhelming, that Intelligent Design creationists have retreated to the "argument from incredulity" ... they simply refuse to accept the objective realities. Prof. McKee traces both the scientific advances and the social contexts through time to show how creationism has evolved as a reaction to the ever-growing evidence for the evolutionary sequence that some people find most difficult to accept -- that of their own origins.
"Physics, 2007 to Mid-Century, as Seen Through a Cloudy Crystal Ball"
Dr. Gordon Aubrecht
What is going to happen in the near future to physics?
"Weird World of Science"
Dr. Robert Pyatt
We'll discuss some of the strangest scientific studies ever undertaken including "Magnetic resonance imaging of male and female genitals" and "An analysis of the forces required to drag sheep over various surfaces", and we'll conduct our own study into the pattern of Rhinotillexomania amongst convention attendees.
"What Space Really Looks Like"
Brad Hoehne
From the Hubble Space telescope to the Starship Enterprise, science and science fiction have filled the media with vibrant, colorful, and wondrous views of the universe. But are they accurate? If we could hover next to a great nebula or over the plane of our milky-way, what would we really see with the amazing visual instruments we were born with? The answer might be surprising.
"Ethical Issues in Biotechnology"
Walter Hunt, Robert Pyatt, Karen Nagel, Dave Creek, Kevin Eaches
Should corporations own genes? Should prospective employers know your genetic flaws? Should you tailor your kids for blue eyes? (How about white skin?) Should androids have human rights? Should we seed the galaxy with Earth plants? Which could destroy civilization first: clone wars or genetically modified food crops? How are these issues handled, mishandled or neglected by SF writers?
"The Future of Medicine"
Dr. Karen Nagel
Where is medicine going in the 21st century? Are products like inhaled insulin really the wave of the future? Are stem cells all that they are cracked up to be? And how many more cholesterol-lowering agents do we really need?
"The Search for Habitable Worlds"
Dr. Scott Gaudi
What exactly defines a habitable planet, and how do astronomers go about finding one? More importantly, what can we learn from these planets? Are we really alone in the universe?
"The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change"
Dr. Gordon Aubrecht
The results of the assessment will be discussed in some detail to give the attendee some idea about the future climate.
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