Monthly Archives: October 2015

Let’s Get Physic-al: Two Brians, the Expanding Universe, and Junior High Romance

I have a thing for physics.  A very complicated thing.

Physics can be thrilling, beautiful, and wondrous.  It makes me feel hopeful.  Physics can also be baffling, contradictory, and impossible.  It makes me feel stupid.

It is a perfect analogy for my first junior high school romance.

So it was with a 13-year-old’s sense of awe and dread that I went uptown to see Brian Greene speak about “Searching for the Deep Laws of Nature” at the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series.  Brian is professor of physics and mathematics and sometime NOVA host on PBS who has sold gazillions of books, including The Elegant Universe, a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

green2

Brian Greene by Lois Greenfield in the Spring 2006 Columbia Magazine

None of that mattered.  He had me at “Deep Laws of Nature.”

Brian Greene is a star (not in the cosmological sense) and draws a crowd, so the auditorium was packed with a few hundred people jamming both the main floor and the balcony.  The crowd was mostly medical students and faculty, and it looked like a scrubs-and-backpacks convention.

When Brian explained that his work is all about trying to understand beautiful concepts  that are beyond our ability to measure, a very serious young doctor behind me muttered “That is so weird, but so cool.”

When he explained Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity as
simply as if it was the way to open a combination lock (turn to the left, turn to the right, turn to the left: Gravity), the person next to me audibly gasped.

And when he explained that the past, present and future actually exist in the universe at the same time (Einstein called the distinction between them “a stubbornly persistent illusion”), I think I actually heard the sound of minds blowing.  But that may just have been mine.

It was another great example of the amazing (literally) things that are available to us within Columbia on any given day.

The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series is a set of annual talks by faculty in the Humanities, Basic Sciences and Clinical Sciences for CUMC audiences.  Past speakers include Sylvia Nasar, Simon Schama, Fred Friendly, and Eric Kandel.

There is a lot more about Brian Greene at www.briangreene.org.

Jerry’s Picks 15.28

Women’s rights in Iran, clarinets in Brazil, Panthers on film, self-monitoring bridges, and other events from Sir Michael Marmot to ghost galaxies… 

Be sure to check out our Featured Event Story by Jerry’s Picks own Carolina Castro and share your event stories.

REMINDERS

October 29: Sustainability and Climate Change in the 2016 Presidential Race
November 4: Scents and Sensibility: Representations of the Olfactory World in the Brain featuring Richard Axel and Billie Holiday: The Musician and the Myth

PICKS

November 5
6 p.m.

Barnard Center for Research on Women | Middle East Institute
The Untold Story of Women in Iran
Historian and human rights advocate Nina Ansary ’89BC will be joined in conversation with Richard Bulliet, professor of history and middle east studies to discuss on her new book on the women’s movement in Iran, Jewels of Allah. Barnard College, Diana Center, Oval Auditorium. (Just Societies)

November 6
6 p.m.

School of the Arts | Columbia Journalism School
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Screening of the acclaimed documentary The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, followed by a conversation with the director Stanley Nelson;  producer Laurens Grant, and professors June Cross (Journalism) andJamal Joseph (SOA). RSVP here. 3rd Floor, Lecture Hall, Pulitzer Hall. (Just Societies)

November 7
8 p.m.

Miller Theatre
Jazz: Anat Cohen Quartet
The Jazz Journalists Association’s Clarinetist of the Year for the past eight years,Anat Cohen will perform alongside Jason Lindner (piano), Tal Mashiach (bass), andDaniel Freedman (drums). Cohen specializes in the Afro-Western, improvisatory, instrumental music known as choro — an analogue of early jazz in the U.S. Purchase tickets here. Miller Theatre. (Global)

November 10
5:30 p.m.
Italian Academy | Columbia Engineering
Raimondo Betti: Monitoring the Health of Our Bridges
This lecture is the first in the Italian Academy’s series on the work of Italian scientists in the area of sustainability. Professor Raimondo Betti (civil engineering and engineering mechanics) will discuss aging U.S. infrastructure, spectacular failures, and urgent maintenance needs. Betti will share his vision of the future in which infrastructure will be able to monitor its own health, estimate its structural integrity, and launch corrective actions. Register here. The Italian Academy, 1161 Amsterdam Avenue. (Data and Society)

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Columbia Journalism School
What Happens When Television and the Internet Collide
The explosion of screens and devices, the rise of new platforms, innovations in tools and technology, and the growth of digital audiences around the world have spurred new opportunities for creative storytelling and collaboration in news organizations.Meredith Artley, managing editor and vice president of CNN Digital, is this year’s Hearst Digital Media Professional-in-Residence. Artley will share some examples of successes and lessons learned at CNN and beyond. Pulitzer Hall, Lecture Hall.(The Public Square)

November 11
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Mailman School of Public Health
The Public Health Imagination: Groundbreaking Ideas in Population Health
Join Linda P. Fried for a Dean’s Grand Rounds with Mark T. Bertolini, CEO of Aetna healthcare, and Sir Michael Marmot, chair of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health, who was knighted for his services to epidemiology and understanding health inequalities. Alumni Auditorium, 650 West, 168th Street.

November 13
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Astronomy Department
The Dark Matter of Ghost Galaxies
The smallest galaxies, known as dwarf galaxies, present a number of mysteries. Graduate student Jana Grcevich (astronomy) will talk about these mysteries and how astronomers attempt to solve them as part of the Stargazing and Lecture Series. The lecture includes a Q&A session, astrophotography slideshows, and an observatory tour followed by guided stargazing with telescopes (weather permitting). Pupin Hall.

For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links. We always appreciate hearing from you about future events!

Castro on Kosovo

Assisting Jerry with the weekly selection of picks has exposed me to an array of thought-provoking and at times soulful events around campus. I had read about the prestigious World Leaders Forum and on Thursday, October 1, I ventured to Low Library to hear Kosovo’s first female president speak.

After passing a few security check points on the steps of Low, I joined the audience, mainly undergraduates and graduate students. Surprisingly, the rotunda was not packed and gave the impression of an intimate town hall.

The lecture was titled “Kosovo: A Country in Transition”. After an introduction by David Madigan, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, President Atifete Jahjaga dove right in to her presentation recounting Kosovo’s horrific war in the 1990s. She was interested in the ways that post-conflict societies move forward.

From beginning to end, President Jahjaga’s words were compelling. She discussed the ethnic cleansing campaign that took place during the war and the organized rape of women and children. In 2012, Kosovo hosted the first international women’s conference to discuss issues ranging from gender inequality in the workplace to wartime rape. The president emphasized that this was the first time women openly shared their stories. Since the conference, the government has made the commitment to extend wartime reparations to these women. However, the status of these reparations are unclear.

The Q&A session was moderated by Alexander A. Cooley, political science professor at Barnard and the new director of the Harriman Institute. Most questions from the audience centered on what Kosovo will do to step up its efforts to join the international community; it is not yet a member of the United Nations, the European Union, or NATO. I left the lecture contemplating the president’s introductory theme: how do post-conflict societies heal – psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually – and rebuild?

This lecture served as an important reminder that as Columbia continues to globalize and engage with the world, the conversations can become more challenging and emotional. Through platforms like the World Leaders Forum, we gain a footing as global citizens.

You can watch President Jahjaga’s remarks here (her speech starts at 10 minutes in)

Jerry’s Picks 15.27

Brains, noses, rivers, and all that jazz! Be sure to share your event stories!

REMINDERS

October 19: The Negotiator: A Conversation with Senator George Mitchell
October 20: George Rupp: “The Power – and Limitations – of Individualism”

PICKS

October 27
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Maison Française
The Bishnois, Ecologists Since the 15th Century
Screening of a documentary by award-winning French photographer and environmental activist Franck Vogel on the lives of the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan in India, who have made wildlife conservation and environmental protection their life’s work. Followed by a Q&A with Vogel, joined in conversation by Ruth DeFries, Denning Family Professor of Sustainable Development. Maison Française, East Gallery, Buell Hall. (Global)

October 29
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Earth Institute | Maison Française
Transboundary Rivers
Another evening with photographer Franck Vogel. Vogel’s series has focused on global transboundary water tensions around seven key rivers: the Nile, the Brahmaputra, the Colorado, the Mekong, the Jordan, the Amazon, and the Ganges. Vogel will present his work-in-progress through photography. Also with Upmanu Lall, the Alan and Carol Silberstein Professor of Engineering and director of the Columbia Water Center. Maison Française, East Gallery, Buell Hall. (Global)

November 4
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Zuckerman Institute
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Brain Insight Lectures
Scents and Sensibility: Representations of the Olfactory World in the Brain featuring Dr. Richard Axel
How does the brain know what the nose is smelling? Richard Axel, Nobel laureate and co-director of the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, has the answers. RSVP here. Miller Theatre. (Zuckerman Institute and the Future of Neuroscience)

7 p.m.
Center for Jazz Studies
Billie Holiday: The Musician and the Myth
John Szwed, director of the Center for Jazz Studies, will discuss his book Billie Holiday: The Musician and the Myth. Introduction by Farah Jasmine Griffin, the William B. Ransford Professor of English and Comparative Literature and African-American Studies, with a performance by jazz vocalist Catherine Russell and her trio. Teatro, Casa Italiana, Morningside Campus.

SNEAK PEEK
November 12, 7 p.m.
Fishing for Neutrinos at the South Pole
Act now: these programs tend to fill up quickly! Nevis Labs, Columbia’s science facility in the Westchester river town of Irvington, has begun to welcome the public through a Science-on-Hudson lecture series. This one features Professor Michael Shaevitz describing the IceCube project and the particle detector designed to observe the cosmos from deep within the South Pole ice. RSVP here. Science Center at Nevis Laboratories, 136 South Broadway. Irvington, New York.

For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links. We always appreciate hearing from you about future events!

Ury Greenberg’s Adventures in Wonderland

On October 7, I attended a Jerry’s Picks event at Butler Library, the “Alice’s Adventures at Columbia” lecture by Dayna Huhn, the founder of the Lewis Carroll Society in Canada. Ms. Kuhn, in a lively 45-minute lecture, took the audience through her research on Alice Pleasance Liddell Hargreaves’ long-ago visit to Columbia University on the occasion of the Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) centenary.

Alice and Butler

Alice with Dr. Murray Butler

In 1932, Ms. Hargreaves was almost 80 years old (she died two years later) and, through extensive correspondence and accommodations, she was enticed to leave England and come to New York. The highlight of her visit was when she received an honorary degree at a ceremony on campus and was feted as the important dignitary she was. The original manuscript of the book Alice’s Adventure Underground was loaned to Columbia and exhibited during her visit. Ms. Huhn wove in details of the correspondence between the President Nicholas Murray Butler, professors who were organizing the event, and Ms. Hargreaves’s son, who accompanied her to NY. She did a great job of placing this event into the context of the New York society and economy of the 1930s.

After the lecture, we went up to the sixth floor of Butler for a reception in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library and had time to see the exhibition of photos, letters, and books pertaining to the Alice at Columbia visit. The exhibition is housed in the Chang Octagon Gallery, which is worth seeing as a fun architectural space. It was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half on the way home, learning something new and interesting in a great Columbia setting.

alice at columbia

“Alice in Columbialand” by Mark Steele in the Fall 2009 Columbia Magazine

For more on Alice at Columbia, see this 2009 Columbia Magazine article.

Ryan Hart Reports on Global Reports

Bubbling below the 24-hour stream of sensational news coverage are topics too complex for  reporting in a newspaper or magazine but too urgent to leave to book publishing.  Enter Columbia Global Reports, a new university-sponsored publishing imprint for serious journalism on underreported global issues. It was launched Tuesday, September 15, at an event I attended at Low Library connected to the release of the first book, Shaky Ground: The Strange Saga of the U.S. Mortgage Giants by Bethany McLean

Global Reports Shaky Ground Cover

Shaky Ground: The Strange Saga of U.S. Mortgage Giants

Turnout was great, with a waiting list line and a mix of students and faculty filling nearly every seat (I spotted the Global Center directors sitting up front). Nancy Bobrowitzs  joined me and we remarked on the skew in gender (some 85% male).

After an intro from President Bollinger, Nick Lemann, the former J-School dean who is heading up Columbia Global Reports, opened the discussion. Bethany McLean contextualized the untold story of the response to the mortgage crisis and the (some would argue illegal) government takeover of FannieMae and FreddieMac. Bill Ackman, a high-profile investor, framed why we average Janes and Joes should care, leading us to imagine a future without the possibility to purchase a home with a 30-year fixed prepayable mortgage. Former FannieMae Chairman and CEO Franklin Raines provided inside perspective on the workings of the GSEs (government-sponsored entities), which underpin our economy. This is a tale too toxic for lawmakers to discuss in the sphere of electoral politics, too unwieldly for the public to digest in 30-second sound bites, yet too important to be ignored.

We left realizing how much rides on the stability of the housing sector. If the 30-year mortgage goes away, Ackman predicted home values to plummet 25-35%, and rents to increase, and income inequality to spread even wider than it is now. It’s disconcerting stuff, but at least there’s a new forum at Columbia for taking such things on.

 

 

 

Jerry’s Picks 15.26

From climate change in the presidential race to difficult international negotiations, presenting sitar traditions to building inclusive communities, Columbia invites the world in. 

Remember, this Thursday two great faculty members, psychologist Valerie Purdie-Vaughns ’93CC and biology and chemistry professor Brent Stockwell, give the University Lecture on “Teaching and Learning in a University, Version 2.0.” 

And be sure to share your event stories!

October 13
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion
Being the Change, Leading the Charge: Diversity in Higher Education
Panelists include Anne L. Taylor, vice dean of academic affairs at the College of Physicians and Surgeons; Katherine W. Phillips, Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School; Marcel Agüeros, assistant professor of astronomy; Gilda A. Barabino, dean of City College of New York’s Grove School of Engineering; and Aaron Dworkin, dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Provost John Coatsworth will moderate. This event is complemented by a series of diversity-related activities the week of October 12. Low Library Rotunda. (Just Societies) (Reminder)

October 19
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity
The Negotiator: A Conversation with Senator George Mitchell
Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell will discuss his memoir, The Negotiator, reflect on his experiences with conflict resolution in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and elsewhere, and comment on the nuclear agreement with Iran. Mitchell will be joined by Aldo Civico, associate research scholar director of the International Institute for Peace at Rutgers University. Register here. Teachers College, Horace Mann Hall, Room 147, Cowin Auditorium. (Global)

October 20
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Institute for Religion, Culture, and Public Life
George Rupp: “The Power – and Limitations – of Individualism”
Distinguished visiting scholar and Columbia University President Emeritus George Rupp advocates for new solutions to global challenges, income inequality, climate change, and mass migration in his newest book, Beyond Individualism: The Challenge of Inclusive Communities. Rupp will speak about the challenge of inclusive communities and discuss issues raised by a panel of special guests. Reception to follow. Rupp will be on hand to sign copies of his book (which will be available for purchase). Register here. Earl Hall, 2nd floor, Auditorium. (Global, Just Societies, Climate Change)

October 26
5 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. 
Center on Global Energy Policy
Lighting the World: A Conversation with Jim Rogers, Former Chairman and CEO, Duke Energy
Rogers will discuss his new book Lighting the World: Transforming our Energy Future by Bringing Electricity to Everyone and the kind of innovative thinking, international cooperation, and political will required to provide sustainable energy access to all. Moderated by David Sandalow, CGEP Inaugural Fellow. Registration is required here. Faculty House, 3rd floor, Presidential Room. (Global, Just Societies)

October 29
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Earth Institute
Sustainability and Climate Change in the 2016 Presidential Race
How have environmental issues come to be as politically salient as they are today? Steve Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute; William Eimicke, director of the Picker Center for Executive Education; and Emily Lloyd, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, will look at which environmental issues will play a role in the upcoming presidential election. Moderated by Chuck Todd, from NBC’s Meet the Press. Register here. International Affairs Building, Kellogg Center, Room 1501. (Climate, 21st Century Public Square)

October 30
8 p.m. – 10 p.m.   
South Asia Institute | Miller Theatre
Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan and Amit Kavthekar in Concert
Master sitarist Khan descends from six generations of sitarists. The concert will also feature Amit Kavthekar on tabla. Purchase tickets here. Miller Theatre.

November 4
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Columbia Law School | The Earth Institute
Who Is Responsible for Climate Change?
The question of responsibility for climate change lies at the heart of debate over actions to address it. This conference explores the scientific, legal, ethical, and policy bases for assigning climate responsibility to countries and to other entities—individuals, emitting industries, and fossil fuel companies. Speakers include Peter Frumhoff, director of Science and Policy Union of Concerned Scientists; Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law; Karenna Gore, director of the Center for Earth Ethics; Sivan Kartha, senior scientist at the Stockholm Environment Institute; Naomi Oreskes, professor of the History of Science at Harvard; and Michael Vandenbergh, David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair of Law at Vanderbilt. Register here. Jerome Greene Hall, Room 104. (Climate Change)

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Columbia University Libraries
Twain and Stanley Enter Paradise
Posthumous release of a work by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning author Oscar Hijuelos, with a reading by Lori Carlson-Hijuelos, lecturer in English at Duke; Frances Negron-Muntaner, associate professor of English and comparative literature; and authors Siri Hustvedt and Paul Auster ’69CC. Pulitzer Hall, World Room.

Events are now tagged where appropriate with University-wide Big Ideas: Precision Medicine, Global, Climate Change, Data and Society, Just Societies, 21st Century Public Square, and the Zuckerman Institute and the Future of Neuroscience. Through Big Ideas, faculty and students from multiple schools and campuses collaborate for transformative impact, addressing major issues of our time.
 
For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links. We always appreciate hearing from you about future events!

Jerry’s Picks 15.25

Campus diversity, universal health care, human rights in the U.S., Joseph Mitchell in New York, medical education, or Columbia’s art treasures: pick your Pick! 

And be sure to share your event stories.

October 7
6:30 p.m.
University Seminars | Lehman Center for American History | Columbia Journalism School
Joseph Mitchell and the City
Thomas Kunkel, president of St. Norbert College and author of Man in Profile: Joseph Mitchell of The New Yorker, will be in discussion with Gay Talese, author and former reporter at The New York Times. Moderated by Dean Steve Coll. Reception to follow. Faculty House, 2nd floor.

October 13
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion
Being the Change, Leading the Charge: Diversity in Higher Education
Provost John Coatsworth will moderate a discussion with diversity thought leaders and change agents. Panelists include Anne L. Taylor,  vice dean of academic affairs at the College of Physicians and Surgeons; Katherine W. Phillips, Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School; Marcel Agüeros, assistant professor of astronomy; Gilda A. Barabino, dean of City College of New York’s Grove School of Engineering; and Aaron Dworkin, dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Followed by a Q&A with the audience and a reception. This event is complemented by a series of diversity-related activities the week of October 12. Low Library, Rotunda. (Just Societies)

October 15
4 p.m. 
College of Physicians and Surgeons
Universal Health Care: An Idea Whose Time has Come?
Donna E. Shalala, president of the Clinton Foundation and former U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services, will speak as part of the Andrew David Hyman Memorial Lectures. Reception to follow. Please contact Christina Hansen at [email protected] for more information. Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street, 1st floor. (Reminder)

6 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
University Lecture
Teaching and Learning in a University, Version 2.0
Hosted by President Lee C. Bollinger and Provost John H. Coatsworth. Professors Valerie Purdie-Vaughns (psychology) and Brent R. Stockwell (biology) discuss challenges and innovations in teaching, and how a new paradigm can transform the educational experience for students. Followed by a Q&A with the audience and a reception. Online registration is required and will open on Tuesday, October 6 at 10:00 am here. Low Library, Rotunda.

October 20
2 p.m.
University Arts Initiative | Art Properties
Museum Meetup: Art on Campus
Hamilton and Jefferson, Pegasus and Pan, Alma Mater and the Thinker are all outdoor sculptures we see on the Morningside campus. Roberto C. Ferrari, curator of Art Properties at Columbia University, will lead a highlights tour of this collection of public art and discuss the artists and history of these works, their materiality and fabrication, and ongoing efforts to conserve them for future generations. RSVP required here. The tour will meet on the Low Library plaza steps by Alma Mater. For more on “Columbia’s bounty of hidden art,” check out Columbia Magazine’s related article here.

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.  
Columbia Medical Center | Office of University Life
Special Guest Lecture: President Bollinger
President Bollinger  will speak about diversity in higher education. Open to current Columbia faculty, students, and staff. RSVP required here. Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th St., 1st floor.

October 21
8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
College of Physicians and Surgeons
CUMC Seventh Annual Steve Miller Medical Education Day
An annual event promoting medical education and humanism in medicine, in paying tribute to the legacy contributions of the late Steve Miller ’80CC, ’84P&S, former director of pediatric emergency medicine and director of pediatric medical student education. Featuring a grand rounds talk by Abraham Verghese, author of the New York Times best-seller Cutting for Stone and vice chair for the theory and practice of medicine at Stanford University. For more information, please contact Ashley Elich at [email protected]. CUMC Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street, 1st floor.

October 22
12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Columbia Law School
Advancing U.S. Social Justice Through Human Rights
To mark the 15th anniversary of the Bringing Human Rights Home Lawyers’ Network, the Human Rights Institute is hosting a series of events exploring the history, impact, and future of the effort to bring human rights home. This event includes a keynote address by Caroline Bettinger-Lopez ’03LAW, White House advisor on violence against women. Followed by a panel of human rights practitioners moderated by Cindy Soohoo, director for CUNY’s International Women’s Human Rights Clinic. Closing remarks by Cathy Albisa serving on New York City’s Commission on Human Rights. Lunch will be provided. Reception to follow. Jerome Greene Hall, Room 102A. (Just Societies)

Events are now tagged where appropriate with University-wide Big Ideas: Precision Medicine, Global, Climate Change, Data and Society, Just Societies, 21st Century Public Square, and the Zuckerman Institute and the Future of Neuroscience. Through Big Ideas, faculty and students from multiple schools and campuses collaborate for transformative impact, addressing major issues of our time.
 
For RSVP, ticket availability, and other details, follow the links. We always appreciate hearing from you about future events!