Larry Gerston, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor, San Jose State University; Political Analyst, NBC 11 Debra Saunders, Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle Michael Fox, Film critic and journalist John Zipperer, Vice President of Media & Editorial, The Commonwealth Club of California -- Moderator Read more »
Connectome: How the Brain’s Wiring Makes Us Who We Are Sebastian Seung, Ph.D., Author, Connectome: How the Brain’s Wiring Makes Us Who We AreKishore Hari, Director, Bay Area Science Festival- Moderator
Are we simply the products of our genes? Seung says otherwise. The MIT professor has found what he calls the nexus of nature and nurture: the network of connections between neurons in the human brain. Read more »
While most know him as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt from the hit television series "M*A*S*H," Farrell has been a fierce advocate for progressive political causes for decades, using his celebrity to speak out on important human rights issues. In this capacity he has served as a board member for Human Rights Watch, and he has been the president of Death Penalty Focus for more than 15 years. Read more »
The Culture of Food and Dining in France and the Bay Area
EJ Keller, Personal Chef
This holiday season Monday Night Philosophy turns to personal chef Keller for a juxtaposition of the culinary cultures in France and the Bay Area. In 1995, Keller and his wife returned to her homeland of France. Captivated by French food culture, Keller spent a decade in French kitchens before becoming a personal chef. Discover his knowledge of French cuisine and insights into the Bay Area's booming cultural interest in food. Read more »
General Stéphane Abrial: Defense in an Age of Austerity
NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation
Though the U.S. has backed away from the sticky Libyan situation, NATO has re-emerged as a notable player in world politics. General Abrial was the first European to be appointed permanently as head of a NATO strategic command. Abrial spent extensive time in the French Air Force, eventually as Air Force Chief of Staff, before being appointed to NATO in 2009. Read more »
Ecosystem Services Jib Ellison, CEO, Blu SkyePeter Seligmann, Co-founder and CEO, Conservation International
The many services that nature provides to humans are undervalued in commercial markets because it is difficult to put a price tag on them. Now, with increasing awareness about sustainability and resource limitations, companies are paying more attention to such ecosystem services. Read more »
Rajiv Doshi and Anurag Mairal: Medical Technology Innovation for India
Rajiv Doshi, M.D., Executive Director (U.S.), Stanford-India Biodesign; Consulting Assistant Professor of Medicine, Stanford University Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., Director, Global Biodesign Exchange Programs, Stanford University Read more »
Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch, Co-editors, Reason Magazine and Reason.tv; Co-authors, The Declaration of Independents In conversation with Joe Garofoli, Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle; Author, Politics Blog, SFgate.com Read more »
