The Beyond Center is dedicated to bringing the excitement and significance of cutting-edge science to the wider public. To that end we host three special annual public lectures, and occasional special lectures. All our public lectures are free, and are designed to accommodate non-scientists.
The Beyond Annual Lecture is our premier public event of the year. We ask a scientist or philosopher of international standing to offer a reflective account of their work and interests, and invite them to speculate a little bit "beyond" their normal comfort zone.
Each year, The Beyond Center presents a special award to a leading scientist to honor the life and work of Eugene Shoemaker who, together with his wife Carolyn Shoemaker, pioneered research in the field of asteroid and comet impacts.
Science fiction has penetrated art, literature and popular culture. But how can we separate fact from fiction, when many bizarre Sci-Fi ideas later turn out to be correct? The annual Sci-Fi Meets Sci-Fact lecture is a fun evening of information and entertainment that addresses the burning question - Can it really be done? This lecture is suited for the young, and the young at heart.
The Beyond Center periodically hosts special seminars along with our monthly seminar series, Coffee @ Beyond.
Coffee @ Beyond takes place on the last Monday of the Month, at 3:00pm in the Biodesign Auditorium, ASU Tempe Campus. These interdisiplanary seminars are intended to push the conceptual boundaries and feature experts in their fields of study. Come for coffee, tea, cookies and a great talk!
UPCOMING SEMINARS
Fall 2019 Seminars:
August 26th: Fred Adams, "Is Our Universe a Botched Job?: Designing a Better Version"
September 30th: Kate Dorsch, "Why Do People Keep Seeing UFOs?"
October 28th: Erik Hoel, "Can Computers Be Conscious?"
November 25th: Alexander Van Engelen, "TBD"
PAST SEMINARS
Spring 2018 Seminars:
January 29th: Nicole Halpern, "Quantum information and the brain"
February 26th: Michael Lynch, "Evolution is not simply natural selection"
Beyond Center workshops are designed to be informal and as a round-table, interdisciplinary atmosphere; with set-piece presentations discouraged. The goal is to concentrate on deep conceptual and foundational themes, and not merely review a field. The hope is to facilitate new collaborations and identify specific experimental and theoretical projects that significantly advance the understanding of the subject.
