Technology

Artificial intelligence: Blessing or Curse? (Speaker: Steve Ruth)

Posted: September 20, 2023 at 6:50 pm, Last Updated: May 31, 2024 at 2:48 pm

This talk provides an up-to-date review of the extraordinary characteristics of this new human capability. Questions abound. Will generative languages like ChatGPT foster greater productivity, deeper insights, or chaos? How will the growing availability of AI technologies impact democratic governance, invite repressive practices, or undermine the rule of law? Will AI open up technology opportunities […]

Steve Ruth

Exploring the Many Sources of Innovation (1-hour minimum presentation) (Speaker: George Siragusa)

Posted: September 8, 2023 at 2:34 pm, Last Updated: May 31, 2024 at 2:49 pm

Explore how and where business opportunities start and examine a framework for determining which technological innovations create real value.

A/V requirements: LCD Projector, Screen, White Board and Markers

George Siragusa

Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Speaker: Harold Geller)

Posted: April 14, 2023 at 2:45 pm, Last Updated: May 31, 2024 at 2:52 pm

This talk addresses the scientific and social concepts associated with renewable and non-renewable energy and the environment. It will provide an overview of the physical concept of energy as well as the scientific thoughts and processes. The talk examines both the non-renewable and renewable sources of energy in use today alongside the viable alternatives for […]

A/V requirements: Laptop, LCD Projector, Screen

Harold Geller

Brexit, Climate Change, FinTech (Speaker: Paolo Saguato)

Posted: November 2, 2021 at 3:02 pm, Last Updated: May 31, 2024 at 2:57 pm

Financial markets have been challenged by new disrupting forces and events. My research has explored how these disrupting events are changing the way markets operate and how policymakers are responding.

A/V requirements: None

Paolo Saguato

High Fidelity Modeling of Pathogen Movement, Transmission and Mitigation in the Built Environment (Speaker: Rainald Lohner)

Posted: June 21, 2021 at 6:19 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 5:27 pm

The recent Covid-19 pandemic has led to a thorough review of current ventilation systems in the built environment. The talk gives overview of high-fidelity modeling of pathogen propagation, transmission and mitigation. Starting from the current understanding of pathogen, and in particular virus transmission and mitigation, the required physical and numerical models are derived and proper […]

A/V requirements: Laptop, LCD, Screen

Rainald Lohner

The Science of Climate Change (Speaker: Robert Ehrlich)

Posted: February 21, 2020 at 3:34 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 5:36 pm

A simple description of the basic science of climate change. What is known for sure, and what is uncertain.

A/V requirements: LCD Projector, Screen

Robert Ehrlich (no evening engagements)

Where Are the Time Travelers? (Speaker: Robert Ehrlich)

Posted: November 21, 2019 at 9:16 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 5:37 pm

Einstein’s theory of relativity suggests that time travel might be possible. We consider why this is true, and how one might build a time machine. We also consider the paradoxes involved with time travel and how they might be resolved.

A/V requirements: LCD Projector, Screen

Robert Ehrlich (no evening engagements)

Tachyons: Messengers from the Future? (Speaker: Robert Ehrlich)

Posted: November 21, 2019 at 9:11 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 5:38 pm

Einstein claimed that faster-than-light (FTL) speeds are impossible, but some physicists are no longer so sure about that notion. Hypothetical subatomic particles that travel at FTL speed are known as tachyons. In this talk we consider how tachyons might be used to send messages back to the past, and how the existence of tachyons can […]

A/V requirements: LCD projector and screen

Robert Ehrlich (no evening engagements)

Defining the role of Health Informatics (Speaker: Matthew Hicks)

Posted: November 12, 2019 at 1:10 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 5:39 pm

Describe the role and benefits of health informatics in the delivery of quality patient-centered care. Discuss professional health care provider responsibilities for safeguarding confidential client information, including HIPAA regulations. Explain possible consequences for breaches in privacy and confidentiality. Discuss professional responsibilities in the use of social health care technology or media as it relates to […]

A/V requirements: Screen, White Board and Markers

Matthew Hicks

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Nightmare Scenarios: Summoning the Demons? (Speaker: Steve Ruth)

Posted: October 31, 2019 at 6:18 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 5:39 pm

Some may think of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in terms of Boston Dynamics’ Robot dog, Spot or of software that can defeat the very best human player in Go or Jeopardy. This course is about a much more sinister and serious aspect of AI, the various “nightmare scenarios” that are appearing regularly in the technical literature […]

A/V requirements: LCD Projector, Screen, Laptop

Steve Ruth

Computing in Science and Society (Speaker: Rainald Lohner)

Posted: July 23, 2019 at 6:12 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 7:24 pm

Computing is now so ubiquitous that we tend to forget the profound consequences it is having in science and society. The talk explores the advent and evolution of computing in science and society, and attempts to predict future developments.

A/V requirements: Laptop, LCD, Screen

Rainald Lohner

Various Game Topics (Speaker: Daniel Greenberg)

Posted: March 27, 2019 at 1:35 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 7:29 pm

As an instructor in the game design program, I’ve traveled to a number of events related to gaming around the country, delivering talks on game topics ranging from color-blindness and accessibility to opera in games. With a couple weeks’ notice, I can prepare a talk on a variety of subjects, including audiovisual components, as part […]

A/V requirements: LCD Projector

Daniel Greenberg

Daniel Greenberg

Posted: March 27, 2019 at 1:32 pm, Last Updated: March 29, 2021 at 6:41 pm

Daniel Greenberg teaches game design topics in the Computer Game Design program, with a focus on history and analysis. His research tackles the emerging topics surrounding digital games, including their defined role as an art form, the language used to describe them, the manner in which they convey narrative, patterns for developing game literacy, codifying […]

Climate Change: Preparing for the New Normal in Virginia (Speaker: Jim Kinter)

Posted: April 26, 2018 at 4:20 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 7:33 pm

“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” This old saying neglects the fact that all of us are inadvertently doing something about the weather – we are changing it. The reality of global climate change is now undeniable and the likelihood is high that human activities have caused the majority of […]

A/V requirements: LCD Projector and Screen

Jim Kinter

Jim Kinter

Posted: April 26, 2018 at 4:18 pm, Last Updated: June 21, 2022 at 7:02 pm

Dr. Kinter is Director of the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA) which conducts basic and applied climate research on climate predictability on sub-seasonal and longer time scales, focusing on phenomena such as monsoons, El Niño, and climate change. Dr. Kinter is also a Professor in the department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences and the […]

Things That Keep Me Up at Night: Technology’s Severest Challenges (Speaker: Steve Ruth)

Posted: April 13, 2017 at 6:48 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 8:08 pm

If you are pretty much comfortable with today’s information technology world, this course is probably not for you. The instructor, who teaches technology policy at Mason, has collected several dozen of what he thinks are the scarier, more worrisome, and potentially game-changing topics in information technology that may be in our near-term and longterm future. […]

A/V requirements: None

Steve Ruth

Looking for Life in All the Wrong Places – The Search for Life in the Universe (Speaker: Harold Geller)

Posted: March 27, 2017 at 1:13 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 8:08 pm

In recent days there has been much talk about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence in the universe. However, where are we looking and why do we look where we look, is often overlooked in the media and on the internet. We will discuss the search for life in the universe and reveal the techniques and […]

A/V requirements: Laptop, LCD Projector, Screen

Harold Geller

What is a Planet? Mars, Pluto and Exoplanets as Examples (Speaker: Harold Geller)

Posted: March 27, 2017 at 1:11 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 8:09 pm

A major topic on the internet today is the question of the definition of a planet. In 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially changed the definition of a planet. No longer was Pluto to be called a planet, but a dwarf planet. We will examine examples of objects inside and outside our solar system; […]

A/V requirements: Laptop, LCD Projector, Screen

Harold Geller

Forty Years of Exploration of the Surface of Mars (Speaker: Harold Geller)

Posted: August 4, 2016 at 6:20 pm, Last Updated: June 3, 2024 at 8:09 pm

On the 20th day of August, 1975, the Viking 1 spacecraft was launched into space towards Mars. On the 19th day of June, 1976, the Viking 1 spacecraft reached the planet Mars. The Viking 1 Lander was to set down on the surface of Mars for the bicentennial celebration in the USA. Unfortunately, due to […]

A/V requirements: Laptop, LCD Projector, Screen

Harold Geller

Harold Geller

Posted: August 4, 2016 at 6:18 pm, Last Updated: June 21, 2021 at 7:50 pm

Dr. Harold A. Geller is Associate Professor Emeritus, Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University. He is an at-large Director on the Board of the GMU Alumni Association. He was the GMU Observatory Director from 2007 to 2020. He also served as co-Investigator for the Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA), the largest educational […]

Renewable Energy, Nuclear Energy and Climate Change (Speaker: Robert Ehrlich)

Posted: September 29, 2014 at 2:45 pm, Last Updated: June 4, 2024 at 6:20 pm

This talk considers the impetus to move away from fossil fuels and towards greater usage of renewable energy. It also considers the advantages and problems associated with renewable energy, a possible future for nuclear energy, and the best science-informed policy with regard to our energy future.

A/V requirements: LCD projector and screen

Robert Ehrlich (no evening engagements)

Nuclear Power: Is it Green? (Speaker: Robert Ehrlich)

Posted: September 26, 2014 at 9:30 pm, Last Updated: June 4, 2024 at 6:23 pm

A discussion of the past, present and future of nuclear power, and its contribution to our quest for clean energy.

A/V requirements: LCD projector and screen

Robert Ehrlich (no evening engagements)

Impact of Operations Research on U.S. Industry (Speaker: Karla Hoffman)

Posted: September 26, 2014 at 7:28 pm, Last Updated: June 5, 2024 at 3:20 pm

The field of operations research, and its development of analytics tool that transform “big data” into useful information for management decision making is transforming the way companies perform. This talk will illustrate how the field has impacted the transformation of many companies and how the field is continuing to change with the advent of cloud […]

A/V requirements: Laptop, LCD, Screen

Karla Hoffman

Crazy Ideas in Science (Speaker: Robert Ehrlich)

Posted: September 10, 2014 at 12:12 pm, Last Updated: June 5, 2024 at 3:28 pm

In this talk I consider how crazy ideas can sometimes lead to great scientific advances, and even cause us to re-examine the nature of science itself. This light-hearted talk will also serve as a template for some creative and humorous uses of PowerPoint that can add interest to your own presentations.

A/V requirements: LCD projector and screen

Robert Ehrlich (no evening engagements)

Could Einstein Have Been Wrong? (Speaker: Robert Ehrlich)

Posted: September 10, 2014 at 12:11 pm, Last Updated: June 5, 2024 at 3:28 pm

Einstein in his theory of relativity claimed that faster-than-light speeds are impossible. But some physicists are no longer so sure about that notion. This talk will take a look about what faster-than-light speeds imply, and the evidence as to whether faster-than-light particles might actually exist.

A/V requirements: LCD projector and screen

Robert Ehrlich (no evening engagements)

Computational Sciences: The Third Pillar of Empirical Science (Speaker: Rainald Lohner)

Posted: September 10, 2014 at 12:08 pm, Last Updated: June 5, 2024 at 3:29 pm

For hundreds of years, empirical sciences as we know them today were based on either direct measurement of objects (or scaled models) or on simple analytic solutions of partial differential equations. The advent of supercomputers in the 1980s added a third option: computational sciences. The talk explores the origin, outlook and consequences of this third […]

A/V requirements: Laptop, LCD, Screen

Rainald Lohner

Robert Ehrlich (no evening engagements)

Posted: September 9, 2014 at 6:12 pm, Last Updated: March 20, 2023 at 6:24 pm

Robert Ehrlich is a professor of physics at George Mason University, where he has chaired the department. He began his career after receiving a Ph.D. in physics from Columbia University in 1964. Prior to joining George Mason, he held faculty positions at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, and the State University of New York […]