How Do I
Black Holes, Beakers, and Books:
A Popular Science Book Club
Are you interested in exploring the vast mysteries of the cosmos, understanding human evolutionary history, or talking about the long-term future of the planet earth? These topics and more will be discussed in Black Holes, Beakers, and Books, a popular science book club that reads and discusses popular science books published within the last five years.
Upcoming Discussions
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will take place:
Sunday from 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Director's Conference Room, First Floor
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh -- Main
4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland
The Emotion Machine: Commonsense Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of the Human Mind
by Marvin Minsky
In the quest to create a viable artificial intelligence, understanding the multifaceted features of the human mind is vital. The Emotion Machine is Marvin Minsky’s call for a “back to basics” approach to using the human mind as a model for artificial intelligence. Marvin Minsky will be joining us via telephone to discuss his book!
Contact Information
Wes Roberts, robertsw@carnegielibrary.org, 412-622-3151Visit our official blog at clpscience.wordpress.com
Find us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/clpscienceclub
Visit Local Science Organizations
Cafe Scientifique, Pittsburgh presents monthly lectures by scientists.
The Carnegie Science Center
hosts Cafe Scientifique, and offers numerous science related activities.
Discover Darwin
Previous Discussions
Darwin's Origin of Species: A Biography
by Janet Browne
Join us for a discussion of Darwin's Origin of Species: A Biography by Janet Browne, which probes the life of scientist Charles Darwin and explains why his theory of evolution is as controversial today as it was more than a century ago. This discussion coincided with Ms. Browne's appearance at the Drue Heinz Lecture series on February 9, 2009.
The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors
by Ann Gibbons
The First Human throws readers into the competitive world of fossil hunting as four international teams race to solve the mystery of human evolution. Ms. Gibbons joined us to fuel the discussion about her fascinating book.
Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body
by Neil Shubin
This book explores the evolutionary past of our body's anatomy by tracing the organs of the human body back millions of years - long before the first creatures walked the earth. Representatives of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History brought fossils to supplement this discussion.
The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
by Ray Kurzweil
Some scientists have predicted the coming of the “singularity,” at which time human biology and technology will merge. In The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, Ray Kurzweil explores this idea with optimism, predicting that the singularity will create a new human species free from the constraints of biology, even bodily death. Mark Palatucci, a Ph.D student in Robotics/AI at Carnegie Mellon University, joined us for this discussion.
Almost Human: Making Robots Think
by Lee Gutkind
Amazing advancements in robotics engineering are being made right here in Pittsburgh. In Almost Human, Lee Gutkind, a professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh and foremost writer of creative nonfiction, describes the fascinating world of robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. Lee Gutkind joined us to talk about his book.
