Past Events at FUSION

Who can forget some of those cherished FUSION memories? Here are some of our favorite past events...

Discussions and Lectures

Science in the Media - October 2, 2007

Professor Daniel Rubenstein (Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Director of the Program in African Studies) discussed the different ways in which media is produced and consumed and why science doesn’t always lend itself to easy interpretation by journalists. He also proposed methods for scientists to make their work more accessible to the press and ways journalists can report on scientific findings more responsibly.

The Ethics of Genetic Engineering - April 26, 2007

With Professors Harold Shapiro (Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Princeton President Emeritus, and former Chairman of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission) & Lee Silver (Molecular Biology and Public Affairs).

Cosponsored by FUSION, Princeton Bioethics Forum, and the Pace Center's Civic Awareness and Action Series Committee.

Art Conservation: The Fusion of Artistry and Science - April 10, 2007

Professors George Scherer (Civil & Environmental Engineering) & John Pinto (Art & Archaeology) joined us to discuss the science behind art conservation, as well as the artistic and philosophical concerns that come with it.

How do Math and Philosophy Relate to Each Other? - November 16, 2006

With Professors Ingrid Daubechies (Mathematics and Applied and Computational Mathematics) & Dan Garber (Chair of Philosophy Department).

The Philosophy and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Dinner and Movie Night - April 27, 2006

With Professors Robert Schapire (Computer Science) & Karen Bennett (Philosophy).

A catered sushi dinner accompanied our philosophical discussion, followed by a showing of Steven Spielberg's 2001 movie AI.

Cosponsored by Paideia and FUSION.

Similarities and Differences in the Studies of the Sciences and Religion - April 6, 2006

Professors Leora Batnitzky (Associate Professor of Religion) & David Stern (Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology).

How Do We Define Human Life? - February 22, 2006

Professors Lee Silver (Professor of Molecular Biology and Public Affairs) & Nir Eyal (Harold T. Shapiro Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioethics, Lecturer in the University Center for Human Values).

– Read the Daily Princetonian article about the event's passionate discussions!

Architecture and Popularized History: Effects on Our Views of Past and Present - November 30, 2005

Professors Tony Grafton (Henry Putnam University Professor of History) and Ed Eigen (Assistant Professor of Architecture) spoke with us about romanticized visions of architecture, such as Princeton's own Gothic-style buildings, The Rule of Four, and many other issues while addressing the ways we view our past and present.

Creativity in Math and Poetry - November 10, 2005

Renowned poet and Princeton humanities professor Paul Muldoon joined Philip Holmes, professor of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics as well as a poet, to speak about the worlds of math and poetry. It turns out that these two disciplines have more in common than you might think, particularly when it comes to creativity and thinking up new ideas.

Music and Mathematics - April 20, 2005

Igor Stravinsky said that the musician should find in mathematics a study "as useful to him as the learning of another language is to a poet." And mathematicians have spoken about their activity using terms more often applied to music. The two disciplines dwell in different realms, but even though one is a science, the other an art, one useful, the other seemingly decorative, their common origins, their historical links and their continuing intersections point to profound similarities. Both create abstract worlds; both are concerned with proportion and ratio; both rely upon metaphor and image; and, in their most idealistic forms, both seek the beautiful and the true. Edward Rothstein, cultural critic at large for the New York Times, and author of "Emblems of Mind: The Inner Life of Music and Mathematics" offered a glimpse of where the two realms meet.

FUSION hosted a panel discussion that included Dr. Edward Rothstein, our guest speaker from New York, and Professor Schutt from Princeton's Department of Chemistry.

Dostoevsky's Writing and Epilepsy - April 8, 2005

Dostoevsky has been celebrated as one of the greatest writers of the 19th Century. During the last 20 years of his life he also kept records of 102 epileptic seizures. In 4 of his novels Dostoevsky created characters that were afflicted with epilepsy as well. How did his illness contribute to his masterpieces and his writing? What is it about epilepsy that lent itself to Dostoevsky's work? Our guests included Professor Caryl Emerson from the Slavic Languages and Literatures Department, and Professor Barry Jacobs from the Psychology Department.

The Two Cultures: Part Two

FUSION hosted a second dinner discussion on the rift between scientists and humanists with Professor Graham Burnett, a historian of science.

The Two Cultures: Part One - March 25, 2005

Professor Gordin from the History Department was our guest speaker during our discussion on the rift between scientists and humanists. How are these two cultures different? Are they really as different as they appear to be? As society (and technology) progresses how is the relationship between these two fields changing? How do we envision the future as the rift between these two cultures continues to grow? Professor Gordin discussed several readings, including CP Snow's historic lecture, "Two Cultures" and an essay by Trilling.

The Importance of Science and the Humanities in Development

FUSION hosted a dinner discussion with Professor Soboyejo of Princeton's Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department.

Mendeleev and the Periodic Table of the Elements

FUSION hosted a lunch with Professor Michael Gordin and discussed his new book on Mendeleev and the periodic table.

Brain Imaging and Morality

FUSION hosted a dinner discussion with Professor Peter Singer, Professor Jonathan Cohen, and Dr. Joshua Greene.

Study Breaks

We have held study breaks to bring scientists and humanists together during reading period. Join us again for refreshments and enjoyable discussions!