Cal Academy and The 11th Hour Project are bringing some excellent speakers to town."Yeah, it's a lot of fun to have a drink and look at the octopus." - Anonymous Friend talking about Cal Academy's Nightlife
Maybe this is a reflection on my choice in friends, but the above quote is a common comment about the Academy's wildly successful adults only Nightlife program (just check Yelp). Yet if you go a touch deeper than the rockin' DJ, numerous bars, and diverse exhibits, there is a wealth of interactive programs to exercise your brain. This month may bring the most celebrated speakers yet, all thanks to the folks at the 11th Hour Project, a non-profit dedicated to creating a sustainable world.
Opening the month are Dan Kammen & Sally Benson discussing the emerging green energy economy, focusing on the novel technological solutions to the global energy issues. In case you were worried about their credentials, Dan is the lead author for the UN IPCC panel (they netted a Nobel Prize in 2007) and Sally is one of the pre-eminent U.S. experts on carbon sequestration.
On 9/10, Annie Leonard takes the stage to discuss her popular polemic, The Story of Stuff. Annie's tale is 20 minute tale of our unsustainable production and consumption pattern. The viral video is now well past 7 million views, all from a filmmaker who was curious what happens to all our "stuff".
Maya Lin, the Chinese-American artist who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, unveils her new sculpture titled "What is Missing?" in the East Garden on 9/17. She'll discuss the new piece, which is dedicated to raising awareness of biodiversity and habitat loss, as well as her artistic process.