Tuesday, April 18, 2017

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In a time when climate change is still debated, astrobiologist David Grinspoon wants to change the conversation. Grinspoon will offer a lecture titled “Earth in Human Hands: Creating Our Future with a Cosmic View of Our Past,” 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, Art Building West, Room 240.

Grinspoon's talk is part of the Creative Matters lecture series sponsored by the UI Office of Research and Economic Development in collaboration with the UI Arts Advancement Committee. A question and answer session will follow his talk.

In his 2016 book Earth in Human Hands: Shaping Our Planet’s Future, Grinspoon explores how human choices have global and planetary impacts. He uniquely takes the long view of Earth’s future–looking 10,000 years forward–and challenges us to think longitudinally about what kind of world we want to build, and what (or who) we might encounter if our species survives that long.

“As an astrobiologist who thinks about the Earth in terms of its multi-billion year history, and as a writer who has engaged with many who are interested in this topic, David Grinspoon offers a truly ‘Big Picture’ perspective on the future of our planet and the role that humans play in that future,” said UI Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Cornelia Lang.

The event is free and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To RSVP visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-matters-lecture-david-grinspoon-registration-31884285757.

The Creative Matters lecture series seeks to demonstrate that creativity is not only at the core of all research and discovery, but is also central to our human experience. The lineup of invited speakers includes artists, thinkers, builders, and doers who challenge conventional thinking about creativity, science, and artistic expression, borrowing from a range of influences and disciplines in their work.

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development provides resources and support to researchers and scholars at the University of Iowa and to businesses across Iowa with the goal of forging new frontiers of discovery and innovation and promoting a culture of creativity that benefits the campus, the state, and the world. More at http://research.uiowa.edu, and on Twitter: @DaretoDiscover.