Lecture Series History: 2021
In 2021, the Natural History Museum of Utah's annual Lecture Series presented Trailblazing Women in Science. Read on to learn more about the theme and speakers.
About the 2021 Lecture Series
In the 2021 Lecture Series, the Natural History Museum of Utah is pleased to spotlight trailblazing women who are exploring the unknown, offering unimagined ideas, and paving the way for future generations. Though the Lecture Series will be offered online this year, you can still expect fascinating lectures, engaging conversations, and the chance to ask each speaker your burning questions following their talk. Access to every lecture, including the keynote, will be provided free of charge to anyone who wants to tune in. This re-imagined virtual format will also allow us to expand our reach beyond the Salt Lake Valley, and we’re excited about the possibility of serving Utahns throughout the state and many others beyond.
Many thanks to our tremendous speakers and their inspiring messages. Recorded lectures are not available, but click here for more details on the latest NHMU Lecture Series.
2021 Speakers
Dr. Mae Jemison
Exploring the Frontiers of Science and Human Potential
Dr. Mae Jemison is a physician, engineer, social scientist, educator, entrepreneur and first woman of color in space. Jemison will discuss the 100 Year Starship initiative she leads, which seeks to ensure that capabilities for human interstellar travel beyond our solar system to another star exist within the next 100 years. The far-reaching initiative pushes radical leaps in knowledge, technology, and systems across the range of human experiences.
Jemison will connect how venturing into space, which may appear to be far removed from our daily lives, is a worthy endeavor essential to improving life on Earth today. Dr. Jemison brings to the endeavor her work as doctor in developing countries, an astronaut, environmental studies professor and science education advocate to the task. At the forefront of integrating the physical and social sciences with art and culture to solve problems and foster innovation, she will discuss building a multi-faceted global community to foster the cultural, scientific, social and technical commitment, support and financial framework to accomplish the 100YSS vision. And as the first real astronaut to appear on the Star Trek TV series, the role of speculative and science fiction in shaping tomorrow.
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
The Future of Ocean Conservation
Amidst our climate crisis, the sixth mass extinction, and astronomical inequality, where does that leave ocean science and policy? Where should we focus our energies? How can we connect the dots? This talk will explore the practicalities of ocean conservation—from zoning, to seafood, cities, the Green New Deal, coastal ecosystems, sea level rise, and culture—plus the social justice context within which all this work proceeds. Dr. Ayana Elizabeth is a Marine Biologist and Policy Expert.
Ayah Bdeir
The Building Blocks of the Future
The world is broken. It’s devastating, disruptive, and painful. But it’s also an opportunity. What if we rethought the fundamentals of the world? From what we eat, to how we learn, to how we build, we could reconsider the building blocks of the future in every aspect of society. In this talk, Ayah Bdeir, inventor of littleBits, the electronic building block that reinvented STEM education, will explore how we can use modularity to construct a more equitable, creative, and harmonious future. Ayah Bdeir is an entrepreneur, inventor, and social activist.
Nalini Nadkarni
Branching Out: Exploring the Tapestry of the Forest Canopy
Known as the "Queen of the Forest Canopy," Nadkarni describes her pioneering research on the biota that live in the treetops of tropical rainforests. Using mountain-climbing gear to climb tall tropical trees, she has shown that the diverse plants and animals who live aloft play critical roles in ecosystem processes. But these organisms are vulnerable to the negative effects of human activities, such as deforestation and climate change. Her response has been to raise awareness of the need to protect forests by incorporating the insights of people in sectors that lie far outside of academic science. She has partnered with faith-based groups, artists, rap singers, corporations, and people who are incarcerated to weave their values into the tapestry of protection of nature on our planet. Dr. Nadkarni also reflects on the supports and challenges that she has encountered in integrating research and communication activities in an academic career.
2021 Lecture Series Sponsors
Founding Underwriter
R. Harold Burton Foundation
Underwriter
Cultural Vision Fund
Gold Sponsor
Rio Tinto Kennecott
Silver Sponsors
The Clark Foundation
The DiFiore Family Foundation
The M Lazy M Foundation
The Nature Conservancy in Utah
Ruth Novak
Paula Swaner Sargetakis and Joseph Sargetakis | Frog Bench Farms
Community Partner
Liberty Heights Fresh
Institutional Support
Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks