Science Under the Dome
Join usÌýfor ourÌýScience Under the DomeÌýmonthlyÌýlive talk series.ÌýTalks in this series are presented by graduate students and postdoc researchers at Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder.
These are a part ofÌýour regular talk series. Regular ticket prices apply.
Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder students are admitted FREE on THURSDAY NIGHT TALKS with valid Buff OneCard.Ìý
Upcoming Science Under the Dome Talks
FEBRUARY 6 at 7pm
Every choice we make shapes the world around us, whether it’s tending to a virtual farm, mining resources, or terraforming a barren planet. Video games like Stardew Valley, Minecraft, and Planet Crafter offer a glimpse into the power of environmental stewardship, showing how our actions can either restore balance or cause destruction. As we navigate these virtual worlds, we see the consequences of mismanaging resources and the rewards of nurturing ecosystems. These experiences aren’t just gameplay—they reflect the real-world urgency of preserving our planet, challenging us to rethink how we interact with the Earth and what future we want to create.Ìý
Can video games inspire real-world environmental change? In this talk, we journey through the virtual worlds of Stardew Valley, Minecraft, and Planet Crafter to uncover how digital landscapes can teach us about sustainable farming, responsible resource management, and the ethical dimensions of geoengineering. By exploring these games' mechanics, we’ll reveal how player decisions in virtual spaces mirror the choices we face on Earth—and how gaming might just be the unlikely spark for a more eco-conscious future.ÌýÌýÌý
Dr Dan Gittins is a CIRES postdoc in the Geology department at Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder. Growing up in the northeast of England, a region shaped by heavy industry, Dan developed a strong interest in understanding how human actions affect the environment. With his research normally focusing on how small aseismic events can build together to have significant impacts, Dan spends his time exploring how seemingly minor events, when accumulated, can result in larger-scale change—a concept also crucial for environmental stewardship. Always seeking new ways to engage audiences, Dan has turned to video games as a creative tool for understanding real-world environmental challenges. Games like Stardew Valley, Minecraft, and Planet Crafter offer unique insights into how virtual actions can inspire responsible stewardship and sustainability in the real world.
FEBRUARY 20 at 7pm
Do bees really behave the way we see in the movies? Spoiler alert: not even close! In this talk, we’ll bust some of the biggest myths about bees that Hollywood loves to exaggerate—like those terrifying swarms—and get to know the real, fascinating lives of these incredible creatures. Most bees are actually solitary and non-aggressive, and even those honeybee swarms aren’t out to get you. Together, we’ll explore how bees communicate, make group decisions, and even play. By the end, you’ll see why it’s time to rethink how we view bees and learn to appreciate the vital role they play in our ecosystems.
Asia Kaiser is a Ph.D. candidate in the Resasco Lab in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her research focuses on insect biodiversity and urban ecology. She is interested in how human land use impacts different insect groups and, consequently, the ecosystem services they provide in coupled human-natural systems. After graduating from high school, she met a stingless bee apiarist living in a national park in Brazil, which piqued her ongoing fascination with bees!
Watch this space for more compelling talks at Fiske.
Our climate is changing and we must adapt to a world that is transforming right before our eyes. Early warning signs of climate change were seen in far away places like the Arctic, Antarctica, and Greenland. Now these impacts are affecting us here at home and changing the way we live our lives. Join us as we explore the local and global impacts of climate change and ways in which we can contribute to a solution.
Science and technology don’t exist in a vacuum - there are countless ways that research and innovation play a significant role in society at large. What are some of the ways in which they overlap? This seriesÌýexplores the intersection of science and society, addressing topics such as light pollution, GMOs, and mining asteroids, and the talks invite the audience to consider ways in which they have been impacted by this intersection.
From warp drives to artificial intelligence to living on Mars, this series is to explore a variety of scientific ideas that surface in science fiction books, movies, and video games. Where have popular sci-fi movies portrayed science correctly, and where has Hollywood gone off the deep end? What technologies were once ‘sci-fi’ but are now rapidly becoming a reality?Ìý