2009 PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

GLOBAL GREENPRINT: Charting the Critical Energy Path for the Planet

An Energy Solution Summit

The Challenge:  More energy, less Carbon dioxide

Never before has humanity faced such a challenging outlook for energy and the planet. According to the Shell future scenario, this can be summed up in five words: more energy, less carbon dioxide.

The energy and global climate crises are upon us. Over the next 50 years and across the globe -- governments, NGOs, corporations, banks, venture capitalists, institutions, entrepreneurs, and others -- will spend trillions upon trillions of dollars seeking solutions.  The trillion-dollar questions we seek to answer are: Which of these solution paths is worth pursuing? Which are a waste of time and resources? Which are non-trivial and which trivial? Which are achievable and which are resource-wasting mirages? Which combination of viable solutions will deliver needed results faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably?

Our Solution -- Gobal GreenPrint -- is a Solution Summit designed to clarify and separate breakthrough approaches from trivial ones, and determine optimal paths to success.

The Aspen Science Center will again collaborate with the Aspen Center for Physics, The Keystone Center and Aspen Institute, using the successful results-based methodology employed in our Science & Media Summit. The process begins with the Aspen Science Center gathering a non-partisan, multi-national, multi-lateral group of the most pre-eminent scientists, leaders, and policymakers from each critical subset of the energy puzzle.  We will:

• Vet the new administration's energy plan -- scientifically, economically, and politically.
• Identify the most productive paths to success, necessary interrelationships, obstacles/issues, alternative strategies, and other considerations.
• Separate out the non-trivial from the trivial.
• Help guide policy based on a non-partisan, multi-national, multi-lateral expertise.
• Set the global stage for climate change now.

Because this summit is aimed at producing actual GreenPrints with to-dos for our high-level participants, we will develop the agenda and attendee list over the next few weeks based on the Keystone Center's proven methodology combining expert science, careful convening, and skilled process.

• June 27, 28 -- Closed-door Session aimed at producing a blueprint for optimal resource allocation and international efforts over the next 25 years to deliver more energy, less CO2.  The goal is to create a working blueprint for leaders in all sectors to employ immediately.
• June 29 ---Audience-attended Roundtable at the Aspen Institute Ideas Festival, moderated by Walter Isaacson (CEO, Aspen Institute). This will feature 5-6 panelists who have partaken in the closed-door session and will have a large Ideas Festival audience.

Bringing Inquiry-Based Science to all Colorado Schools

The Aspen Science Center is collaborating with Senator Gail Schwartz, Gov Ritter, the CDE and various foundations to enact funded legislation that will make Inquiry-Based Science Kits available as K-8 model curriculum for all Colorado schools.  These hands-on kits have been used in many Colorado schools, and other states across the country, to significantly increase student's knowledge and understanding of science, excite educators to teach hands-on science, and close the achievement gap. The Aspen Science Center is working to spread these successes across the state of Colorado.

Physics Cafes at the Wheeler Opera House

Again in 2008, our Physics Cafes were well-attended and well-covered in the media. The crowds enjoyed coffee, tea, and cookies as they interacted with young physicists who shared their subject matter expertise and discussed the educational and career paths they traveled. The connection and enthusiasm translated into more focus and commitment in the local classrooms, according to our Physics/Science teachers.

The young scientists who lead the Cafe discussions are participants in the Winter Conferences of the Aspen Center for Physics who volunteer to help make their science more accessible.  Doors open at 4:15 pm in Aspen's Wheeler Opera House on the mezzanine floor.  Mingle with the scientists as you enjoy the cafe food and beverages before they speak.  The Physics Cafe & Lecture is then followed by the Maggie and Nick deWolfe Winter Physics Lectures, sponsored by our partner, the Aspen Center for Physics.

The 2009 Schedule is:

• Wednesday, January 7, 2009 - Biophysics - Nature's Exquisite Nanomachines: The Dynamic and Varied City Plan of Living Cells.  James A. Spudich, Stanford University.
• Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - Condensed Matter Physics - Nanoscale Science and Atomic Manipulation.  Donald Eigler, IBM Almaden Research.
• Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - Particle Physics/Astronomy - Title and speaker TBA.
• Wednesday, February 4, 2009 - Astronomy - Title TBA.  Edward P.J. Van denHeuvel, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - Elementary Particle Physics Condensed Matter Physics.  Title and speaker TBA.

Physics-is-for-Kids BBQs and Lectures

Another productive collaboration with the Aspen Center for Physics, our BBQs are the perfect combination of fun, food, eminent scientists, and engaged kids -- we fed, enlightened and illuminated over 2100 community members this summer, again breaking last summer's record. These events take place on Wednesday afternoons during the summer on the beautiful campus of the Aspen Center for Physics; scientists participating in the Center's programs engage kids in lively discussions of science. We consider attracting over 200 kids and parents each week to learn about galaxy formation and quantum physics, given all of the competition from sports, music, Ideas Festival, jazz, etc., to be a major accomplishment!

Super Science Summer Camps

Our Super Science Summer Camps, such as advanced DNA/Genomics, feature the same cutting-edge science taught by renowned experts in their fields -- and feature some very imaginative extra features. One such feature was a real-life CSI "Crime Scene" with an officer from the Aspen Police Department, which was so convincing it panicked the Director, who thought something had gone horribly amiss!. Another feature is the mini-science fair featuring Middle Schoolers explaining how they cloned Zebra fish and created genetically-engineered, rapidly growing, glow-in-the-dark bacterial organisms.

To extend the reach of this program, ASC has decided to introduce Advanced Science Enrichment Teacher Training Seminars in the summer of 2009.

The Aspen Science Center sponsored both the Elementary School Science Fair and the Middle School Science Fair, for a total of 534 budding scientists. We provided curriculum integration so the teachers could give the kids a strong background in scientific method. The result was a much higher level of experiment choice, data collection, and hypothesis/conclusion quality. A growing number of students continued on to Regional and State competitions.

Science Teacher Cafes

These are billed as Get the Scoop on Science and Math education, funding, grants, initiatives, and projects-and meet new friends!

Check back to learn more about our upcoming Science Teacher Cafes.

Previous get-togethers for Roaring Fork science and math teachers were well attended, and the teachers eagerly requested collaboration on a number of fronts. A typical collaboration: Colorado Rocky Mountain School is sharing the PCR Thermal Cycler with the Aspen High School IB Biology in a joint DNA population study. The ASC purchased the Thermal Cycler and sponsored the DNA training for all valley teachers to make this possible.

The College Fair

In 2005, the Aspen Science Center was instrumental in developing the Western Slope College Fair with Kathy Klug.  In 2006, the Fair was attended by 192 college admissions officers and 2000 Western Slope kids. In 2007, the Fair became the biggest in Colorado (much to the chagrin of the Denver/North Slope parents). The Fair, held each fall, continues to grow each year.

For more information, visit Western Slope College Fair.

College Interview Workshops

Started as a preparation for meeting the admissions officers at the College Fair, these workshops have become 100% mandatory for all Aspen High School students!  Students have reported that they feel the workshop was instrumental in their interview success.

High-altitude Observatory/Planetarium

We made substantial progress since this idea was first proposed.  Bill Joy donated a University-grade Celestron telescope and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies agreed to an observatory site up at Toklat/Ashcroft, far from interferring light sources but accessible by paved road. We have a working group interested in developing and funding this part of the project. We consulted with Derrick Pitts (Franklin Observatory) and have a clear idea of what is entailed in making this a reality.

We worked with the Aspen School System and private donors to raise the funds for a modern upgrade of the planetarium projector at Aspen High School and this has been installed.

Science Cinema

Science Documentaries followed by a Q&A with a respected scientist? What a great idea! Why didn't I think of that? Well, thankfully Andrei did, and we kicked off our small festival with a series of films in August.

ScienceDebate2008

Aspen Science Center is proud to be a sponsor of Sciencedebate2008, a national initiative encouraging the presidential candidates to address their scientific policies in a public debate. More information at Sciencedebate2008.com.