18 January 2002

Conference Update

by Shawn Carlson

Lots more is shaping up with the conference. Here’s the current presenters’ list. Please take special note of the "NEW" entries.

But first...

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!

We’re looking for your suggestions for presentations, workshops, pannel discussions etc. that you would like to see so we can schedule them. Please let me know what we can do to make this conference best fit your needs!

The Current Presenters List for the June 29-30 Conference (MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!)

 

Shawn Carlson, Ph.D. (NEW PROGRAM)
Society for Amateur Scientists, Executive Director

Presentation One: Chasing the Whirlwind—the Real Benjamin Franklin

Presentation Two: Our Citizen Scientist Framers—The Founding of Citizen Science in America

The historians have Ben Franklin all wrong. Franklin wasn’t the inventive country gentleman he is often made out to be. Franklin was a scientist first and foremost, and was recognized by researchers of his day as one of the world’s greatest living scientists. In fact, did you know, for instance, that Joseph Priestly (the discoverer of oxygen) likened Franklin to Isaac Newton? In his first talk, our Executive Director will explain how historians have grossly undersold Franklin’s scientific achievements, and how the Franklin legacy needs to be corrected.

Also, many of the Framers of our Constitution were skilled citizen scientists, or powerful advocates for citizen science. These men crafted a nation where citizen science could flourish. This talk will explain how citizen science became established in America, and how one of America’s greatest citizen scientists, Thomas Jefferson, seriously hampered it’s early growth.

 

Sheldon Greaves, Ph.D.
Society for Amateur Scientists, Director

Presentation: The Secrets of Guerilla Scholarship

Sheldon defines "guerilla scholarship" as "the use of unconventional methods to help independent scholars and scientists gain access to tools and resources normally available only to academicians." Sheldon will explain how you can gain access to many of the same resources that professional scholars rely on to do their research.

 

George Hrabovsky
Madison Area Science and Technology

Presentation One: An Insiders View of Storm Chasing and Tornado Spotting (tentative title)

Presentation Two: Microbiology on a Shoestring (tentative title)

You’ve all been enjoying George’s outstanding Mind of a Theorist column. Well, George is also a world expert on storm chasing and tornado spotting, as well as an avid basement microbiologist. He’ll be doing two presentations for us, one on each of these exciting topics.

 

Richard Hudson
DragonFly TV

Presentation: DragonFly TV—Bringing How-To Science Home (tentative title)

DragonFly TV is a fantastic new kids show for PBS. It teaches kids how to use scientific methods to answer questions about the world around them. Richard Hudson is the program’s prime mover. Richard will talk about the program, show clips and explain why this show might make a real difference in the fight for science literacy.

 

Salvatore LaManna, CPA (NEW PROGRAM)
Withers, Mann and LaManna, LLP

Presentation: Tax Benefits for Citizen Scientists (tentative title)

Sal and his lovely wife Leslie have kept SAS’s nose clean with the IRS since the beginning by volunteering each year to prepare SAS’s official tax returns. (And we are so grateful to them for it!) Sal plans to do a half-hour presentation to spotlight the tax benefits that are available to citizen scientists for doing original research and teaching. For example, did you know that if you started your own laboratory by filing a few forms that many of your scientific supplies might be deductible? Sal will lay out the tax landscape for us all and explain how to take advantage of the benefits that Congress built into the law to support the kinds of things our members do. I fully expect this to be one of the most useful and well-attended presentations at the conference. Sal will also prepare a summary paper that will be printed in the conference proceedings so you can take all this vital information with you.

 

John Lighton, Ph.D. (NEW PROGRAM)
University of Nevada

Presentation: Title to be announced

John is a world-renowned entomologist who has been a good friend of SAS since our early days. He’s Packard Fellow and a Professor at the University of Nevada. But don’t let his professional credentials spoof you. He’s been a dear friend of the amateur and has contributed a great many cutting-edge projects for people who want to get down and dirty with insects. I mean, really cool stuff like how to measure the metabolism of a single ant. He will give a presentation on some aspect of how to do first rate research into insects on a shoestring budget. John will also sit on the selection committee for the Benjamin Franklin Citizen Scientist Award.

 

Jerry MacDonald
Benjamin Franklin Citizen Scientist Award Nominee

Presentation: Permian Trackways, A Quarter Billion Years + Two Decades (tentative title)

Jerry is one of our nation's most accomplished and distinguished citizen scientists. As we've mentioned in the E-Bulletin before, Jerry made what many paleontologists describe as the "discovery of the 80's" when he unearthed the most extensive bed of animal tracks from Permian period, the period just before the age of dinosaurs. If you've got his book, Earth's First Steps, you already know what a remarkable and inspirational story Jerry's is. Now, you're going to have a chance to meet the man in person! After his presentation, Jerry will be signing copies of his book, and he'll be hanging out for the whole conference. Jerry has been nominated for the Benjamin Franklin Award for Citizen Science, so he just might be making his presentation at the Awards Banquet.

 

Monty Robson
Western Connecticut Chapter SAS

Presentation: Fundraising for Social Change (tentative title)

Presentation: Science at the McCarthy Observatory (tentative title)

Monty and his fellows at the Western Connecticut Chapter of SAS will talk about the wonderful observatory they built in New Milford, CT, give poster sessions on some of the exciting science they are doing, as well as give a primer on how to local chapters can raise money to implement projects that make a difference in their communities.

 

Sally Shelton (NEW PROGRAM)
Smithsonian Institution

Presentation: title to be announced

Sally has also been an SAS booster for many years. Sally will address the conference on a topic to be announced. Not only will she do a presentation there, but she’s also confident that we’ll all get to see presentations from other Smithsonian scientists as well. We’re still working out the details, but expect amateur paleontology to be well represented.

 

Sam Stanifer (NEW PROGRAM)
Los Angeles Chapter SAS

Presentation: Title to be announced

Sam leads an imaginative collaboration of SASers in our Los Angeles chapter. Sam will report on the outstanding work his chapter has carried out towards creating a network of detectors that monitor the earth for telltale electromagnetic emanations that have been associated with at least some large earthquakes in California and Japan. Since these signals appear before the ground starts shaking, this network could lay the foundation for a future network that could provide early warning of at least some earthquakes. Sam’s group also plans on presenting a paper for the poster session.

 

Normal Stanley (NEW PROGRAM)

Presentation: The History of Amateur Science 1900-1945 (with emphasis on chemistry)

Norman writes the excellent Chemistry Corner series for the E-Bulletin. He’s an expert on the history of amateur science, in fact, at 85 years old, he has lived through much of it. Norman will provide a retrospective of amateur science in the early part of the 20th Century, with a special focus on amateur contributions to chemistry.

 

Mark Streitman
Central New Jersey Chapter SAS

Presentation: Science off the cutting-edge (tentative title)

Mark will explain the benefits of doing science off the cutting edge, that is, of developing research projects that are focused on trying to measure a well-known number. The talk will highlight his group’s work to develop an easy way to measure the speed of light and the benefits this program is having in teaching hands-on science to the community.

 

Art T. Winfree, Ph.D. (POSSIBLE)
University of Arizona

Presentation: Title to be announced

Art’s scientific achievements are extraordinary. He is a MacArthur Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow Art (to name just a few of his awards) as well as a Regent’s Professor at the University of Arizona, and is quite well-known in a number of fields, including Chaos. We are quite fortunate to have him as a columnist for the E-Bulletin. Art writes the highly praised Adventures in Discovery column. We’re not certain that Art is going to be there yet, he’s still trying to work it into his busy summer schedule. Based on his excellent columns, I’ve asked him to prepare a talk about the secrets of making discoveries in science. I’ll let you know. But I was so excited that Art was considering talking to us, I just had to let you know.

 

Papers in Absentia
Ely Silk

Presentation: Paper for Conference Proceedings

Ely is one of our most prolific members and although he will not be able to attend in person, we will be presenting his paper on how to do florescence studies of living systems with an LED.

 

Forrest Mims III

Presentation: Paper for Conference Proceedings

Unfortunately, Forrest won’t be at the conference, this time. He just found out that he has to be taking measurements on the top of Mona Kea while the rest of us are meeting in Philadelphia. But he’s promised to submit a paper for the conference proceedings. Next year, I’ll make sure the conference date does not conflict with his annual trek to Hawaii.

 

That’s Gratitude For You!

Special Thanks go to Averett Lidzy, SAS member and fine artist. Averett is designing the Franklin Citizen Scientist Award medal and plaque, and helping with other important artwork. Also my personal appreciation to Alan Dove, a Philly resident and accomplished science writer, who will be scouting venues and covering the event for the press.

 

New Benjamin Franklin Citizen Scientist Award Nominee

This week I'm proud to add Douglas "D.M." Lindsay to the list of distinguished nominees for his work to uncover previously unreported aspects of the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Both D.M. and his mother are believed to suffer from CFS caused by autonomic dysfunction. Indeed, D. M. had to abandon undergraduate studies and put plans for medical school on hold when he got sick. Now almost totally housebound, D. M. carried out exhaustive research on the metabolic aspects of dysautonomias related to the chronic fatigue syndrome, and he has developed a working hypothesis that might explain the disorder. He also purports a novel treatment using drugs already FDA approved for use in humans.

Here’s the list of nominees so far...

 

 

Benjamin Franklin Citizen Scientist Award Nominees (current list)

D. M. Lindsay

For his work related to the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome

Jerry MacDonald

For his discoveries related to Permian fossil trackways.

Forrest Mims III

For his many accomplishments in the field of atmospheric research

Dick Mol

Citizen scientist and scientific director of the mammoth-recovery expedition to Siberia.

Stephen Sharnoff, Sylvia Duran Sharnoff (deceased), and Dr. Irwin Brodo jointly

For their accomplishments in the field of studying lichens and for their book of "Lichens of North America."

 

Don’t forget, there is still time to add more names to this distinguished list. So please get your nominations in to me as soon as possible. Remember, you must include the contact information for the nominee, and please include the names and contact information of at least three people who can assess the value of the nominee’s contributions.