By Stephanie Novak and Brooke Workneh

Harvard-trained neuroscientist Lisa Genova broke into fiction after watching the progression of her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s disease. In a talk at Northwestern University Tuesday, Genova discussed Alzheimer’s and aging and the inspiration behind her bestselling novel, “Still Alice.” Before the program, we spoke with the author about the book she based on her grandmother’s illness. Genova continues to merge neuroscience and fiction in her novels, she said. Her lecture, followed by a panel discussion, was sponored by the Chicago Council on Science and Technology. Genova lives in Cape Cod with her husband and three children.

Continue reading “Bestselling author talks about Alzheimer’s and aging”

By Steve Koppes, UChicago News

The University of Chicago’s new Science on the Screen series will begin with a showing of the Academy Award-winning movie, A Beautiful Mind, starring Russell Crowe, beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 in Screening Room 201 of the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts.

Science on the Screen is sponsored by the UChicago Arts | Science Initiative, the Office of the Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories, and the Chicago Council on Science and Technology. This new series will focus on the cinematic portrayal of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through screenings and discussions with leading UChicago experts.

Continue reading “Science film series to launch with ‘A Beautiful Mind’ screening, discussion”

科学教育不仅仅是给小孩子的。这是莫妮卡·梅兹尔 （Monica Metzler）在芝加哥科技委员会（Chicago Council on Science and Technology）的一次活动中传播的理念。她所创立的伊利诺伊科学委员会（Illinois Science Council）一直在为推动成年人的科学教育而努力。

芝加哥不仅有丰富的文化艺术资源，也拥有各种以科学教育为主的公共机构。然而，莫妮卡发现了一个问题：这些机构全是给小孩设置的。实际上，成年人也 会对各种科学现象有强烈的好奇心，却并没有老师可问。为了解决这个问题，莫妮卡在六年前成立了这所公共科教机构。这个机构填补了芝加哥在科教领域的空缺， 将芝加哥向“科学之城”又推近了一步。

Continue reading “Science and Technology Networking Event, Nihao Magazine”

By Anthony Raap and Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory, Medill Reports

“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and other TV dramas have created unrealistic expectations that can swing jurors, law enforcement officials say. Defendants may walk free in cases that should be slam-dunk convictions.

This phenomenon, called the “CSI effect” in law enforcement, has left many investigators feeling frustrated.

Doug Seccombe, special agent for the FBI in Chicago, said many jurors don’t understand that television shows often don’t mimic reality.

Continue reading “As seen on TV: ‘CSI’ versus forensic science”