February 22, 2019 – Getting the most out of light: vision and geoengineering

Grounds for Science

 

with Mathew Summers and Jonathan Proctor

Friday, February 22, 2019 at 6:30 PM at Scarlet City Espresso Bar

The cells that give us sight

Roughly 55% of the brain’s surface and an estimated 12 billion neurons are devoted to vision – more than the other senses combined. But what exactly are all these cells doing? By detailing startling patient case studies and seminal experiments, Mathew will sketch a broad overview of how neuroscientists think about the brain, and the cells that give us sight.

Mathew Summers

Mathew Summers A science fiction enthusiast turned scientist, Mathew is a PhD candidate in Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Working in the lab of Dr. Marla Feller, he studies how the retina transforms patterns of light into electrical signals. Outside of the lab, he enjoys hunting down cheap local concerts, reading in the sun, and trail running.

What volcanoes can teach us about combating global climate change

Solar geoengineering is the idea that we might be able to use technology to cool the Earth (and reduce climate change) by reflecting sunlight back into space. While such technologies may help mitigate damages from climate change, many also worry that solar geoengineering could have unintended consequences. In this talk Jon will discuss what we can learn about solar geoengineering from studying the massive volcanic eruptions that inspired modern geoengineering proposals.

Jonathan Proctor

Jonathan Proctor Jon’s research currently focuses on estimating the potential economic impacts of geoengineering and climate change, with a focus on agricultural systems. He is also exploring methodological questions at the intersection of remote sensing, machine learning and causal inference. When he’s not in school, you can find Jon backpacking, rock climbing, or teaching improv and design workshops with Collective Capital.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *