PROGRAM – FEBRUARY 4, 2011

 

9:30am - 11:00am  SESSION 1:  Reality Bites

Speakers in this session discussed big picture issues that helped lay the groundwork for the successive sessions.

Welcome & Introduction:  

Ralph J. Cicerone, President of the National Academy of Sciences

Session Speakers:

Charles M. Vest, President, National Academy of Engineering, President Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Karen Cator, Director of Office of Technology, U.S. Department of Education
Sean B. Carroll, Vice President for Education, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Tony DeRose, Senior Scientist, Pixar Animation Studios

 

11:05am - 11:50am  DIVE DEEPER:  Everyone to Their Corners!

Attendees were invited to spend time with each of the opening speakers in an informal Q&A session.  Participants self-selected into groups, spending 20 minutes each with two speakers of their choice.

 

12:15pm - 1:15pm  SESSION 2:  Each One, Teach One

Session Speakers:

Sir Ken Robinson, internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity and innovation
Are You Smarter Than a Ninth Grader? – Award-winning science teacher Janet English lead her high school students through a science learning experience, gradually drawing the audience into the process.
Lizabeth Fogel, Director of Education, Walt Disney Studios

 

2:15pm - 3:30pm  SESSION 3: Technically Speaking

Session Speakers:

Will Wright, game developer

A Conversation Among Friends – string theorist Brian Greene, director Jerry Zucker, and middle school science teacher Tyler Johnstone engaged in an impromptu discussion about how their three communities can work together to improve student learning in the sciences. Moderated by broadcast journalist Miles O'Brien.

 

3:55pm-5:10pm   REACT AND SHARE: Thinking Caps On!   

Attendees moved into groups of approximately 25 people and take part in a structured conversation that focuses on their reactions to the talks and thoughts that had been generated thus far.  Each session was moderated and facilitated by someone from the entertainment industry.

Facilitators:

Sean Gesell, Vice President, Zucker Productions
Ted Johnson, Deputy Editor, Variety
Jeff Silver, producer, TRON: Legacy
Jon Spaihts, writer, Prometheus
Neil deGrasse Tyson, host, NOVA scienceNOW 

 

5:15pm - 6:15pm  SESSION 4:  Bringing Down the House

Session Speakers:

A Time to Share – Vicki Chandler, Chief Program Officer for Science at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, heard feedback from each of the five the React & Share Groups
Tom Shadyac, director/producer, I Am

Let Us Entertain You:

The Backbeats - A musical performance by the best a capella singers from the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles
Steven Connell, Def Jam Poet