JULY 11-13
The Wisdom of Music (Hilo, Hawaii)
Can Eminem engender enlightenment? Chances are, perhaps, slim, but music has been shown to aid in healing, allow for self-expression, and restore hope in troubled times. Its unique power to forge connections, foster understanding, and even nurture transcendence will be explored at this conference, which will feature both research papers and musical performances.
We fear them, we love them, we deep-fry them. The relationships between humans and our fellow animals are varied and complex, encompassing everything from pack mules to pets.
JULY 13-15
The Human and Animal Bond (Oxford, England)
We fear them, we love them, we deep-fry them. The relationships between humans and our fellow animals are varied and complex, encompassing everything from pack mules to pets. This interdisciplinary conference will explore our interspecies connections, including such specific subjects as animal rights, animal welfare, and “animals as analogies.” Now, if you’ll excuse me, my Abyssinian analogy just threw up a hairball.
JULY 31-AUGUST 03
Does God Play Dice? (Pasadena, California)
Albert Einstein famously insisted that He does not, but modern scientific theories such as quantum randomness threaten to render the concept of predictability obsolete. This conference will look at the philosophical and theological implications of these emerging concepts, and ask if the fingerprints of God can be found in a random universe. You may or may not find it enlightening; who knows?
This post originally appeared in the July/August 2014 print issue of Pacific Standard as “Conference Call.” Subscribe to our bimonthly magazine for more coverage of the science of society.
