The Pauly Shore of Science

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More About

• John Allen
• Museum of Nature & Science
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

Why do projects such as Biosphere 2 capture the imagination? Is it because they resonate with the thrill of the possibility of exploring and settling other planets or moons? Or is it the plethora of potential scientific discoveries that powers our fascination? Or could it be a deep desire to create a self-sufficient "garden of Eden" with our own hands? It's all of those things, coupled with the realization that humans are not simply inert observers or researchers of nature and the environment; we are an inextricable part of any biosphere we inhabit and a force of change--both good and bad--within it. Though the original experiments concluded more than a decade ago, John Allen, inventor of Biosphere 2, still lectures on both the unexpected scientific phenomena and the human drama that unfolded around Biosphere 2's experimental missions, and how "biospherics" impact our understanding of the environment and our future in it. Allen speaks at 8 p.m. Friday at the Museum of Nature & Science, 1318 Second Ave. Tickets are $15, $10 for students and members of Wordspace or the museum. Call 254-495-9976 or visit wordspacetexas.org.
Fri., April 17, 8 p.m., 2009