Greg Farrington, executive director of the California Academy of Sciences, in conversation with Moira Gunn, host of Tech Nation and BioTech Nation.
Tune in for an insider's look at the story behind the phenomenal success of San Francisco's new Academy of Sciences, with a revealing discussion of its role as a model for the "institution of the future" in restoring scientific literacy, inspiring sustainability and promoting biodiversity.
Bio
Greg Farrington
Greg Farrington is executive director and William R. and Gretchen B. Kimball Chair of the California Academy of Sciences. Since beginning his post in 2007, Farrington has focused efforts on addressing what CAS considers to be two of the most important scientific questions of our time: How did life happen? And how can we sustain it? CAS is the only institution in the world to combine a museum, aquarium, and planetarium, as well as vigorous programs of research and education. Farrington came to CAS after eight years as president of Lehigh University. Prior to that, he spent 19 years at the University of Pennsylvania. A widely published chemist, Farrington holds more than two dozen patents and has written more than 100 articles in the fields of solid-state chemistry, electrochemistry, and education.
Moira Gunn
Moira Gunn is host of the radio programs "Tech Nation" and "BioTech Nation," aired by National Public Radio. "Tech Nation" episodes are normally based on an interview with the author of a science- or technology-related book. "BioTech Nation" is based on interviews with significant figures in the field of bio-technology, as well as regular discussions with science journalist David Ewing Duncan.
"Tech Nation" and "BioTech Nation" programs are also published as podcasts by IT Conversations.
Gunn's early career included work at NASA on large-scale scientific computation and global communications, with special emphasis in infrared satellite image processing, computational fluid dynamics, and global climate and weather modeling. She also did work in robotics engineering at IBM, Morton Thiokol, United Technologies/Pratt and Whitney, Lockheed-Martin, Rolls-Royce, and the US Navy.
Gunn has a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and an M.A. in computer science.
I need to head over to their Thursday night social event sometime. I heard it's pretty packed and that it is a lot of fun to socialize, drink and observe everything that the Academy of Sciences have to offer all under one roof. And the music is supposed to be pretty banging.
I have not been to the Academy of Sciences in quite sometime but I know that when I have gone in the past I have found the Aquarium to be one of the most fascinating parts. I am very interested in seeing their new additions to the museum, especially the living roof. Great video!