IDEAS Boston Lectures

Boston, MA

Martin Wattenberg: Turning Words into Pictures
Martin Wattenberg
October 30, 2008
00:18:06
Martin Wattenberg describes his work in transforming data into evocative charts and graphs that are as informative as they are arresting.
Paul Watanabe: Challenging Immigrant Invisibilty
Paul Watanabe
October 30, 2008
00:24:50
Paul Watanabe talks about his family’s experience in an internment camp during World War II and suggests that one way to challenge invisibility and exclusion would be to give non-citizen immigrants the right to vote in local elections. This lecture is part of the 2008 IDEAS Boston conference.
Daniel Schrag: Geoengineering
Daniel Schrag
October 30, 2008
00:26:04
Geochemist Daniel Schrag argues that climate change is actually far worse than people are led to believe. Locally, he suggests a feasible project to raise the height of the Charles River Dam, providing Boston with additional protection in the event of future storm flooding and sea-level rise.
Life Beyond Earth?
Sara Seager
October 30, 2008
00:19:20
Sara Seager says that there is life beyond Earth. What’s more, she predicts that we will detect its biosignature on planets beyond our solar system in her lifetime.
Space Suit: The World's Smallest Spacecraft
Dava J. Newman
October 30, 2008
00:23:36
Dava Newman describes and demonstrates her innovative custom-fitted space suit, which combines science, engineering, and art, and gives astronauts greater mobility while conserving energy as they explore the surface of the moon or Mars.
NOTES: Incision-Free Surgery
David Rattner
October 30, 2008
00:20:32
David Rattner talks about his belief that an emerging scar-free surgical technique that accesses diseased organs through the body’s orifices can transform health care to the benefit of patients everywhere.
Lisa Randall: String Theory, Multiple Dimensions
Lisa Randall
October 7, 2005
00:24:32
Lisa Randall discusses her research which focuses on string theory and the idea that there are multiple dimensions in space. Professor of physics at Harvard University, Randall discusses her research which focuses on string theory and the idea that there are multiple dimensions in space.
Daniel Schrag: Geoengineering
Daniel Schrag
October 30, 2008
00:26:04
Geochemist Daniel Schrag argues that climate change is actually far worse than people are led to believe. Locally, he suggests a feasible project to raise the height of the Charles River Dam, providing Boston with additional protection in the event of future storm flooding and sea-level rise.
NOTES: Incision-Free Surgery
David Rattner
October 30, 2008
00:20:32
David Rattner talks about his belief that an emerging scar-free surgical technique that accesses diseased organs through the body’s orifices can transform health care to the benefit of patients everywhere.
Barry Bluestone: Socio-Economics
Barry Bluestone
June 7, 2004
00:21:32
Barry Bluestone, founding member of the Economic Policy Institute, focuses on the economic conditions of low- and middle-income American families.
Marc Hauser: Monkeys Solving Mysteries
Marc Hauser
October 6, 2005
00:20:31
Marc Hauser discusses how by studying monkeys and apes, as well as infants and adults, his work has unlocked some of the mysteries of language evolution, conceptual representation, social cooperation, communication, and morality. This lecture is part of the 2005 Boston IDEAS conference.
Meet the Director: Julie Taymor
Julie Taymor
June 8, 2004
00:23:53
Julie Taymor describes her experience with such international hits as The Lion King and Frida.Theater, film and opera director Julie Taymor's most recent film, Frida, garnered six Oscar nominations and two Oscar Awards.

IDEAS Boston's mission is to promote innovation and contribute to the economic vitality and competitiveness of the region. Through a unique conference, dissemination of new ideas after the event, and connecting cutting-edge thinkers across sectors, IDEAS Boston serves as an important resource to individual innovators throughout the community, and from a civic perspective helps to build the region's brand as a hub of innovation attractive to businesses, college students, and workers.

The core of IDEAS Boston is an annual conference where leading innovators present their latest (or sometimes their next) big ideas in a fast-paced format that combines succinct and lively presentations, artistic breaks, and time for networking and discussion. This cross-fertilization across sectors provides the ingredients for additional innovation and creative breakthroughs.

IDEAS Boston was created by The Boston Globe in 2004. After successful events in 2004 and 2005, IDEAS Boston was reorganized as a non-profit organization in 2006. Beginning with the 2007 conference, IDEAS Boston has operated with MassINC (The Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth) as its fiscal agent.

IDEAS Boston has a track record for attracting top quality speakers and a diverse audience. Whether the outcomes from IDEAS Boston conferences are new ideas individuals use in taking their own work in different directions, or enabling diverse thought leaders to forge new networks, this conference is providing the fertile ground so important for fostering innovation.
IDEAS Boston