Guiding Principles

Science is an indispensable tool for understanding our world, becoming an informed citizen, and enriching people's lives. In today's world, each citizen must have a solid base in the understanding of, and appreciation for, scientific concepts and their essential role in the betterment of humankind.

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2009 Programs

Energy Summit: "Barking up the Right Tree"

The Challenge: "More energy, less Carbon dioxide"

Never before has humanity faced such a challenging outlook for energy and the planet. According to the Shell future scenario, his can be summed up in five words: “more energy, less carbon dioxide”

The energy and global climate crises are upon us. Over the next 50 years, globally, Governments, NGOs, Corporations, Banks, venture capitalists, Institutions, entrepreneurs--- will be spending trillions upon trillions of dollars seeking solutions.

The trillion-dollar question we seek to answer then, is --which of these solution paths are worth pursuing? And which are a waste of time and resources? Which are non-trivial and which are trivial? Which are achievable and which are resource-wasting mirages? And which combination of viable solutions will deliver needed results faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably?

Our Solution: "Barking Up the Right Tree" is an Expert Forum designed to clarify and separate breakthrough approaches from trivial ones, and determine optimal paths to success.

Once again, we will collaborate with the Keystone Center and Aspen Institute, using the successful results-based methodology employed in our Science & Media Summit. The process begins with assembling an elite group of the most pre-eminent global scientists and leaders from each critical subset of the energy puzzle, analyzing the components of each wedge, separating the trivial from the non-trivial in each, and identifying the most productive paths to success, identifying necessary interrelationships, alternative strategies, obstacles/issues, and other non-trivial considerations.

Because this summit is aimed at producing actual blueprints with to-dos for our high-level participants, we will develop the agenda and attendee list over the next few weeks based on the Keystone Center's proven methodology combining expert science, careful convening, and skilled process.

June 27, 28, 29 -- Closed-door Session aimed at producing a blueprint for optimal resource allocation and international efforts over the next 25 years delivering "more energy, less CO2". The goal would be a "working blueprint " for leaders in all sectors to employ immediately.

June 30 ---Audience-attended Roundtable at the Ideas Festival, moderated by Walter Isaacson (CEO Aspen Institute). This will feature 5-6 panelists who have partaken in the closed-door session and will have a large Ideas Festival audience.

Our gathering will feature the best thinkers and visionaries from the science/business/govt/NGO ecosystem---the colleagues at this summit will be among the most pre-eminent in the country.

Legislating Inquiry-Based Science into all Colorado Schools

The Aspen Science Center is collaborating with Senator Gail Schwartz, Gov Ritter, the CDE and various foundations to enact funded legislation that would make Science Kits available as K-8 model curriculum for all Colorado schools.

ScienceDebate2008

Aspen Science Center is proud to be a sponsor of Sciencedebate2008, a national initiative encouraging the presidential candidates to address their scientific policies in a public debate. More information at Sciencedebate2008.com

Physics Cafes at the Wheeler

In 2008 our Physics Cafes were well-attended and well-covered in the media. The crowds enjoying coffee, tea, cookies, and interaction with young scientists--both in subject matter knowledge and in being able to speak with young physicists about their career paths through academia. The connection and enthusiasm translated into more focus and commitment in the local classrooms, according to our Physics/Science teachers.

This year's Physics Cafes will begin at 4:15 PM, an hour prior to the Maggie and Nick deWolfe Winter Physics Lectures, which are sponsored by our partner, the Aspen Center for Physics. The young scientists who lead the Cafe discussions are participants in the Winter Conferences of the Aspen Center for Physics who volunteer to help make their science more accessible.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - Condensed Matter Physics- Nanoscale Science and Atomic Manipulation Donald Eigler, IBM Almaden Research

Tuesday, January 27, 2008 -Particle Physics/Astronomy Astronomy in the new Millennium: New Windows on the Cosmos Wendy Freedman, Carnegie Observatories

Wednesday, February 4, 2008 - Astronomy - Edward P.J. Van denHeuvel, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Wednesday, February 11, 2008 - Elementary Particle Physics Condensed Matter Physics

Nanoscale Science and Atomic Manipulation - Donald Eigler, IBM Almaden Research

Tuesday, January 27, 2008 - Particle Physics/Astronomy Astronomy in the new Millennium: New Windows on the Cosmos Wendy Freedman, Carnegie Observatories

Wednesday, February 4, 2008

- Astronomy TBA Edward P.J. Van denHeuvel, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Wednesday, February 11, 2008 - Elementary Particle Physics

Science Fairs

The Aspen Science Center sponsored both the Elementary School Science Fair and the Middle School Science Fair, for a total of 534 budding scientists. We provided curriculum integration so the teachers could give the kids a strong background in scientific method. The result was a much higher level of experiment choice, data collection, and hypothesis/conclusion quality. A growing number of students continued on to Regional and State competitions.

Science Teacher "Cafes"

These are billed as "Get the Scoop on Science and Math education, funding, grants, initiatives, and projects-and meet new friends!"

Our 2006 get-together for Roaring Fork science and math teachers was well attended, and the teachers eagerly requested collaboration on a number of fronts. A typical collaboration: Colorado Rocky Mountain School is sharing the PCR Thermal Cycler with the Aspen High School IB Biology in a joint DNA population study. The ASC purchased the Thermal Cycler and sponsored the DNA training for all valley teachers to make this possible.

At our upcoming Science Teacher Cafe, we will be getting hands-on reports from teachers on how they optimized our resources, as well as "wish lists" for more resources and ideas as to how to "share the wealth" among districts.

The College Fair

In 2005 we were instrumental in developing the Western Slope College Fair with Kathy Klug. In 2006 the Fair was attended by 192 college admissions officers and 2000 Western Slope kids. In 2007 the Fair became the biggest in Colorado (much to the chagrin of the Denver/North Slope parents). The 2007 fair was held on October 7, from 11AM to 2PM. For more information, visit Western Slope College Fair.

College Interview Workshops

Started as a preparation for meeting the admissions officers at the College Fair, these workshops have become 100% mandatory for all students! Students have reported that they feel the workshop was instrumental in their interview success.

The Science and Media Summit

The Challenge was, "How can Science and the Media get it right?"

July 1-2, 2007 --Closed-door Session aimed at producing a blueprint of best practices for Science and the Media which leaders in both sectors would be encouraged to employ immediately.

July 3, 2007 ---Audience-attended Roundtable at the Aspen Institute Ideas Festival, moderated by Walter Isaacson (CEO, Aspen Institute). This feature 5 panelists from the closed-door session and was attended by a large Ideas Festival audience.

Our Summit was a spectacular success and exceeded every expectation-the group achieved the goal during the first day, and then committed to form working groups elevating science to the national discussion among political leaders, corporate leaders, and foundations. Within two days after the conclusion of the Summit, we had a listserve, a mission statement, goals, strategies, and a set of science talking points which were delivered to Hillary Clinton.

The subsequent Roundtable, which kicked off the Ideas Festival, was one of the most highly-regarded plenary sessions of the Festival. Our first international press attention arrived in the form of a blog on Time's website-more is on its way!

http://timeblog.com/eye_on_science/2007/07/saving_american_science.html

(HS)2

The brain child of Andover alumnae Gar and Mollie Lasater, this program is a collaboration between ASC, Andover, Colorado Rocky Mountain School and selected gifted and talented minority kids from all over the country. After a spectacular launch, it has settled into a robust, challenging and rewarding experience for all involved. The kids are learning at an accelerated pace, and are experiencing enrichment courses that we doubt exist anywhere else in combination (e. g., whitewaterrafting/glassblowing/ironworking).

They have bonded, feel a deep shared commitment to the program, and an appreciation for the opportunity it represents. During one game where we were to describe "the worst thing and the best thing that happened to you this year" over half of the kids said that our program was the best thing that's happened to them. See "Whiz Kids" in News.

Physics BBQs

Another productive collaboration with the Aspen Center for Physics our BBQs are the perfect combination of fun, food, eminent scientists, and engaged kids--we fed, enlightened and illuminated over 2100 community members this summer, breaking last summer's record. These events take place on Wednesday afternoons during the summer on the beautiful campus of the Aspen Center for Physics; scientists participating in the Center's programs engage kids in lively discussions of science. We consider attracting over 200 kids and parents to learn about galaxy formation, given all of the competition from sports, music, Ideas Festival, jazz, etc., to be a major accomplishment!

Summer Science Camps

In 2007 our advanced DNA/Genomics and Physics summer camps featured the same cutting-edge science taught by renowned experts in their fields--and featured some very imaginative extra features (such as a real-life CSI "Crime Scene" with an officer from the Aspen Police Department, which was so convincing it panicked the Director, who thought something had gone horribly amiss!) and a mini-science fair featuring Middle Schoolers explaining how they cloned Zebra fish and created genetically-engineered, rapidly growing, glow-in-the-dark bacterial organisms.

To extend the reach of this program, ASC has decided to introduce Advanced Science Enrichment Teacher Training Seminars in the summer of 2009.