New York bars serve up offbeat science lectures

New York Times : A number of science-based events have been popping up throughout New York City—some serious, others not, writes Jennifer Schuessler for the New York Times. Offered at such eclectic venues as bars, art galleries, and funeral parlors, the talks feature both credentialed scientists and rank amateurs. All include entertainment along with edification. At the Bell House, a music and events venue, the Secret Science Club holds its monthly meetings, which have included such noted scientists as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium. Other series, such as Nerd Nite at the Galapagos Art Space, celebrate the expertise of amateurs, who rely on tongue-in-cheek PowerPoint slides, faux data, and lots of audience participation. Moonlighter Presents, on the other hand, draws academics, artists, and writers to speak on subjects outside their expertise. Topics have included the poetics of hay fever, the cultural politics of Steely Dan fandom, and the history of the car ferry in Elberta, Michigan.