by Tucker Ives
Tomorrow, our own John Dankosky is moderating his second Connecticut Forum! It is the Vision & Brilliance discussion with geniuses Neil deGrasse Tyson, Neil Gaiman and Neri Oxman. From what we’ve heard, tickets are almost sold out (if they’re not already). Whether you’ll be there or not, here are three shows you should listen to that feature appearances from tomorrow night’s panelists.
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson
Last year, NdGT was on Where We Wonder: Scientific Literacy in the 21st Century where he discussed the need for better understanding of science. As he said, “When you think in a scientifically literate way, the world becomes a knowable place to you.”
Bonus video! Neil deGrasse Tyson gets autotuned in this very catchy Symphony of Science song:
The other Neil on this panel has the Twitter handle @neilhimself. Neil Gaiman is an author, screenwriter, graphic novelist…you probably already know this though.
Neil Gaiman
Last year, Gaiman was the main guest on the live public radio show Wits. If you’ve never listened to Wits, this episode is great one to start off with. Gaiman reads from American Gods and gets Mythbusters host Adam Savage to sing “I Will Survive” as Gollum (I’ll leave it at that). Listen to the full episode of Wits from Minnesota Public Radio here.
Bonus video of Neil Gaiman’s singing/songwriting skills from Wits:
Neri Oxman
We spoke with Neri Oxman on Where We Live earlier this week. She’s the Mediated Matter Director at MIT Media Lab. We think that means that she’s a designer who combines materials science and new 3D printing technologies with design principles found in nature. She’s been featured on the cover of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business” issue and is has been called one of Esquire magazine’s best and brightest.
Bonus video! One question I ask myself a lot is, “What was I doing again?” The question that Oxman asks herself a lot is, “What is the origin of form?” That’s why she is on this panel of Vision & Brilliance and I am not. Check out this PopTech lecture where she tackles that question:
Are you not ready to go back to work yet? Well, here’s one last bonus video to the bonus videos: Remember Lydia Callis? Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s sign language interpreter who stole the show during the Hurricane Sandy press briefings will be interpreting this Forum. She was so popular that Saturday Night Live spoofed her almost immediately:
Hopefully we’ll see you at the Forum…come say hi!
