Transition to a Better Future
Not a green movement, precisely, not purely about protecting the environment, Transition is about recreating our communities, from the bottom up, in order to face a slew of impending problems: climate change, peak oil, food production, economic crises. Making efforts now – basic changes that sound more like an older brand of common sense than a 21st-century call for austerity – will ensure more resilient communities, capable of resisting the various shocks that the future certainly holds. A visit to Totnes and Brixton, two UK Transition Towns, reveals the different, concrete forms Transition can take.
Beyond the Uncertainty, Real Moves to Manage Climate Change
Reflecting on the enormity of the potential impacts of climate change, and whether we can realistically fight back, can be an intimidating exercise. But for Eve McDonald-Madden (L’Oréal Australia 2011 International Fellow) and Nicola Ranger, there are definite steps we can take to prepare, and to limit the severity of these consequences. From two very different angles, both scientists are already at it, using practical tools for concrete action.
Creativity and Adventure for Two Women in Mathematics
Two women of different cultures, generations, and specialties have both chosen a field that remains one of the most heavily male-dominated: mathematics. Far from evoking the rote memorization of inflexible formulae that many associate with high school math class, Nicole El Karoui and Carolina Canales describe a world of creativity and freedom. Certain realities for women in the field may translate into extra challenges, but, passionate for their subject, they remain undaunted.
The Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad
Over the past week, virtually every media outlet has offered this list of revolutionary products, in solemn celebration of the achievements of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and the legacy he has left behind. The name of any one of those devices brings to mind the image of a sleek, modern machine, just begging you to run your hands over it, and a pristine interface to match. That is exactly what Apple represents to many of us: clean lines, both physically and digitally. This celebration of simplicity, which finds support in the field of Human-computer interaction (HCI), is no accident: It has always been at the heart of Apple design, thanks to the inspired vision of Steve Jobs.
Michel Fournier’s big jump: coming soon?
This is the story of a man who has dreamed since childhood of travelling into space. He has fought on a daily basis for almost 20 years to achieve his objective: to jump from 40,000-meters – 7.25 minutes of freefall dressed with a stratospheric suit. In doing so, he would break 4records: 1) freefall from a record altitude, 2) highest human flight with a balloon, 3) the record amount of time in freefall and 4) fastest freefall speed. A soldier by training, Michel Fournier plans to make the most of the experience: ‘before jumping, I’ll definitely spare a few seconds just for myself’. This big jump remains first and foremost a scientific experiment that will allow advances to be made in the domain of space tourism. This is a portrait of a man out of the ordinary. Not for those afraid of heights…
A portrait of the astronomer-engineer and humanist, Pierre Fedou
After reading a brief article in Science et vie (Science and life) on his idea of ‘Pulp Vision’, an amusing scroll through his personal yet professional site, and a reading of his blog where one can admire both photos of motorbikes and images of the visual display panel installed on a telescope we decided to meet the author to find out more about his scientific projects. As we ask to meet with him, he apologises for his late reply: “I’m at the top of a mountain for an observation!” We meet with Pierre Fedou, astronaut-engineer and humanist.
