Humanities (Audio)

Screenwriter David Koepp discusses with moderator Matt Ryan how wrote the iconic film, Jurassic Park. Koepp breaks down his process of adapting the novel by Michael Crichton, as well as how he worked with director Steven Spielberg to bring the film to life. He describes working from Spielberg’s storyboards to draft key sequences such as the entrance of the T-Rex. Koepp also shares stories from the set of Jurassic Park, including how Jeff Goldblum reacted to the filming of special effects sequences and how the ending of the movie changed during filming. Furthermore, Koepp discusses writing the sequel to Jurassic Park and a number of his other films, including Spider-Man and Panic Room. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38104]

In 1957, the USSR launched Sputnik 1, the first human object to leave Earth. In the 65 years since then the region of Earth orbit has become filled with satellites and space junk. The proliferation of debris has led to the prediction of Kessler Syndrome, a state where a never-ending cascade of collisions between orbital objects renders parts of space unusable for human purposes. However, there are many different ways to look at the space junk surrounding Earth. For example, it is also an archaeological record of humanity’s first steps into outer space, a cultural landscape created by the combined effects of natural and cultural processes, and a technological signature of the same kind that SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) researchers are looking for around exoplanets in other solar systems. It’s unclear when or whether the tipping point into Kessler Syndrome might be reached, but if humanity is confined to Earth in the future, what will this mean? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37913]

Professor Sharon Daniel talks about a remarkable undergraduate class called Making an Exoneree that she currently teaches with Georgetown University. This unusual class consists of a group of highly motivated undergraduate students who reinvestigate likely wrongful conviction cases, produce short documentaries that suggest innocence, and create social media campaigns calling for exonerations. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38078]

Rick Rosen, WME Agency co-founder and representative for writer/director Hagai Levi, discusses Scenes from a Marriage and the state of global television with moderator Patrice Petro. Rosen details the development of the HBO miniseries and the challenges of adaptation from Ingmar Bergman’s original Swedish television series. He explains the vision of Hagai Levi for this contemporary retelling and a number of other Israeli adaptations he helmed. Rosen also discusses the talents of stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, and how their friendship helped bring to life their fictional counterparts. He also notes the changing media landscape in the wake of streaming platforms, and the past, present, and future of global television. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38080]

We are experiencing an accelerated rate of loss of species due to human activities. This anthropogenic phenomenon extends beyond extinction. It encompasses an expanded loss of biodiversity as the genetic diversity of species diminish, reducing gene pools to “gene puddles.” We know details of species extinctions events from the fossil record, historical record, and from ancient DNA studies, and that historical processes shape extinction risk. Habitat loss and changing eco-environmental conditions, competition, and other factors produce genomic impacts, also influencing extinction risk. The legacy of past events impacts resiliency of species in the current environment in interpretable ways. Demographic trajectories reveal vulnerability to extinction. Remarkable advances in genomics technologies portend a deeper understanding of the evolution of life and the vulnerability of extant species to changes now taking place through human agency. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37906]

Humans now annually add more biologically available nitrogen to the Earth’s land surfaces than do all natural processes. For 3 billion years, available nitrogen had been the major limiting currency for life on Earth. The recent human disruption of the global nitrogen cycle is causing major environmental harm, including water and air pollution, marine dead zones, 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and species extinctions. Three major ways to solve this nitrogen problem are: (1) much more efficient global use of nitrogen fertilizers; (2) shifts to lower-meat and healthier diets; and (3) halting the conversion of food crops into biofuels, such as US corn ethanol used for transport. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37910]

The Kumeyaay are native inhabitants of San Diego and Imperial counties and Baja California, Mexico. For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay people farmed the land and ocean, managed forest fires, manufactured pottery and basketry and engaged in commerce and trade. Stan Rodriguez, Ed.D., executive director of the Kumeyaay Community College, talks about the deep physical and spiritual connection the Kumeyaay people have to the Earth. Despite brutal religious, economic, political and social hardships under European rule, Kumeyaay culture and traditions continue in the region to this day. Series: "Triton Talks" [Humanities] [Show ID: 38071]

This episode features Isabel Dees, who was the associate vice chancellor for the Equity and Equal Protection Office at UC Santa Cruz. She recently was hired to serve as deputy Title IX director at UC Office of the President. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Dees has lived and worked in Santa Cruz since 1998. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and the first in her family to attend university. She completed her B.A. in Politics at UC Santa Cruz and then received her law degree from Monterey College of Law. She is an educational rights advocate with over 10 years’ experience working on compliance in higher education. Series: "The Art of Change" [Humanities] [Show ID: 37985]

Journalist and Los Angeles Times columnist Jean Guerrero covers immigration issues and the current political climate. She is the author of "Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump and the White Nationalist Agenda." Her first book, "Crux: A Cross-Border Memoir," won a PEN Literary Award and was named one of NPR's Best Books of 2019. Her writing is featured in Vanity Fair, Politico, The Nation, Wired, and The New York Times. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 38003]

We are losing species much more rapidly now than in the last two million years! At this pace, we may lose a large proportion of vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes, in the next two to three decades. Modern extinctions caused by human activities are higher than the normal or natural extinction rate which tells us that we may be causing a mass extinction. In the history of life on Earth, there have been five mass extinctions – episodes where large numbers of species became extinct in a short period of time. All mass extinctions have been caused by natural catastrophes, such as the impact of a meteorite. We are the only species that has the capability to save all endangered animals. Paradoxically, saving them is the only way to save humanity. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 37904]