Curiosity Retreats Lectures

Sylvia Earle, marine biologist and author, discusses the need to preserve and protect the amazing global eco-system of the oceans.

Sylvia Earle marine biologist and author discusses the need to preserve and protect the amazing global eco-system of the oceans.

In the 21st century devices create more data than humans do. Rick Smolan, author of The Human Face of Big Data, shows the positive force of the collection of data in worldwide examples of the uses of medical data, personal data and business data to enrich people's lives.

How does the creative brain work? Nancy Andreasen neuroscientist and neuropsychiatrist has spent her life studying the relationship between brain function mental illnesses and the emergence and continuance of creativity.

Paul Saffo looks at the development of the US economy through the 20th and into the 21st century. What are the trends that have shaped the economy? How are innovations in technology and communications making the 21st century an entirely different landscape for producers and consumers?

How has Capitalism affected the world? Raj Sisodia economic analyst takes us back to pre-Industrial Revolution to show how our standard of living has improved. But now he feels it is time for another kind of capitalism - conscious capitalism - based on a value system deeper than profits.

Jason Silva is a positive futurist who wants us to be excited about "the adjacent possible" and the ways we need to embrace the coming technological changes -- the "tools" that will change us as a people and alter humankind.

It is hard to imagine a sky without an airplane in it. But David McCullough takes us back to the first days of aviation. We learn about the Wright Brothers, not only through their achievements, but by discovering who they were as people and the early family influences that shaped their characters.

With the passing of renowned author and historian David McCullough we revisit his 2014 Curiosity Retreats lecture — where he paints an extraordinary picture of the stories behind his novel “The Wright Brothers” and explores on a very personal level how the art of discovery was central to his life’s

You may think you know who wrote the Declaration of Independence and what it says -- but do you really? Political theorist Danielle Allen looks at the document's origin and originators to give us a picture of the men and the moment in time that shaped the United States of today.

You may think you know who wrote the Declaration of Independence and what it says -- but do you really? Political theorist Danielle Allen looks at the document's origin and originators to give us a picture of the men and the moment in time that shaped the United States of today.

What does quantum mechanics tell us about our world -- or are there many worlds due to probability waves? How does the general theory of relativity mesh with quantum mechanics? If you've wished you understood quantum mechanics (or at least grasped the basics) physicist Brian Greene can help!