Tomorrow - Energy and Climate Talk

Tomorrow night, May 27, John Bryson will give a lecture entitled "Energy and Climate Policy: The Decade Ahead" at 8 p.m. in Beckman Auditorium. This Chen-Huang Sustainable Energy Lecture is open to the public, free of charge.

California utilities lead the nation in moving to clean energy systems, including large-scale energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicle, and smart grid investment initiatives. John Bryson, an electric utility veteran and conservationist, will share his views on what California's distinctive approach – warts and all – offers to help guide the U.S. and other countries' transition to a lower-carbon energy future.

A conversation with Caltech's Argyros Professor and Professor of Chemistry Nate Lewis, and a question-and-answer session with the audience, will follow the talk.

2009-2010 Performing Arts Season Is Set!

Caltech Presents' 2009-2010 season of performing arts has been set, opening with the ever-popular Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats on October 9. Check out the full line-up here.

If you are a Friend of Beckman Auditorium at the Benefactor or Senior Benefactor level, you can purchase both series and individual tickets NOW! All other levels of the Friends can purchase their tickets beginning next Monday, April 27. If you are interested in joining the Friends of Beckman Auditorium, contact us at fob@caltech.edu.

Series tickets for the general public go on sale the evening of May 1 with individual tickets on sale beginning June 15.

Stories That Stamps Tell

For all of you stamp lovers, there is an abundance of philatelic offerings in Pasadena this month.

"Perforated Propaganda" explores the use of the nation's stamps by Franklin Roosevelt to sell New Deal projects, and to encourage optimism and hope during the Great Depression and World War II. Daniel Piazza, assistant curator of philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, will give this free talk on Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. in Caltech's Beckman Auditorium. Check out more information on our website here.

Over at the Pasadena Playhouse, their current play, Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck, is a tale of the dangerous world of stamp collecting! Directed by Jessica Kubzansky, this limited engagement runs through April 26. Mention code AD87 for 2-for-1 tickets now through April 20. www.pasadenaplayhouse.com

The Playhouse will also host "Stamp Collectors Day: A Celebration of the Stamp" this Saturday, April 11, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Pasadena Playhouse commemorative pictorial postmark (designed by artist Eric Pargac) will be available to the public at the theater, a designated temporary United States Postal Service philatelic station.

Stephen Hawking Lecture on March 9th - Sold Out

Celebrated physicist Stephen Hawking is back at Caltech as the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Scholar, and is once again giving a public lecture. Only this year, the lecture is being held off-campus, at the newly-renovated Pasadena Convention Center. It's a lot bigger than Beckman Auditorium, so there are more seats, but tickets sold very quickly! We do sometimes have tickets returned; call the Ticket Office directly at 626-3695-4652 to check current availability. Visit our web site for more information, directions, and a list of frequently asked questions (with answers!).

2009 is here!

2009 began with a plethora of events starting on January 11 with our Lagerstrom and Clazzical Notes concerts, and January 13th marked the kickoff of the Capra Film Series. Be sure to join us next week (Tuesday, January 27, 2009) for the upcoming movie in the Capra Film series, Crimson Kimono, with the star of the film, James Shigeta, as one of our panelists.

On Thursday, January 29, 2009, Matthew Bogdanos, who was originally scheduled to speak in October will tell the fascinating story of his investigation into the looting of Baghdad's Iraq Museum. Bogdanos, with a diverse background as a US Marine, New York City homicide prosecutor, middleweight boxer, and classics scholar, has since added "raider of the lost art" to his growing list of accomplishments. He lived for six months in the dusty halls of the museum, never knowing who truly was friend or foe, while battling a flourishing black market that often sold priceless artifacts along with illegal weapons. He will recount his stunning mission amidst the chaotic world of post-war Bagdad in his talk next week.

Also join us for our upcoming performing arts events while tickets last -- The Kingston Trio is nearly sold out, but there are still tickets for the Carolina Chocolate Drops (Friday, February 20, 2009) whose musical style you may recognize from the PBS special last fall on the rich tradition of string band music (see http://www.pbs.org/deford/music/influences.html), and Lunasa (Saturday, February 28, 29009), one of Celtic music's most highly regarded modern instrumental groups who will captivate you with their intricate, groove-driven acoustic sound. On Saturday, March 7, 2009 the Vienna Boys Choir are in town. Get your tickets now -- they're going fast!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

From everyone at Caltech Public Events, we wish you a safe, healthy, and peaceful holiday season. We look forward to seeing you on campus in 2009!

Keanu Reeves and Scott Derrickson at Caltech

The Day the Earth Stood Still opens December 12, 2008. But on December 5th Caltech students, faculty, and staff were treated to an exclusive preview when Keanu Reeves, star of the film, and director Scott Derrickson came to campus and were joined by three Caltech scientists on stage in Beckman Auditorium. After screening a limited amount of footage, Reeves and Derrickson participated in a lively panel discussion.

For those curious about backstage - I can tell you that Keanu was polite and engaging and Scott was energetic and appeared comfortable in an academic environment.

In THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, a contemporary reinvention of the 1951 science fiction classic, renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global crisis.

When forces beyond Helen’s control treat the extraterrestrial as a hostile and deny his request to address the world’s leaders, she and her estranged stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith) quickly discover the deadly ramifications of Klaatu’s claim that he is “a friend to the Earth.”

Now Helen must find a way to convince the entity who was sent to destroy us that mankind is worth saving – but it may be too late.

The process has begun.

Mankind has long been fascinated by the possibility of life beyond Earth. Science fiction literature and films have served to not only entertain, but to address our questions, hopes and fears about extraterrestrial life. Such speculation has captivated our collective imagination and inspired the development of new technology to explore the farthest reaches of our universe and the very real possibility that we are not alone.

Don't miss this remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic that was directed by the legendary Robert Wise.