Science by the Pint: Google Maps and GPS

Science by the Pint
with Jeff Blossom and Lex Berman
Redline (59 JFK Street, Cambridge - Harvard Square)
Tuesday, February 9
7 pm, free!

Sponsored by Science in the News, a Harvard PhD student organization dedicated to exploring the science behind news reports, Science by the Pint is a new series that aims to promote dialogue on scientific issues between scientists and regular folks. Whether you're persistently skepchickal or only question the occasional odd-seeming science report, Science by the Pint should offer a fun, informal way for you to learn a thing or two about various scientific topics.

Tonight, Science by the Pint puts itself on the map with a geographic theme, asking geographic information systems specialists Jeff Blossom and Lex Berman to explain how they used their geographic expertise to obtain critical data for the Haitian government to help direct action in the recent quake's aftermath. Geographic information doesn't just have large-scale uses, though: it can help us in our daily lives, whether we navigate from place to place using GPS or Google Maps, and more trivial topics may be touched on as well.

Science by the Pint promises to be a thought-provoking tradition. Get in on the ground level with tonight's first incarnation, which comes complete with a drawing for gift certificates and beer, and 5% of Redline proceeds going to Haiti relief.