CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
CONTACT is an interdisciplinary gathering of scientists, writers and artists that explores the possibilities for human futures. Our Friday theme this year is "Music of the Spheres." As always, CONTACT's full program features a fascinating lineup of speakers and a broad spectrum of symposia and activities, including Planetary Mission updates, Education for the Future, Art Gallery, worldbuilding and more. Our keynote speaker will be class pianist and Emmy and Grammy nominee Phil Aaberg. Don't miss our 23rd anniversary.
Each day, enjoy a continental breakfast in the conference center before the presentations begin. Mornings and afternoons showcase our speakers and symposia in the main conference room. Other activities go on throughout the weekend elsewhere in the conference center. Here is a brief overview of what you will find at CONTACT. |
| “Art and Science - Over Two Decades CONTACT” |
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There is often an unquestioned assumption that art and science are unrelated. It has been one of CONTACT's missions from its beginnings over twenty years ago to emphasize the interaction of the Arts and Sciences and their technologies.
The threads of art and science have been intertwined throughout time. Both are voyages of discovery into the nature of the worlds around us. Cave drawings, stone implements, renaissance painting, poetry, photography, song, dance, theater, architecture, concerti, film… all share with science some aspect of a drive to understand the universe, to control materials, to explain things, to communicate. At times, art is a tool with which we conceptualize problems and possibilities in science. Methods of science similarly provide tools to analyze or authenticate works of art. Beyond the reciprocity of functioning as tools for each other, art and science coexist as dimensions of humanity. |
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| As part of our continuing mission to showcase the interaction of the sciences and the arts, the Friday theme this year is: "Music of the Spheres." That program will focus on the interconnections of science and music, past, present and future. CONTACT 2006 will offer new perspectives about music that science has inspired and science that music has inspired. |
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| Join us as MER project scientist Michael Sims reports on the latest images and information from Mars. |
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| A special presentation of the MER visualization software developed by Jeroen Lapre of Industrial Light and Magic. This innovative tool allows powerful interaction with the data and images of the Mars Exploration Rovers. |
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| CONTACT has a strong role in education and development of innovative curricula. Technical Illustrator and CONTACT Board Member Gus Frederick steers the symposium, this year featuring three enlightening talks by Carol Anderson, Yvonne Clearwater and David Tamori. |
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| Cultures Of The Imagination, CONTACT's award winning world building and culture creation program is the foundation for an educational curriculum developed by Oroville High. Two teams of students create two planets, life forms and cultures, and then explore a contact scenario over the weekend of the conference. Carol Anderson and Dave Tamori bring down the Oroville teams again this year to build worlds. Both Carol and Dave are nationally honored teachers, Carol in the sciences and Dave in the arts. |
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| The NAU Solar System Simulation is an on-line laboratory, a MUD, serving undergraduate courses in the social and communications sciences. Students in each class collaborate in building a working model of a community in a shared future Solar System. Each community must be scientifically and historically plausible, ethically and aesthetically desirable, and sustainable. Each instructor brings her own learning objectives appropriate to that particular course. |
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| As always, our art show features work by our presenters, attendees and others. |
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| Art Reception and Social Hour |
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| Friday night, enjoy our traditional reception for the opening of the art show. Good food and drink, first look at the exhibition, good conversation and a chance to get acquainted and exchange ideas. |
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| Banquet and Keynote Presentation |
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| Saturday night, enjoy appetizers and conversation followed by our annual banquet. Later in the evening, hear Phil Aaberg's keynote presentation. |
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