Town Hall Seattle Science Series

Explaining how and why our world works the way it does touches on so many fields of science: biology, chemistry, physics, and, of course, technology. However, according to researcher Blaise Agüera y Arcas, computation should also be part of the understanding of life on all levels – and going back further than one might think. In What Is Life? Evolution as Computation, Agüera y Arcas uses computation as a means of examining the complexities of our own universe. Inspired by the work of quantum mechanics pioneer Erwin Schrödinger, he revisits the question that has showcased the divide between biology and physics: what is life? How can life and all its attendant complexities come to exist in a random universe, governed by simple laws, whose disorder only increases over time? What Is Life? aims to provide surprising answers, reframing core concepts of self-reproduction, complex growth, and symbiotic relationships as inherently computational. Agüera y Arcas draws on decades of theory and existing literature from figures like Alan Turing and John von Neumann, as well as recent endeavors in the field of artificial life. From evolution and symbiogenesis to thermodynamics and climate models, What Is Life? explores computation as a tool beyond raw calculation to understand intricate phenomena. This volume serves as a first installment of an ongoing body of work, with his larger book What Is Intelligence? further developing this perspective on intelligence from simple organisms to brains and from societies to AI. What Is Life? is richly illustrated and studded with examples, recontextualizing computational concepts and applications for a general audience curious about diving deeper into the machinations of our living world. Blaise Agüera y Arcas is a researcher and author focused on artificial intelligence, sociality, evolution, and software development. He is a VP and Fellow at Google, where he is the CTO of Technology & Society and founder of Paradigms of Intelligence (Pi). He is a frequent speaker at TED and has been featured in the Economist and Noēma, and has previously published the books Who Are We Now? and Ubi Sunt. Charles Tonderai Mudede is a Zimbabwean-born cultural critic, urbanist, filmmaker, college lecturer, and writer. He is the Senior Staff writer of the Stranger, a lecturer at Cornish College of the Arts, and has collaborated with the director Robinson Devor on three films, two of which Police Beat and Zoo, premiered at Sundance, and one of which, Zoo, screened at Cannes, and the most recent of which, Suburban Fury, premiered at New York Film Festival. (Police Beat is now part of MOMA’s permanent collection.) Mudede, whose essays regularly appear in e-Flux and Tank Magazine, is also the director of Thin Skin (2023).

From Silent Spring to Erin Brockovich, people have been captivated — and devastated — by stories of harmful chemicals and the many ways that they have altered and even ended human lives. From investigative journalist Mariah Blake comes a new book that recounts a small town being poisoned, a corporate cover up, and a grassroots movement to fight back. In 2014, after losing several friends and relatives to cancer, an insurance underwriter in Hoosick Falls, New York, suspected that the local water supply was polluted. When he tested his tap water, he discovered dangerous levels of “forever chemicals” (synthetic chemicals that are resistant to breaking down and can lead to adverse health and environmental effects). This set off a chain of events that revealed at least 100 million Americans’ drinking water was tainted. The discovery of bad water was a shock to some, but perhaps more shocking was the discovery that the United States government and the manufacturers of these toxic chemicals — used in everything from cookware to lipstick to children’s clothing — had known about these hazards for decades but had hidden them from the public. In her new book They Poisoned the World, investigative journalist Mariah Blake tells this story, tracing its roots all the way back to the Manhattan Project and through the postwar America. Drawing on years of reporting and tens of thousands of documents, Blake weaves the history of forever chemicals with the story of how a lone village took on the chemical giants all the way to the nation’s capital — and won. Mariah Blake is an investigative journalist whose writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Mother Jones, The New Republic, and other publications. She was a Murrey Marder Nieman Fellow in Watchdog Journalism at Harvard University. Mónica Guzmán is author of I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times; founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity [http://moniguzman.com/]; Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels; and host of A Braver Way [https://braverangels.org/abraverway/] podcast. Mónica serves on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Multipartisan Education [https://www.multipartisaned.org/]. She received an honorary doctorate degree from Wheaton College, and completed study and research fellowships at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, and the University of Florida. A Mexican immigrant, Latina, and dual US/Mexico citizen, she lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids and is the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents. https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/book/9781524760090 Buy the Book [https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/book/9781524760090] They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals (Hardcover) [https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/book/9781524760090] Third Place Books [https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/book/9781524760090]

Overnight, Dori became her parents’ caregiver – a labor of love that lasted for seven years. Her mom was suddenly a partially paralyzed wheelchair-bound amputee and her dad was declining due to increasing dementia. She wasn’t ready. This event is to help prepare anyone – those who have been, are now, or will be a caregiver – in other words, all of us! Whether it is navigating the health care system, working with dementia, speaking about dying, or considering how to accept care if and when you need it, you will learn from Dori’s experiences. Dori Gillam is a speaker and writer, inspiring people to age creatively and intentionally. She was born and raised in Seattle and has a BS in Psychology from the University of Washington. She has worked for the Bayview Retirement Community, AARP, and Sound Generations. She writes for 3rd Act Magazine and the UW Website. Currently, she is the Board Chair of the Northwest Center for Creative Aging and helped found the King County Coalition on Aging. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Northwest Center for Creative Aging.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world – but what does that mean for healthcare, scientific discovery, and human potential? In Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit, co-authors Craig Mundie, Henry Kissinger, and Eric Schmidt explore the profound implications of AI on society. In this collaborative event between Town Hall Seattle and the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), Craig Mundie joins Dr. Jim Heath, President of ISB, for a thought-provoking conversation about the future of AI. They will discuss insights from the book, the opportunities and challenges AI presents, and what it means for the way we live, work, and care for our health. Co-author, Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit, Craig Mundie is a leading technology executive and former Chief Research and Strategy Officer at Microsoft. Over his decades-long career, he has played a pivotal role in advancing artificial intelligence, computing, and national security initiatives. Alongside Henry Kissinger and Eric Schmidt, he co-authored Genesis, a deep exploration of AI’s impact on society and the future of humanity. Mundie has served as an advisor to the U.S. government on technology policy and was a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. President and Professor, Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) Dr. Jim Heath is a pioneering scientist in systems biology, cancer research, and precision medicine. Since 2018, he has led ISB, driving interdisciplinary research in cancer and immune system dynamics while advancing innovative approaches to complex diseases. An internationally recognized scientist, Heath has received numerous honors, including the Irving Weinstein Award from the American Association for Cancer Research and the Sackler Prize in the Physical Sciences. Before ISB, he was the Elizabeth W. Gilloon Professor of Chemistry at Caltech and a Professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at UCLA. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Institute for Systems Biology. https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/2-gUryvjjJ9u2y5vMsKAvg Buy the Book [https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/2-gUryvjjJ9u2y5vMsKAvg] Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit [https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/2-gUryvjjJ9u2y5vMsKAvg] Elliott Bay Book Company [https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/2-gUryvjjJ9u2y5vMsKAvg]

Sand Symes, a psychedelic guide who has spent over 40 years working with women in transformational spaces and 20+ years immersed in her committed work with psychedelics, in discussion with April Pride at Town Hall Seattle. With decades of experience guiding women in transformational work, Sand brings a perspective that blends spiritual and practical insights. Rather than focusing on theory alone, she shares her experiences of how these medicines are understood and integrated in different contexts. This gathering invited participants to engage with stories, reflections, and perspectives on the experiential aspects of psychedelics—elements that may not always be captured in research but are deeply felt by those who explore them. April Pride is a serial creative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience developing brands and products across interiors, fashion, lifestyle, cannabis, psychedelics, audio, and more. In 2015, she launched Van der Pop, an industry-defining, female-focused cannabis lifestyle brand. Van der Pop published the pioneering Women & Weed Survey [https://www.aprilpride.com/van-der-pop-women-and-weed-survey] exploring North American women’s perspectives on cannabis. After exiting Canopy Growth, one of world’s largest cannabis companies, April continued her advocacy for cannabis normalization through her popular podcasts, How to Do the Pot and The High Guide. Currently, April is the CEO and Founder of SetSet, an accessible psychedelic education and integration platform offering clinician-created educational guides and programs. With over 40 years of experience, Sand Symes mentors visionary leaders, pioneers, and C-suite executives, blending ancient wisdom and modern science. She integrates Sacred Medicine practices, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma research to unlock potential and foster leadership alignment. Specializing in women’s transformation, Sand helps clients align with their core values, break limiting patterns, and expand their impact. Her approach combines personalized mentoring and psychedelic integration, supporting profound breakthroughs and leadership growth. Sand has empowered women leaders for over four decades, creating ripple effects transforming industries and communities. About Psychedelic Salon with April Pride A Monthly Series Exploring Novel Therapeutics for Well-Being  Seattle-based cannabis and psychedelics educator & podcast host April Pride hosts a collaborative series with Town Hall Seattle focused on the emerging science of psychedelic medicine. This women-forward series highlights the potential of novel therapeutics for mental health, reproductive health, chronic pain, trauma, and overall optimization. Through engaging panel discussions, expert talks, and community conversations, April offers an accessible platform for researchers, clinicians, and advocates to share insights on psychedelics for improved human health. The series would also explore the historical context of women’s roles in plant medicine and the growing movement to incorporate psychedelics into mainstream treatment options, particularly for conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. About SetSet Seattle-based SetSet supports individuals seeking optimal experiences with psychedelic medicine. Through clincian-created DIY educational downloads and community events, SetSet makes psychedelic integration accessible for individuals and healthcare professionals. Visit getsetset.com [http://getsetset.com/] for more information. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and SetSet.