Science Videos
These are videos of programs presented to HFFC by scientists on  subjects of interest to humanists.
 
Our motto is Compassion and Reason. We are worried about the war on science in our society.  We hope that these videos will contribute to a greater public awareness of the contributions of science and scientific research to our lives.

In this video, you will follow the history of Astonomical science discovery from the Greek philosophers up until today. This discovery culminates with the understanding that there are unknown forces in the universe that need further study. These forces have been labelled dark energy and dark matter. This video was recorded during a presentation by Dr. Lachlan Lancaster, Simons Fellow, Columbia University, at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 11, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

What are Dark Energy and Dark Matter? In this video you will learn what scientists are currently thinking about these mysterious forces. This video was recorded during a presentation by Dr. Lachlan Lancaster, Simons Fellow, Columbia University, at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 11, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

In this video you will learn about the most easily identifiable indicators that prove the world is warming. Mitch Wagener, the presenter, suggests that you can use these indicators when arguing with your climate change denier friends and family (good luck). This video is an excerpt from a presentation in which Mitch Wagener describes earth's future climate. Hint: more fire and less ice.  It was given to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 14, 2020. You can find this and other videos of interest to humanists, atheists and other nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County website: hffcct.org/program-videos.

In this video, you will follow the history of Astonomical science discovery from the Greek philosophers up until today. This discovery culminates with the understanding that there are unknown forces in the universe that need further study. These forces have been labelled dark energy and dark matter. This video was recorded during a presentation by Dr. Lachlan Lancaster, Simons Fellow, Columbia University, at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 11, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

What are Dark Energy and Dark Matter? In this video you will learn what scientists are currently thinking about these mysterious forces. This video was recorded during a presentation by Dr. Lachlan Lancaster, Simons Fellow, Columbia University, at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 11, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

Recently, the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield county along with the Connecticut Coalition of Reason hosted two programs where the topic was Darwin and evolution. The presenter for one program was Matthew Sasaki, an evolutionary biologist and for the other program the presenter was James Prosak, an artist. This video combines excerpts from each of their presentations allowing us to compare their thinking. You’re going to be surprised at the result. This presentation was given at a Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (CT) meeting. You can find this and other videos of interest to humanists, atheists, skeptics and other nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County website: hffcct.org/program-videos.

Artist and naturalist James Prosek discusses how he has made sense of the natural world through art. His art has taught him that evolution is the great creator of diversity in the natural world. He finds that artists and scientists have a great deal in common. This presentation was given during the 2021 Darwin Day celebration of the Connecticut Coalition of Reason (CTCoR). You can find other videos and information of interest to humanists, atheists, skeptics and other nonbelievers at the CTCoR website at CTCoR.org.

In this video you will learn about actions that Humanists can do about climate change. The presenter, Mitch Wagener, considers climate change to present moral imperatives. He provides actions that can be taken on a personal level as well as issues requiring governmental level action. This video is an excerpt from a presentation in which Mitch Wagener describes earth's future climate. Hint: more fire and less ice. It was given to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 14, 2020. You can find this and other videos of interest to humanists, atheists and other nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County website: hffcct.org/program-videos.

Did you know that Komodo Dragons don't reproduce sexually? In this scholarly video, Evolutionary Biologist Matt Sasaki explains what that means to our whole view of how scientists classify all life forms. We've learned a lot since Darwin published his theory of evolution and Linnaeus began classifying every life form into species. This video is an excerpt from a presentation which Matt gave to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County Connecticut (HFFC) on October 12, 2020. You can find more information about HFFC and other videos of interest to humanists, atheists, agnostics and other nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County website: hffcct.org.

In this video you will learn how the challenge of conflicting ethical and social values can shape how we prioritize different investigations in the sciences. The speaker, Anjan Chakravartty of the University of Miami, explains how limitations on resources such as funding, time, and personnel for research require choices regarding what scientific work to do, and these choices may reflect differing values. As a result, humanists, atheists and other nonreligious people should be vigilant to ensure that their values are considered in scientific practice. Download the program handout at http://bit.ly/2020-07-13meetinghandout. This video is from a program sponsored by the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County. Other videos of interest to humanists can be found at https://HFFCCT.org/program-videos.

This video answers a lot of questions about electric car (EV) batteries. How long do they last? What is the battery range of EV cars? Should you have Battery range anxiety? The speaker is Bruce Becker, President of the EV Club of Connecticut. This video was recorded during a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County on April 13, 2020.

In this video you will learn how humanists can be hurt because scientists' ethical and social values affect their interpretation of data and formulation of scientific claims. The speaker, Anjan Chakravartty of the University of Miami, explains how the presence of sometimes hidden values in the background can be significant to what ends up being accepted as scientific knowledge. Humanists, atheists and other nonreligious people should be vigilant to ensure that their values are considered in scientific practice. Download the program handout at https://bit.ly/2020-07-13meetinghandout. This video is from a program sponsored by the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County. Other videos of interest to humanists can be found at https://HFFCCT.org/program-videos.

In this video you will learn how ethical and social values can shape methods of scientific investigation and analysis. The speaker, Anjan Chakravartty of the University of Miami, explains how, for example, values may determine what sorts of research methods we allow as acceptable, and in some cases, how scientific data are understood, classified, and analyzed. As a result, humanists, atheists and other nonreligious people should be vigilant to ensure that their values are considered in scientific practice. Download the program handout at http://bit.ly/2020-07-13meetinghandout. This video is from a program sponsored by the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County. Other videos of interest to humanists can be found at https://HFFCCT.org/program-videos.

In this video you will learn the importance of including humanist values in science itself. The speaker, Anjan Chakravartty of the University of Miami, explains that there are different ways in which values are, sometimes inevitably, part of scientific work. As a result, humanists, atheists and other nonreligious people should be vigilant to ensure that their values are considered in scientific practice. Download the program handout at http://bit.ly/2020-07-13meetinghandout. This video is from a program sponsored by the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County. Other videos of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists and other nonreligious people can be found at https://HFFCCT.org/program-videos.

Beata Mierzwa is a molecular biologist working on cell division of animal cells. She combines two passions – science and art – to create unique and unconventional illustrations. Her beautiful and exciting drawings are designed to illustrate scientific themes with an artistic twist, and to highlight fundamental scientific aspects in an unconventional way. This video is an excerpt from a presentation by Beata Mierzwa, PhD at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on March 10, 2024. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

Artist and scientist Beata Mierszwa explains how her video game can teach you how a cell works in your body. The game is designed for young people to learn more about biology. Beata Mierzwa is a molecular biologist working on cell division of animal cells. She combines two passions – science and art – to create unique and unconventional illustrations. Her beautiful and exciting drawings are designed to illustrate scientific themes with an artistic twist, and to highlight fundamental scientific aspects in an unconventional way. This video is an excerpt from a presentation by Beata Mierzwa, PhD at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on March 10, 2024. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.