Further Confusion 2015: Full Schedule

Further Confusion in trying something new this year. In addition to our regular social and species track programming we are offering space around the convention center where attendees can host their own meet ups. Click here to view the schedule and sign up for a time.

1:00pm PST

Life in the Universe Update

One of the biggest questions science is trying to answer is "Does other life exist in the Universe?", but what does it take to find this answer? In this mostly harmless panel we'll look at how we actually search for planets around other stars, the Kepler Space Telescope and how we saved it from a major mechanical glitch, what we expect life to look like and the future hunt for life in our Universe without needing your towel.

Speakers

Laz

Rocket Scientist

Hailing from Los Angeles, Laz is an aerospace engineer whose spent nearly a decade working on various programs in the aerospace industry. He also builds and flies his own high-power rockets. He currently works at Griffith Observatory bridging the gap between complex engineering ideas... Read More →

Friday January 16, 2015 1:00pm - 2:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

3:00pm PST

Life on the Outer Worlds or What's on Enceladus

What kind of life might exist on the planets and moons of the outer solar system? Marine forms in the oceans of Enceladus, or cryogenic inhabitants of Titan? Critters that feed directly on electricity?. Based on research on terrestrial extremeophile organisms. Panel discussion

Speakers

Pat MacEwen

Pat MacEwen is a physical anthropologist (translation: bone freak) doing research on genocide. She has worked on war crimes investigations for the International Criminal Tribunal, and has also done CSI work for a police department in California's Central Valley. Her first degree was... Read More →

G. David Nordley

G. David Nordley is the pen name of Gerald David Nordley, an author and astronautical engineer. He lives in Sunnyvale, CA, with his wife, a retired Apple Computer programmer. A retired Air Force officer, he has extensive experience in spacecraft systems operations, engineering, and... Read More →

Friday January 16, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

5:00pm PST

Alien Sex [18+]

All the involutions and convolutions of sex among alien beings. If birds do it and bees do it, we'd expect that ET's do it. Based on knowledge of terrestrial creatures with bizarre reproductive systems. The presentation will suggest ways to build aliens and alien cultures based on their biology.

Speakers

Pat MacEwen

Friday January 16, 2015 5:00pm - 6:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

Tags 18+

2:00pm PST

The Ancestor's Tale

FC welcomes Gerald David Nordley back for a presentation about the implications of Richard Dawkins' book, The Ancestor's Tale. Human evolution and genetics.

Speakers

Pat MacEwen

G. David Nordley

Saturday January 17, 2015 2:00pm - 3:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

4:00pm PST

New Space and the Launch Industry

Updates from the commercial space companies, such as SpaceX and others. With one of our favorite space scientists, Gerald David Nordley!

Speakers

G. David Nordley

Saturday January 17, 2015 4:00pm - 5:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

6:00pm PST

How to Build a Rocket

Have you ever wondered why we put a lump of exotic metals on top of a fuel tank riding a column of fire to get to space? Wonder no more as Lazarus, a real life rocket scientist, explores rocketry and how you can make your own rockets. You'll know more about rocket design at the end of this panel than all of North Korea.

Speakers

Laz

Rocket Scientist

Saturday January 17, 2015 6:00pm - 7:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

11:00am PST

HIV & STDs, What You Need to Know

The discussion & awareness panel will cover, Safe Sex practices, how HIV/STDs are transmitted, how to access full STD testing locations, Positive Thinking for those living with HIV/STDs, how to plan if you think you have an STD, and practical sex talk.

Speakers

Casmer Coyote

Medical Anthropologist

Sunday January 18, 2015 11:00am - 12:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

1:00pm PST

World Rebuilding

Premise: Mankind has died out, leaving us, their half human/half animal "children" behind. We need to restart society. How do we go about doing this?

Speakers

Ba'ar Bear

none, none

I've been in the fandom for over 15 years. My first convention was ConFURence 10 back in the spring of '99 and I've been going to conventions ever since. I began building my fursuit in the fall of 2001 and have been slowly but surely building it up and improving it ever since. MFF's... Read More →

Sunday January 18, 2015 1:00pm - 2:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

3:00pm PST

Victorian CSI (Forensics)

An exploration of Victorian crime scene investigation and forensic techniques. What methods might Sherlock Holmes have used to pursue Jack the Ripper?

Speakers

Pat MacEwen

Sunday January 18, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science

5:00pm PST

Transhumanism: Focus on Cyborgs

Cyborgs (mechanically, electrically, and hydraulically enhanced humans) are an integral part of Transhumanism studies. And they may already already be here. Do humans with cochlear implants, motorized exo-skeletons, artificial heart valves and pacemakers,insulin pumps, etc qualify as cyborgs? Ian will explore present and future developments.

Speakers

Ian D.L.N. Mclean

Theoretician, Independent

Universal theories, cosmology, metamathematics, theory of mind/artificial general intelligence/consciousness, theory of computing and physics. Game design and theory. Formal linguistics. Philosophy of science and reason.

Sunday January 18, 2015 5:00pm - 6:30pm PST
Marriott: Almaden

Science