It’s the best time of year my friends! The time when I go to DragonCon!
What IS DragonCon? It’s the world’s largest fan-run sci-fi and fantasy convention. 80,000 nerds taking over downtown Atlanta for four glorious days of togetherness and some of the best cosplay you’ll ever see. People build whole suits of armor. Entire working droids. It’s inspiring as heck to see all the love people put into their favorite things.
And DragonCon has a SCIENCE TRACK! Not just ANY science track. They put a bunch of scientists and science communicators on panels and ask us to apply our skills to things like the science of soap operas (time travel, clones!) and Star Wars (Porgs are an invasive species and I will die on that hill), as well as things like bird behavior, military sci fi, and so much more.
It’s one of the best weekends of my year. No question.
I mean, am I also frantically studying up on animal behavior, military science, and adaptations of Sense and Sensibility? YES. Will I sleep? Probably not! But really, the audiences and the other panelists make it the best experience.
So much of science and science writing can fall into cynicism. Skepticism. Did they ask the right questions? Why are these answers wrong? What’s missing? Who’s profiting?
DragonCon Science Track reminds me why I feel in love with science. The panelists and audience approach science with curiosity, wonder, and JOY. Sure, we know porgs aren’t real, but what if they WERE? What would they eat? How would they behave? Want to hear why studying wild turkeys is weirdly difficult to do? OK the science of Marvel doesn’t make much sense, but how COULD we make it work?
We inform, we educate, and we all have a wonderful time doing it.
So if you’re at DragonCon this year, here’s where I will be!
It's All a Simulation
Time: Fri 04:00 pm Location: 209-211 Hilton
Description: The idea of living in a simulation has been a staple of science fiction, from Overdrawn at the Memory Bank to Vernor Vinge's story "The Cookie Monster." What would it take for us to truly live in a simulation? Are we all destined to be like MMAcevedo in qntm's story "Lena"? What even IS the Matrix?Panelists: Robert E. Hampson, Bethany Brookshire, Jamie Bernstein(M), Isaac Sheff
Creating with a Neurodivergent Brain
Time: Fri 07:00 pm Location: Galleria 6 Hilton
Description: Neurodivergent content creators share their own stories, struggles, tips, and strategies for creating, scheduling, and promoting - and never missing a release date. Ideas aren't usually the problem - it's the follow through: planning, editing, promotion. The executive function. “Doing the thing.”
Panelists: Sue Kisenwether, Nich Lyle, Catieosaurus, Bethany Brookshire*, HeyGude, Alex Smith(M)
Why Are Birds?
Time: Sat 10:00 am Location: 209-211 Hilton
Description: From penguins to parrots to deadly cassowaries to the pigeons outside the con, birds are everywhere! We'll cover where our feathered friends came from, why they're actually the most successful of the dinosaurs, and what to do when they crap on your costume. (Well, maybe not that last one...)Panelists: Bethany Brookshire, Celia Yost, Trevor Valle, Arras Wiedorn, Ryan A Consell(M)
Adaptations of Austen's Sense and Sensibility
Time: Sat 01:00 pm Location: Galleria 5 Hilton
Description: Our company of clever and well-informed people will discuss the many iterations of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, and how it stacks up against the original text. We all like our own best, but which is the best of the best?
Panelists: Angie Hartley(M), Robert Ross, Elizabeth Murphy-Spivey, Bethany Brookshire
Animals Behaving Like Animals Discussion and Q&A
Time: Sat 07:00 pm Location: A601-A602 Marriott
Description: Animal behavior sometimes surprises us because we've unfairly projected our own expectations on them or thought of them as silly humans wearing fur or scales. We categorize them into pets or pests, dangerous or delightful. But we learn a lot about them when we take them on their terms. Audience Q&A
Panelists: Arras Wiedorn, Bethany Brookshire, Brandon H Strauss, Trevor Valle(M)
Military Science Summit
Time: Sun 11:30 am Location: Chastain DE Westin
Description: Military SciFi Media shows have all sorts of impossible or improbable events that are made possible by Sci-Fi magic, but there's science underlying it! Is there a question YOU would like to pose for the Science behind the Sci-Fi? Come check in with our Military Science Summit for some answers!
Panelists: Kevin Grazier, Jessica Cail, Bethany Brookshire, Karen Henson(M), Robert E. Hampson
The Science of Soap Operas
Time: Sun 04:00 pm Location: 209-211 Hilton
Description: Possession? Superpowers? Clones? Aliens? Mind control via satellite? All of that and more has shown up in soap operas. Let's figure out the scientific rules that govern soap operas.
Panelists: Lali DeRosier, Raychelle Burks, Bethany Brookshire, Leighann Lord(M)
Weirdly Hard Things to Study
Time: Mon 11:30 am Location: 209-211 Hilton
Description: Sure, gravitational waves are tough, but whitetail deer? Yep, they're hard to study! Our panelists will tell the surprising things that are difficult to study scientifically and the lengths we go to to try anyway.
Panelists: Bethany Brookshire, Jennifer J Greco(M), Liz Decolvenaere, Vaughan James, Eneida Hatcher
And because people have asked! I will not be “doing” a book signing, but if you have a copy of my book and want to bring it to a panel I will 100% sign it for you!! Thank you so much for asking.
Where have you been?
And is it reading this downright incredible package on trans kids in sports? Just. Let. Them. Play. A lovely package written and edited by queer and trans writers, with how to make your sports more welcoming, and of course your questions answered (“Do trans girls have an advantage over cis girls?” No).
The ideal unit of measure for a rat is “one Croc”. Perfection.
You might not think of climate change impacting which infections you get. But it will. And the infections are going to be FUNGUS.
And climate change is visible even when the weather isn’t weird. It’s changing the COLORS of life!
Where have I been?
Well first on Monday I WILL BE giving a Greenhouse Book Talk in NORWAY! Sadly I will not be physically present in Norway. But that means that’s it’s on Zoom and you can attend!
I also talked with the lovely show Outside/In about the lab mouse, how it came to be, and why. I talked about my own experiences as a lab researcher, and how it shapes how I think about mice. Love the result.
*I’m not neurodivergent, I’m the resident neuro expert for this! Very excited.