Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Holiday Dinner: The Social Science of Hurricane Katrina and Natural Disasters

Please join fellow Bay Area writers and national science reporters from the AGU meeting for NCSWA's biggest social event of the year: Our annual holiday dinner. We will return to our favorite venue, Yank Sing in downtown San Francisco's Rincon Center, for some of the city's best dim sum cuisine. And, we've arranged a topical talk that should entertain and provoke.

Program:

Our speaker is Dr. Michael (Mickey) Glantz, senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. What is a social scientist doing at NCAR? For more than 30 years, Glantz has been an outspoken advocate for including human impacts and responses when doing research on climate and natural disasters. As recent monster hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and Florida have shown, better storm tracking and forecasts are not enough to prepare communities for stormy weather. He also warns that superstorms like Katrina may be just the beginning of our problems with the weather. Current climate trends exacerbated by global warming could mean that we need to brace for seasons of superstorms rather than the occasional Category 5 hurricane.

A self-described loose cannon, Glantz is a prolific author, blogger, international workshop organizer, and independent voice for social issues in science. In a wide-ranging talk reflecting on his experiences at NCAR, he'll focus on topics of special interest to writers: what he sees as the fallacies revealed in the media coverage of Katrina (for instance, "forewarned is forearmed" and "the third world is more vulnerable to hazards than rich countries"); the prevalence of "media-rologists" or climate experts that pander to journalists; and the global implications of recent hurricane disasters. Glantz promises not to shy away from politics; he will discuss his surprising experience as a guest on Bill O'Reilly's recent radio show about global warming.

Glantz was director of NCAR's Environmental and Societal Impacts Group for 17 years. The first social scientist hired at NCAR, his career has focused on the ways in which climate affects society and society affects climate, especially in how the interaction between climate anomalies and human activities affect quality of life issues. Glantz is the current director of the newly formed Center for Capacity Building at NCAR, which includes public outreach and education in its mission. He continues to run international "usable science workshops," which bring together climate scientists, economists, community leaders, fisheries and agricultural experts, and disaster managers to discuss science, human adaptation and community responses to short and long-term climate change.

Dinner:

Yank Sing Restaurant
Wednesday, December 7
6:30 - 7:45 happy hour
7:45 - 9 dinner (and a special door-prize competition!)
9 - 10 Mickey Glantz talk

Dim sum means "to touch the heart." You'll understand how apropos that translation is if you join us for the holiday dinner. Yank Sing has taken up permanent residence on the San Francisco Chronicle's list of "Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants" and was voted "Best Dim Sum" in a Zagat Survey. Peking Duck, Phoenix Shrimp, Pork Siu Mye, Chicken Fun Gwor, Snow Pea Shoot Dumplings, and Stuffed Lotus Leaves are but a few of the delicacies that will tantalize the palates of NCSWAns and their significant others. For a more detailed sample of the Yank Sing's dim sum menu, visit http://www.yanksing.com/our-menu-sample.htm

Location:

One Rincon Center
101 Spear St. (at Mission)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: 415-957-9300

Yank Sing's Rincon Center restaurant is in San Francisco's South of Market area, an easy walk from the Embarcadero BART station and a 15-minute walk from the Moscone Center and the AGU meeting. If you are driving, check Yank Sing's Web site for directions and a map.

Parking: Yank Sing offers free validated parking in the Rincon Center garage. The garage entrance is on Spear St., midway between Mission and Howard. Bring your ticket into the restaurant for validation at the bar.

Cost:

NCSWA is subsidizing a large portion of the evening's cost to keep the dinner affordable for members and guests.

NCSWA members: $38
Each NCSWA member may bring one guest at $38; additional guests are $45.
Students: $30
Non-members: $45

Mail your check, made out to "NCSWA," by November 18 to:

Bob Sanders
1512 Holly St.
Berkeley, CA 94703

The past two holiday dinners have sold out, so send your check soon.

Carpooling: For those interested in carpooling to the dinner, Karen Street again will play transportation matchmaker, matching up those of you wanting a ride with those who are driving. Contact her at karen_street@sbcglobal.net. She will mail out information as she receives it. Many thanks to all those who have offered rides in the past, enabling people to attend.