What? Convergence is next week?


It is. I’m doing a few panels at Convergence…a fairly light load, compared to previous years. They didn’t have as many sciencey panels to sign up for this time around, perhaps in part because I and several others contributed more to panel suggestions in previous years, and I was a terrible slacker this year. That might be a good thing, or I’d have stuffed the place with spiders. Stephanie Zvan has posted her panel list, and here’s mine:

Friday, July 5
10:00pm
Insects, in Sex
Insects are already wildly fascinating but do you know some of the mating behaviors and outcomes? Praying mantis may be one insect you think of, because the female will often eat the male after copulation, but what are other examples of unusual behaviors? Participants: Arthur Kneeland (mod), Jessica Wyn Miller, PZ Myers, Kelly Jo Fredrickson

I’m going to pretend that one is actually about arthropods, so I can talk about spiders.

Saturday, July 6
11:00am
Weird Biology
Animals that don’t exactly die, terminal reproduction, and aspen tree colonies. Weird and cool stuff about the world around us. Participants: Laura Okagaki-Vraspir, Lathan Murrell, Brittany Ann Kerschner, PZ Myers, Colleen C Caldwell (mod)

There is no such thing as weird biology. Or rather, there is no such thing as normal biology.

Sunday, July 7
2:00pm
Ask a Scientist
Kid-friendly panel to ask questions to scientists. Participants: Renate Marie Fiora (mod), Miriam Krause, Shannon Negaard-Paper, PZ Myers, Sarah Molasky

I don’t have to prepare for that one. Who knows what oddball questions people will ask? Maybe they’ll ask about spiders.

Comments

  1. blf says

    Who knows what oddball questions people will ask? Maybe they’ll ask about spiders.

    The mildly deranged penguin is confident poopyhead can turn any question into one about spiders, or at least include spiders in the answer. For instance, he can hand out a free spider to each audience member, with extra spiders for all questioners, for the best question, and for cheese.

  2. kingoftown says

    Sexual cannibalism is one of the more vanilla kinks among insects. Look up traumatic insemination if you want to know what bed bugs get up to (you probably don’t)

  3. ridana says

    I’m going to pretend that one is actually about arthropods, so I can talk about spiders.

    Ever since I read this, I’ve been thinking of you, but couldn’t figure out a place to put it. This seems as good as any.

  4. mikehuben says

    Scale insect reproduction is one of the stranger things you could prepare with.