Mission Statement
The Science & Technology (S&T) Series is designed to further a practical understanding of S&T. Basic knowledge about advances in S&T can enable understanding how they relate to our, and our progeny’s, health. It helps illuminate concerns about global warming as well as the mysteries of research with stem cells, DNA and other topics. These insights can even help to make informed decisions in the voting booth.
The S&T lectures bring to Riderwood outstanding scientists from many disciplines, including lecturers and researchers from universities and research institutions, as well as experts from other public and private organizations. Presentations are intended for general audiences. After presentations, time is provided for brisk questions and answers.
Lectures are presented in the Encore Theater on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Some S&T presentations may be in film format, and are usually shown in the Encore Theater on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. All presentations occur during the months September through June. Additional presentations may be announced beyond those regularly scheduled. Hearing assistive devices are available .
For more information or speaker/topic suggestions, contact Pearl Katz at scitech@riderwoodlife.com .
Executive Committee
Pearl Katz (Chair Emerita)
Don Steiner
Victoria Harden
Allen Minton
Helen Worth
Science & Technology Video Recordings
Many of the Lectures have been video recorded and are available for viewing on Riderwood TV . Search for Science & Technology
Announcements for 2025/2026 Season
Click on a poster for a full-screen view.
June 4, 2026 – Lecture – Wickner
How Can A Protein Be A Gene? Reed B. Wickner, M.D. June 4, 2026,
May 7, 2026 – Lecture – Wind
Anatomy, Art, and Surgery Gary Wind, M.D. May 7 2026
April 8, 2026 – Lecture – Putzrath
Risk Assessment for Human Health and the Environment – 04/09/2026 Rpuzrath
March 5, 2026 – Lecture – Noe
The Job of 10,300 Lifetimes, Adrianne Noe, Ph.D. , 3/5/2026
February 5, 2026 – Lecture – Hart
Learning from Aviation Mishaps to Make Healthcare Safer Christopher A. Hart, J.D. M.S. 02/04/2026
January 15, 2026 – Lecture – Minton
Sickle Cell Disease: A Tale of Two Hemoglobins Allen P. Minton, Ph.D. Thursday, January 15, 2026
December 4, 2025
A Fireside Chat with Dr. Anthony S. Fauci 12/04/2025
November 20, 2025 – Film
Film – Freaky Feathers 11/20/2025
October 16, 2025 – Film
Key Bridge Disaster – Film October 16, 2025
October 9, 2025 – Lecture
Bridging the Gap between Science and Health Irwin Arias, M.D. 10/09/2025
September 4, 2025 – Lecture
From the Big Bang to Quantum Everything to Life – Mather 9/4/2025
Previous Season Posters
Click on poster to see a full size image in a new tab.
2024/2025 Season
Everyday Rituals: The Liberating
Power of our Routines
Pearl Katz, Ph.D.
September 5, 2024
SciTech_2024-09-19 Chesapeake Bay By Air Film
SciTech_2024_10_3 HepC Alter Lecture
SciTech_2024_10_17 The Garden
Flies Fish and Worms Lecture 11/7/2024
Gates of the Arctic 11/21/2024
The Ins and Outs of Dietary Supplements Paul M. Coates 12/5/2024
Films on Oil 01/16/2025
History of Chocolate 12/19/2024 – Film
The Science Behind Fusion Energy Research Steiner Jan 2, 2025
Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs Against Japan J. Samuel Walker, Ph.D.
February 6, 2025
Understanding and Managing Hearing Loss, Christopher Zalewski, PHD June 5, 2025
Immunity to Viruses Suzanne Epstein, Ph.D. Thursday, March 6, 2025
The New Science of Food Film March 20, 2025
The Story of the Sloop Clearwater and Pete Seeger – Film April 17, 2025
2023/2024 Season
9/7/2023 Daring Expeditions of Solar Eclipses
10/5/2023 What is AI
11/2/2023 Human-Animal Rlationships
12/7/2023Weather Forecast Advancements Thursday
1/4/2024 Spacefarers
02/01/2024 Perspectives of Psychiatry
4/4/2024 James A. Yorke Chaos Theory
5/4/2024 Scientists and the Military in World War II
6/6/2024 The Webb Telescope And The Future of ScienceJohn C. Mather, Ph.D.
2022/2023 Season
SciTech_2022_09_15 Film History of One
SciTech_2022_10_20 Film Out of Balance EXXON
SciTech_2022_11_03 Webb Telescope Mather
SciTech_2022_11_17 Film Milky Way
SciTech_2022_12_01 Rockcreek McBride
SciTech_2022_12_05 Film Human Footprint
SciTech_2022_12_15 Film Human Footprint
SciTech_2023_01_05 Dinobirds Messersmith
SciTech_2023_01_19 Film Stink
SciTech_2023_02_02 Sickle Cell Taylor,
SciTech_2023_03_02 Protein Folding Schechter
SciTech_2023_03_16 Film Trust Me
SciTech_2023_04_06 Covid Testing Blackman
SciTech_2023_05_04 DART Chabot
SciTech_2023_05_18 Film Fantastic Fungi
SciTech_2023_06_01 Climate Change Salawitch
Information for presentations and films presented prior to 2022/2023 are in the Archive .