I’m going to Orycon 35, a science fiction convention held November 8-10, 2013, in Portland, Oregon. The programming folks have dreamed up some interesting science panels! I’m especially looking forward to the panel Jay Lake and I are doing on “Living with Late Stage Cancer,” which was very well received at the World Science Fiction Convention in San Antonio last August. If you’re attending Orycon, I hope you’ll attend one of my panels or find me in the halls (I’m not a night owl nowadays, so I’ll be scarce at parties).

The Science of Funding Science
Fri Nov 8 4:00pm-5:00pm (Alaska)
Are we missing out on gaining knowledge because of political correctness?

Living With Late Stage Cancer
Fri Nov 8 5:00pm-6:00pm (Alaska)
What it’s like to live from scan to scan, how we learn about different treatment options, coping when treatment fails, and answering questions from the audience.

Would you go to a doctor whose professors were witch doctors?
Sat Nov 9 10:00am-11:00am (Idaho)
What medicine has gotten right and wrong over the eons.

Do we all really need to know calculus?
Sat Nov 9 1:00pm-2:00pm (Alaska)
Is it really necessary for everyone to graduate from high school knowing physics? How much math do we really use on a daily basis?

I want to get my science on?
Sat Nov 9 4:00pm-5:00pm (Alaska)
Where does the lay person keep up with the latest developments

Ask Dr. Genius: Ad-Lib Answers to Audience Questions
Sat Nov 9 5:00pm-6:00pm (Alaska)
No, really, they’re real scientists, honest. Bring your science questions, and if they don’t have an answer they’ll make something up, and it might even be sort of right.

Cancer sucks-is there hope?
Sun Nov 10 11:00am-12:00pm (Alaska)
New insights into cancer provides glimmers of hope for victims and their families. How are new treatment options shaping up? How soon can we hope for a cure?

Midi-chlorians? Really?!
Sun Nov 10 1:00pm-2:00pm (Alaska)
Best and worst science in the movies.