Great Minds Gather Here (Video)

UC Berkeley lecturer Saru Jayaraman gives a rousing talk describing the harsh and unequal treatment of the nation’s restaurant staff as she argues for increasing the minimum wage in what is now the second largest and fastest growing industry in the country. Jayaraman is presented as the keynote speaker at the Fall 2014 Board of Advisors Dinner for the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. Series: "Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley" [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 28940]

The Neanderthals are the closest extinct relatives of all present-day human and the Neanderthal genome sequence provides unique insights into modern humans origins. Svante Pääbo, a biologist and evolutionary anthropologist, describe the current understanding of the genetic contributions of Neanderthals to present-day humans and to extinct human groups. He also describes preliminary analyses of genomic features that appeared in present-day humans since their divergence from a common ancestor shared with Neanderthals and discusses how they may be functionally analyzed in the future. Pääbo is the Director of Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Science] [Show ID: 28720]

Jan Nederveen Pieterse in conversation with Noam Chomsky, linguist, philosopher and political commentator. Chomsky is Emeritus professor of linguistics at MIT. Jan Nederveen Pieterse is professor of Global Studies and Sociology at University of California, Santa Barbara. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 28120]

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, founder of NantWorks, describes his vision for turning cancer into a chronic but controllable disease by using advanced rapid gene sequencing, supercomputing and other methods of analysis to transcend the genome to the proteome. This approach has the potential to redefine how cancer is diagnosed and to develop therapies precisely tailored to the molecular profile of a particular tumor. Dr. Soon-Shiong anticipates a revolution in drug research, development and delivery of molecularly designed cancer treatments to patients. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 25909]

Steven Squyres, Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University, was the principle scientist behind the Mars Exploration Rover Project. He discusses the engineering challenges that had to be met in getting the rovers to Mars, as well as the scientific results obtained by both vehicles over more than seven years of exploration. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Science] [Show ID: 21040]

Most people think “green businesses” provide or support the use of alternative energy or energy efficient products. Yvon Chouinard recounts how Patagonia grew from a retail climbing equipment business operating out of the back of his van to a successful global business based on sustainability and social responsibility principles. Chouinard and Patagonia’s story demonstrates how any business can be a green, sustainable and socially responsible business. Series: "UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability" [Business] [Show ID: 21368]

Bill Moyers examines the deteriorating and increasingly corrupt state of affairs that our government has devolved into and the accompanying divisiveness sweeping the country. Is there hope for things to improve? For the first time in his life, Moyers isn't optimistic. Series: "Voices" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20774]

Author, documentarian and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr gives a stirring address on race in the United States with a look at the genealogy and genetics in African-American history. Gates is presented by the Council of Provosts and Thurgood Marshall College at UC San Diego. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 19364]

Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt speaks with UC San Diego’s Peter H. Smith about her kidnapping by FARC guerillas, her six-year long captivity and dramatic rescue, and her extensive work raising awareness of the plight of victims of terrorism throughout the world. Series: "Revelle Forum" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20013]

Robert Winter, UCLA professor of music and Presidential Chair in Music and Interactive Arts, treats the audience to a lively and seamless blending of art and technology in the 108th Faculty Research Lecture. And that is precisely the point behind Winter’s talk in which he explores three fugues by Bach and a waltz by Chopin with a mixture of talk, piano performances, and an incredibly active, animated screen. Series: "UCLA Faculty Research Lectures" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 19381]