Scientifiction Fun at Diversicon

I attended some of the Saturday panels at Diversicon 2011, a small con at the Bandana Square complex in St. Paul, which is a cool location due to the hotel being built around an old train station.  Lots of beautiful old wood, a big steam engine outside, and tracks running right through the floor.

The science panels in particular were interesting, with Guest of Honor Joan Slonczewski giving a slideshow talk about how they are making medically helpful viruses out of 'bad' viruses like influenza and HIV.  All the biology I didn't get in a public school with too many 'ecentric' teachers who never made it through the curriculum guide (like never made it past third in some slightly important classes, like Chem 101).  My partner in thought crimes was happy to get some basic bio, having missed a few key concepts in her Creationist schooling.  Slonczewski, besides being a fascinating writer of novels such as Door Into Ocean, is a prof and very good presenter.

And a panel on The Solar System showed slides of what NASA is up to, where the private space industry is headed, and some very pretty galaxies.  I learned some physics I had been unsure about.

Spiders!  http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA14401.jpg

All in all worth the not very expensive registration, plus hanging out with local writers and some organizers of Gaylaxicon 2012, which will be in the Twin Cities.  (Pre-register now and help them meet their goal!)