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William J. Clancey, Chief Scientist of Human-Centered Computing at the Intelligent Systems Division of the NASA Ames Center, discusses the lessons learned from the Mars Exploration Rovers "Spirit" and "Opportunity", and offers predictions for their latest rover, "Curiosity". Complete video available for purchase at http://fora.tv/2012/02/27/William_J_Clancey_Voyages_of_Scientific_Discovery For more than eight years, scientists have been doing fieldwork on Mars, the first overland investigation of another planet. Working through programmed robotic laboratories, called the Mars Exploration Rovers, they have a virtual experience of being on Mars. The Spirit and Opportunity teams have driven over 25 miles, taken thousands of photographs, analyzed the chemistry of the terrain, and inspected rocks by grinding them and taking microscopic images. How does working remotely through a robotic laboratory change the nature of field science? How does it change the scientists? A cognitive scientist with privileged access to mission operations, Clancey explains that the “robotic geologists” are not the rovers, but the scientists who have imaginatively projected themselves into the body of the machine.

Dave McLean, owner and brewmaster of San Francisco's Magnolia Pub and Brewery, demonstrates the proper way to enjoy a beer. "We usually mindlessly open our beers and pour them, and don't think too much about it," he says. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2009/06/15/The_Science_of_a_Good_Beer Most of the time when we order up some beers, we're just happy to put that life-giving elixir into our bellies, especially after a rough work week. But it isn't often that we actually consider how the delicious beer is created. Sure, we know that you need hops, whatever those are, and water, and some other stuff, and then you put it in a pot and ... then ... beer happens? Not quite. Dave McLean details the science of brewing, from the perspective of a craft brewer.

"Prototype This" hosts Joe Grand and Zoz Brooks detail the process of building a simulator that mimcs a never-ending water slide, the biggest project they built on their show. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/05/19/Grand_and_Brooks_Inside_Stories_from_Prototype_This Joe Grand and Zoz Brooks were co-hosts of Prototype This, an engineering show that followed the real-life design process of a unique prototype each episode. This presentation shares stories and technical details of their favorite builds.

Andrew J. Bacevich, Professor of International Relations and History at Boston University, discusses the consequences of the Obama Adminstration's "new M.O." in the war on terror: targeted military assassination. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/03/27/World_Security_Balancing_Military_with_Key_Social_Needs At a time of increasingly tight budgets, spending on traditional security concerns is increasingly in competition with broader domestic spending needs. Two critical questions now arise: First, what strategies and measures will assure world security in the 21st century? Second, how can we weigh the competing calls for traditional defense and efforts on emerging problems?

Alex Peake, founder and CEO of Primer Labs, discusses his mentor program called Hack the Future along with his game Code Hero. Code Hero is a game that teaches you programming while you play. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/05/20/Code_Hero_This_Game_Teaches_You_How_to_Make_Games 98% of kids are gamers. Can games teach 100% to code? Code Hero is a game that teaches how to make games with a code ray that shoots Javascript in Unity3D so you learn as you play to make games that make all knowledge playable. Alex Peake is the founder and CEO of Primer Labs, a start-up that creates endless learning games to make all knowledge playable. Alex founded the alternative fashion company Tactical Corsets in 2009. Alex was the editor of Agile Journal, a web & mobile applications developer at Sling, and lead animation editor at Atomic Cartoons.

Sports Illustrated contributor Frank Deford criticizes the practices of the NCAA "cartel". Deford argues that it must change to survive, in part by paying the athletes, and sooner rather than later. Complete video available for purchase at http://fora.tv/2012/06/13/Sports_Illustrated_Contributor_on_Life_as_a_Sportswriter Frank Deford’s expansive career as a chronicler of American culture has included over 50 years of work as an award-winning writer for Sports Illustrated. In addition to his time spent as a sportswriter, his accomplishments have included longtime positions as a regular commentator for National Public Radio and a correspondent for HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Deford has authored 18 books spanning the genres of fiction, nonfiction and memoir, two of which have been made into screenplays. Now Deford provides a heterodox, entertaining and often poignant account of his, and ultimately America’s, experiences of sports journalism, from his post-Princeton jaunts in the 1960s, to his days at the Police Gazette and ESPN, to his work as a sportswriter today.

Megan Tulac, Director at the National Institute for Play, explains the important role of play in evolutionary history. Some species use play as "training for the unexpected," says Tulac. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/05/19/Megan_Tulac_I_Make_Therefore_I_Play All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but it annihilates the Maker! Making is playing and playing is essential to human ingenuity. Come learn about the science behind play - how it shapes the brain, encourages discovery and gets you hired at JPL!

Political pollsters Kellyanne Conway and Anna Greenberg discuss how the Democratic Party is attempting to curry female voters on the issue of women's medical and reproductive rights. While the state of the economy is issue number one, the expert survey researchers disagree about the importance of possible contraception challenges. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/07/18/Womens_Attitudes__Demographics_Pollsters_Reveal_Issues Kellyanne Conway is founder and president of the polling company™, inc./WomanTrend, a privately-held, woman-owned corporation founded in 1995. She is one of the most-quoted pollsters on the national scene, having provided commentary on over 1,200 television shows as well as numerous radio shows and print stories. Anna Greenberg is a leading pollster and an expert in survey research methodology with nearly 15 years of experience. Since joining Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research in 2001, Dr. Greenberg has worked with many elected officials and a wide range of NGOs and advocacy groups. Her areas of expertise include women and politics, LGBT rights, religion and politics, healthcare policy, and drug policy reform.

Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser in the Obama Administration, talks about Yahoo!'s hiring of Marissa Mayer as CEO. Jarrett lauds Yahoo's decision to hire the pregnant former Google executive, and she advises that women should find workplaces that accommodate family planning. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/07/18/Valerie_Jarrett__Mika_Brzezinski_Women_in_the_World Valerie B. Jarrett is a Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. She is also the Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, she was the Chief Executive Officer of The Habitat Company. She also served as Co-Chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, and Senior Advisor to Obama's presidential campaign.

Abraham D. Sofaer, author of Taking on Iran, believes the United States should retaliate against attacks by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps even if conflict requires crossing the border into Iran. Sofaer believes that it would be "intolerable" for the U.S. not to retaliate a state killing American soldiers. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/06/27/Abraham_Sofaer_Why_US_Must_Get_Tough_with_Iran A renowned expert in international law discusses legal options that the U.S. can pursue with Iran and how the U.S. can successfully use negotiation to convince Iran to give up any intention to develop nuclear weapons. It makes sense now, Sofaer posits, before Iran has shown both the abilities and the intention to develop nuclear weapons, for the U.S. to stop projecting weakness by indulging the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ illegal conduct, and to start utilizing any opportunity that greater strength provides to negotiate professionally and consistently.

George Polk, founder and CEO of The Catalyst Project, discusses two paths people are pursuing to mitigate the impact of climate change. He explains that many people have given up on saving the planet, and are instead attempting to advance technology to the point where we wonít need the planet at all. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/03/27/Fred_Guterl__Human_Safety_and_Sustainable_World_Security Security today cannot come at the expense of security tomorrow. Long-term planning is needed to "win the future," and the earth will be a beneficiary of any effective comprehensive security program. Without the food, water and energy resources that fuel human society, traditional defense is meaningless. Sustainability is a core part of the security picture.

Sebastian Thrun, Professor of Computer Science and director of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Stanford University, discusses the Google self-driving car, and it's higher safety standard than human-driven drivers. Despite its level of safety, it still has a tough road ahead of it in convincing people to trust it. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/05/01/WIRED_Business_Conference_The_Intelligence_Revolution Sebastian Thrun talks with Jason Tanz about the self-driving car. Thrun is a Google Fellow and professor of computer science at Stanford University. Thrun is director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL). He led the development of the robotic vehicle Stanley which won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, and which is exhibited in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. His team also developed Junior, which placed second at the DARPA Urban Challenge in 2007. Thrun is also known for his work on probabilistic programming techniques in robotics, with applications including robotic mapping. In recognition of his contributions, Thrun was elected into the National Academy of Engineering and also into the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 2007. In 2011, Thrun received the Max-Planck-Research Award.

Robbert Dijkgraaf, Dutch mathematical physicist and string theorist, discusses the greatest "known unknown" of the universe, dark energy. Dark matter and energy comprise approximately 96% of the universe, but know physicists know little about the physical phenomena. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/03/20/Robbert_Dijkgraaf_The_End_of_Space_and_Time Robbert Dijkgraaf's focus is on string theory, quantum gravity, and the interface between mathematics and particle physics, bringing them together in an accessible way, looking at sciences, the arts and other matters.

Famed artist Chuck Close claims he rejected most of the "essential" teachings of graduate school. He outlines the three things he did learn in grad school that have helped him become a successful artist. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/05/08/Chuck_Close_in_Conversation_with_Bill_Kelly Chuck Close has been a leading figure in contemporary art since the 1970s. He has developed a singular approach to painting, utilizing a rigorous system of gridding to produce images that possess both the realism of photography and the loose coloration of abstraction. In addition to painting, Close has worked in photography and printmaking. His work has been the subject of major retrospectives at such institutions as the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and Walker Art Center, Minneapolis.

Former President of Costa Rica Óscar Arias Sànchez argues that the trillions of dollars spent in global defense spending could be better served by improving the societal welfare of developing nations. Complete video available for free at http://fora.tv/2012/03/28/Oscar_Arias_Sanchez_Three_Ideas_Whose_Time_Has_Come Óscar Arias Sánchez talks about the impact of military and security spending on global economic development. Óscar Arias Sánchez (born 13 September 1940) is a Costa Rican politician who was President of Costa Rica from 2006 to 2010. He previously served as President from 1986 to 1990 and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end civil wars then raging in several other Central American countries.