TELLURIDE TOWN TALKS by TSRC

Deciphering the science behind hot topics such as photosynthetic solar energy or the chemistry of antioxidants is the goal of the Pinhead Town Talk series. The Town Talks are a down-to-earth look into subjects that may actually be rocket science.

Every year, top scientists from an array of fields come to Telluride to share their expertise on cutting edge science that underlies many of the solutions to today's problems. Topics span everything science touches: from human health to the environment, from ethics to politics, from archeology to theoretical chemistry. 

This public science lecture series was begun in 1991 by TSRC founders Peter Salamon and Stephen Berry as a way to give back to the Telluride community. In 2003, then TSRC facilitator, now TSRC executive director, Nana Naisbitt, moved the program from Thursday nights at the elementary school to Tuesday evenings at the public library, with the support of local funder CCAASE. Later, underwritten by another local funder, TMVOA, the series moved to the Conference Center in Mountain Village. Currently, the talks are being held at the Palm Theatre in the Telluride Intermediate School and are funded wholly by TSRC and generous donations at the door.

From the Telluride Elementary School to the Wilkinson Public Library to the Conference Center to the Palm Theatre, the Town Talks have grown steadily in popularity to an average of nearly 150 audience members per talk. 

Since 2003, one speaker per summer has been named the Stephen Berry Lecturer, in honor of the TSRC founder. 

Historic records of the past Town Talk series are available on the individual web pages created for each summer series since 2003. 

The names of these talks have changed over the years. They were called "Pinhead Town Talks" from 2003 - 2010 and the "TSRC Science Lecture Series" from 1991- 2002