A community of curious minds.

"An unusual mixture of science, politics and history."

Dear Colleagues — that's how I begin every Science Plus invitation. Not because it's formal, but because that's what we are: colleagues in the broadest sense. People who share a belief that the world is better understood than not, and that understanding it together is one of the great pleasures of being alive. We share one overriding characteristic: curiosity.

Science Plus had its origins in 2002 as “the Wizards.” I paused the Wizards for twelve years and then resurrected it in 2013 as Science Plus, in a modified and superior version. My concept is simple and compelling: gather a community of engaged, curious people and introduce them to some of the most extraordinary intellects worldwide. From 2013 to 2020 — seven years — we met in person, in my living room. In 2020, with the emergence of COVID-19, Science Plus moved online, which broadened its reach for both audience and presenters. I was able to invite speakers from anywhere in the world. Science Plus quickly became more than a lecture series, evolving into shared conversations encompassing many essential fields of human inquiry.

How it works

Every session takes place online. I personally select each guest and interview them in a format comfortable to the presenter, often more of a conversation than a lecture — informal, wide-ranging, with opportunity for questions. The goal is never to summarize a field, but to introduce the audience to unique individuals and their areas of study. I have had guests and presenters referred to me by audience members, which I truly appreciate.

Past guests have included theoretical physicists, mathematicians, neuroscientists, political economists, philosophers of science, diplomats, and experts in AI, among others. The presenters are connected by a shared passion about ideas and a genuine desire to communicate those ideas to people outside their specialty.

Recordings of many past sessions are available to attendees — a growing archive of conversations that reward revisiting.

My vision

I'm a Vancouver-based lawyer with a degree in physics and mathematics. I've always valued a rich intellectual life. I read widely, enjoy all history — in particular the history of ideas and science — and try to bring to each session what I consider a host's most valuable quality: genuine curiosity about the presenter and the subject.

I prepare for each session by reading articles and books written by each presenter and, when possible, I meet with each presenter before the session online to discuss their presentation.

The effort is to move beyond being a moderator managing the clock, and to be someone who is actually engaged with the ideas and wants to share that engagement with the salon.

Who attends

The Science Plus community draws from academia, law, medicine, the arts, and business. What members share is not a background but an orientation — a belief that engaging seriously with ideas from outside one's own field is not a luxury but a necessity.

Sessions are small enough to encourage participation and questions. The tone is collegial rather than hierarchical. Nobody needs credentials to participate — only curiosity.