171111 Educational inequality from a psychology perspective: gender gap in STEM as a brief example

Title:
Educational inequality from a psychology perspective: gender gap in STEM as a brief example

 
Speaker:
謝大洋 (Diane Hsieh)

 
Time:
11/11 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
10/12 (Sun.) 7 am Taiwan


Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: 
https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/browser 

Abstract:
「教育不平等」常常是個令人感覺熟悉但又陌生的概念。如此複雜但又容易人人都能大談闊論的現象到底能怎麼用科學的方法解釋？ 我將以簡單介紹美國的種族教育不平等開頭，帶入階級和城鄉差距，最後著重討論理科教育中的性別不平等。其中會穿插一些台灣教育現況的數據，討論在美國研究台灣教育不平等的一些困境。 我主要會從發展心理學的角度切入，介紹一些研究方法和理論，但也非常歡迎跨領域的對話和經驗分享。 “Educational inequality” is often a familiar yet strange concept. How can we empirically understand this complex phenomenon that everyone somehow seems to have strong opinion about? I will start by presenting an overview of the race achievement gap in the U.S., touch briefly on income and urbanicity differences, and spend most of the talk discussing gender gap in the STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). I will also incorporate some statistics about educational inequality in Taiwan, and discuss some limitations in studying it. I will discuss educational inequality mostly from a developmental psychology perspective, introducing some methodology and theories commonly used by the discipline. Yet education is truly at the intersection of many areas of study (e.g., sociology, economy, public policy), so exchange of knowledge or experiences from the audience would be highly appreciated.

171104 Monitoring cell-cell contacts in vivo in Drosophila

Title:
Monitoring cell-cell contacts in vivo in Drosophila

Speaker: 
黃鼎皓 (Ting-Hao Huang)

Time:
11/04 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
10/05 (Sun.) 7 am Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans:
https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/browser 

(Sorry that there's a part missing in the recording becasue the host who was recording got a fire alarm and lost connetion while moving)

Abstract:
We used a synthetic genetic system based on ligand-induced intramembrane proteolysis to monitor cell-cell contacts in animals. Upon ligand-receptor interaction in sites of cell-cell contact, the transmembrane domain of an engineered receptor is cleaved by intramembrane proteolysis and releases a protein fragment that regulates transcription in the interacting partners. We demonstrate that the system can be used to regulate gene expression between interacting cells, both in vitro and in vivo, in transgenic Drosophila We show that the system allows for detection of interactions between neurons and glia in the Drosophila nervous system. In addition, we observed that when the ligand is expressed in subsets of neurons with a restricted localization in the brain it leads to activation of transcription in a selected set of glial cells that interact with those neurons. This system will be useful to monitor cell-cell interactions in animals, and can be used to genetically manipulate cells that interact with one another.

171028 Photon noise estimation and suppression for exquisite cryogenic measurement

Title:
Photon noise estimation and suppression for exquisite cryogenic measurement

Speaker: 
張硯詠 (Yen-Yung Chang)

Time:
10/28 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
10/29 (Sun.) 6 am Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/ 

(如需 YouTube 演講錄影連結請直接聯絡講者。)

Abstract:
I will talk about the techniques we develop for thermodynamic quantum noise simulation and suppression in ultra-sensitive cryogenic experiments. The talk will be rather technical but generally interesting for all kind of experiments aiming for high sensitivity.

171021 Emotion and Interpersonal Dynamics

Title:
Emotion and Interpersonal Dynamics

Speaker: 
張硯評 (Yen-Ping Chang)

Time:
10/21 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
10/22 (Sun.) 6 am Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans:
https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/browser 

Abstract:
Humans are distinct from other animals for being not only social but at the same time, emotional. This time, I will talk about some of my work on the interaction between human sociality and emotionality (and not having been shared in Tyra). Specifically, I will address how emotions are communicated in relationships, how the communication feeds back to relationships, and indeed, how to make relationships better and more enjoyable. Because of my personal experiences, I am also highly interested in culture, how it could shape communication, so I will also talk about an ongoing project on the role of culture in gratitude expressions. In case you're wondering, This talk will not focus on any specific set of findings and will instead address a few more superficially. I will then conclude with some potential future directions. I hope you'll enjoy the talk and social psychology.

171014 Understanding Streaming and Copyright: A Comparison of the US and European Regimes

Title:
Understanding Streaming and Copyright: A Comparison of the US and European Regimes

Speaker:
盧憶 (Thomas Y. Lu)

Time: 
10/14 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
10/15 (Sun.) 6 am Taiwan

Link: 
Join the talk on BlueJeans:  
https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/browser
 

Abstract: 
What are the legal risks when entrepreneurs or business units start their online streaming businesses in the U.S and in the Europe regimes? We posit here that legal risks are both substantive and procedural. Both risks come from the recent decisions of the district court, U.S. Supreme Court or from the European Court of Justice (ECJ). By comparing the U.S. and the European legal regimes, we can find the similarities between the two regimes—briefly and broadly stated, they protect copyright holders. Because of the broad protection, the substantive risks are shifted to online streaming businesses. In terms of procedural issues, the online streaming businesses have to understand the differences between the two regimes—they have to provide enough factual evidence in the pleading stage of the U.S. and to be concerned about legislature adoption in member states of E.U. The way to lower those risks is to develop a business model where all stakeholders benefit. Also, providing adequate terms of use in the platform is critical to escape liability when infringement has occurred. Finally, when confronting lawsuits, managers and legal counsels should hire and cooperate with local lawyers so that they can lower the risk of high damage costs.

171001 Study and Application of Time-Delayed Feedback for Solid-State Photon Sources

Title:
Study and Application of Time-Delayed Feedback for Solid-State Photon Sources

Speaker: 
張鑑元 (Ted Chang)

Time: 
10/01 (Sun.) 9 pm PDT, 10 am MDT, 11 am CDT, 12 pm EDT, 10/02 (Mon.) 12 am Taiwan

Link: 
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

Abstract: 
Time-delayed feedback introduces various dynamical behaviors when coupled with a solid-state photonic structure. The study of these dynamical properties is an essential step towards the development of novel applications involving measurement and manipulation of various types of solid-state systems. Specially, we examine the significant effect of time-delayed feedback with two different types of solid-state structures: the semiconductor lasers diode and single photon emitter. The first part of this proposal focuses on the e_ect of time-delayed feedback with an external cavity semiconductor laser (ECSL) since such a system provides an excellent test bed for the study of nonlinear delay-coupled systems. In the second part, we explore the time-delayed feedback of a single photon emitter. We focus on the theoretical study of the dynamics of a single quantum dot embedded in a micropillar cavity.

170916 Molecular Biology study of Hepatitis C Virus and Autophagy

Title:
Molecular Biology study of Hepatitis C Virus and Autophagy

Speaker:
Dr. 王琳雅 (Linya Wang, University of Southern California)


Time:
09/16 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
09/17 (Sun.) 6 am Taiwan


Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/


Abstract:
Autophagy is a catabolic process by which cells remove protein aggregates and damaged organelles for recycling. It can also be used by cells to remove intracellular microbial pathogens including viruses in a process known as xenophagy. However, many viruses have developed mechanisms to subvert this intracellular antiviral response and even use this pathway to support their own replications. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one such virus. HCV is an important human pathogen that can cause severe liver diseases. Recent studies indicated that HCV could activate the autophagic pathway to support its replication. This talk summarizes the current knowledge on the interplay between HCV and autophagy and how this interplay affects HCV replication and host innate immune responses.

170909 Characterizing Faint Submillimeter Galaxies with Cluster Lensing

Title:
Characterizing Faint Submillimeter Galaxies with Cluster Lensing

Speaker:
徐立研 (Li-Yen Hsu)

Time: 
09/09 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT 
09/10 (Sun.) 6 am Taiwan

Link:  

part 1
 

part 2
 
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

Abstract:

Based on the measurements of the integrated background light from extragalactic sources, it is known that about half of the starlight is absorbed by dust and re-radiated into the far-infrared (FIR).  It is therefore important to study both the unobscured and dust-obscured populations of galaxies across cosmic time for a full picture of the star formation in our universe. At z > 1, the FIR emission from galaxies is redshifted to the submillimeter. However, surveys made with single-dish submillimeter telescopes are confusion limited at low fluxes (< 2 mJy at 850 micron) and can only detect ultra-luminous galaxies. Consequently, we have little information about fainter submillimeter galaxies (SMGs), which are actually the major contributors to the submillimeter background light and therefore the dominant star-formers in the dusty universe. Determining how much these faint SMGs overlap the optically selected samples is critical to fully account for the cosmic star formation history. Observations of massive cluster fields are the best way to study faint galaxies, thanks to gravitational lensing. To explore the faint submillimeter population, we have been observing nine galaxy clusters with the SCUBA-2 camera on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. We also used interferometric observations with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array and the Submillimeter Array to determine the accurate positions of our detected sources. Our observations have discovered a population of faint SMGs that are undetected in deep radio, optical, and near-infrared images. This suggests that a significant fraction of the population with infrared luminosities < 10^12 L_sun may be hidden from optical surveys and would not be included in the UV star formation history.

170819 Principles that govern competition or co-existence in Rho-GTPase driven polarization

Title:
Principles that govern competition or co-existence in Rho-GTPase driven polarization

Speaker:
邱澗庚 （Jian-geng Chiou)

Time: 
08/19 (Sat.) 15:00 PDT, 16:00 MDT, 17:00 CDT, 18:00 EDT
08/20 (Sun.) 06:00 Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

Abstract:

Rho-GTPases are master regulators of polarity establishment and cell morphology. Positive feedback enables concentration of Rho-GTPases into clusters at the cell cortex, from where they regulate the cytoskeleton. Different cell types reproducibly generate either one (e.g. the front of a migrating cell) or several clusters (e.g. the multiple dendrites of a neuron), but the mechanistic basis for uni-polar or multi-polar outcomes is unclear. The design principles of Rho-GTPase circuits are captured by reaction-diffusion models based on conserved aspects of Rho-GTPase biochemistry. Some such models display rapid winner-takes-all competition between clusters, yielding a unipolar outcome. Other models allow prolonged co-existence of clusters. We derive a “saturation rule” general to all relevant models that governs the timescale of competition, and thereby predicts whether the system will generate uni-polar or multi-polar outcomes. We suggest that the saturation rule is a fundamental property of the Rho-GTPase polarity machinery, regardless of the specific feedback mechanism.

170723 Functional connectivity and dynamic brain organization in the human brain

Title:
Functional connectivity and dynamic brain organization in the human brain

Speaker:
林素堇 (Sue-Jin Lin)

Time: 
07/23 (Sun. 禮拜天喔！) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT 
07/24 (Mon.) 6 am Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

Abstract:

這次演講主要是介紹 1)神經科學到底在做什麼研究以及 2)神經影像(neuroimaging)--尤其是所謂的功能性連結(functional connectivity)--在神經科學研究上的重要性。並且用3)臨床資料來說明利用這類方法可以對臨床研究有甚麼貢獻。神經影像已經被運用在許多領域，例如心理學、臨床醫學、認知科學、臨床神經科學等等。由於科技的進步，近年來功能性磁振造影(fMRI)被大量使用藉以研究大腦的功能。其中，利用不同分析方法所得到的功能性連結資訊更是成為熱門議題。這次將針對兩項新穎的分析方式做介紹:  a) 利用sliding window approach取得的動態功能性連(dynamic functional connectivity) 和 b)用graph theory計算出的大腦網路組織特性( brain organization)。最後，我們也將探討利用這些資訊可以得到甚麼樣的生物指標(biomarker)，而這些指標對於疾病的治療又會有甚麼樣的好處。

170715 Discussions of various air quality models: source apportionment, statistical tools, dispersion models, gridded models

Title:
Discussions of various air quality models: source apportionment, statistical tools, dispersion models, gridded models

Speaker:
黃教彥 (Jiaoyan Huang)

Time: 
07/15 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
07/16 (Sun.) 6 am Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

Abstract:

Air pollution causes 7-million global premature mortalities; therefore, it is important to understand it emissions, processes, and transport in the atmosphere. In this presentation, air pollution background and transport in various scales will be introduced. We will also discuss most current popular air pollution/quality research. The presenter will share his cutting-edge research related to global mercury transport and ultrafine particles. 

170708 Dynamic auditory communication: from well-controlled lab setting to real-world scenario (分解步驟說明心理學家如何做研究)

Title:
Dynamic auditory communication: from well-controlled lab setting to real-world scenario
(分解步驟說明心理學家如何做研究)

Speaker:
張詠沂 (Andrew Chang)

Time: 
07/08 (Sat.) 3 pm PDT, 4 pm MDT, 5 pm CDT, 6 pm EDT
07/09 (Sun.) 6 am Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

Abstract:

人類在各種日常的社會互動行為中，都要處理大量「一閃而逝」的聽覺訊息（例如和他人對話、聆聽音樂），並且需要及時地做出反應。在心理學和神經科學傳統的研究方法和實驗室環境中，科學家會簡化聽覺訊息或互動行為以進行實驗。例如，電腦按照實驗預設的規律播放規律的聲音，或是電腦用搖桿接收指定的動作反應。然而，儘管此類實驗的控制較佳，但這類簡化的研究取向會使得實驗環境過於偏離人類真實的互動環境，使得研究結果的「生態校度（ecological validity）」偏低。本場分享中，我會分享自己在「大型互動虛擬實驗室（http://livelab.mcmaster.ca/）」做的一個研究「Body sway reflects leadership in joint music performance（https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1617657114）」，並說明我們如何權衡生態校度和實驗控制，並且一步步地解決研究上所遇到的各種問題。

Note:

我會希望將這次分享的內容投稿至科普雜誌《科學月刊》，讓更多人一窺不同於傳統心理學的研究方法。因此，對於如何將這些內容寫成科普文章，非常希望能夠得到大家的批評指教！

170701 A Radiative Neutrino Mass Model with SIMP Dark Matter

Title:
A Radiative Neutrino Mass Model with SIMP Dark Matter

Speaker:
Shu-Yu Ho (California Institute of Technology)

Time: 
07/01 (Sat.) 15:00 PDT, 16:00 MDT, 17:00 CDT, 18:00 EDT,
07/02 (Sun.) 06:00 Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

Abstract:

We propose the first viable radiative seesaw model, in which the neutrino masses are induced radiatively via the two-loop Feynman diagram involving Strongly Interacting Massive Particles (SIMP). The stability of SIMP dark matter (DM) is ensured by a ℤ5 discrete symmetry, through which the DM annihilation rate is dominated by the 3→2 self-annihilating processes. The right amount of thermal relic abundance can be obtained with perturbative couplings in the resonant SIMP scenario, while the astrophysical bounds inferred from the Bullet cluster and spherical halo shapes can be satisfied. We show that SIMP DM is able to maintain kinetic equilibrium with thermal plasma until the freeze-out temperature via the Yukawa interactions associated with neutrino mass generation.

170610 Scaling and automation of single-cell-derived tumor sphere assays

Title:
Scaling and automation of single-cell-derived tumor sphere assays

Speaker:
Yu-Heng Cheng (University of Michigan)

Time: 
06/10 (Sat.) 15:00 PDT, 16:00 MDT, 17:00 CDT, 18:00 EDT,
06/11 (Sun.) 06:00 Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

Abstract:

Recent research suggests that cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are the key subpopulation for tumor relapse and metastasis. Due to cancer plasticity in surface antigen and enzymatic activity markers, functional tumorsphere assays are promising alternatives for CSC identification. To reliably quantify rare CSCs (1-5%), thousands of single-cell suspension cultures are required. While microfluidics is a powerful tool in handling single cells, previous works provide limited throughput and lack automatic data analysis capability required for high-throughput studies. In this study, we present the scaling and automation of high-throughput single-cell-derived tumor sphere assay chips, facilitating the tracking of up to ∼10 000 cells on a chip with ∼76.5% capture rate. The presented cell capture scheme guarantees sampling a representative population from the bulk cells. To analyze thousands of single-cells with a variety of fluorescent intensities, a highly adaptable analysis program was developed for cell/sphere counting and size measurement. Using a Pluronic® F108 (poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)) coating on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a suspension culture environment was created to test a controversial hypothesis: whether larger or smaller cells are more stem-like defined by the capability to form single-cell-derived spheres. Different cell lines showed different correlations between sphere formation rate and initial cell size, suggesting heterogeneity in pathway regulation among breast cancer cell lines. More interestingly, by monitoring hundreds of spheres, we identified heterogeneity in sphere growth dynamics, indicating the cellular heterogeneity even within CSCs. These preliminary results highlight the power of unprecedented high-throughput and automation in CSC studies.

Prerequisite knowledge:

Background in biomedical research will help.

現在開始登記下半年的Tyra talk囉。 

    有興趣的朋友請點這裡，進入google sheet後在畫面下方選擇17' lower，進入之後依照範例填寫。演講的時間、內容、預期的講題等等都可以再做調整。
    還沒參與過Tyra talk的朋友如果想先了解演講型式，部落格有張貼過去演講的畫面錄影，基本上是一個40min~1hr的演講，講者只要用自己的電腦點進會議室，分享畫面/投影片即可。時間預設為周六美西時間下午三點，可依不同時區再做調整。 另外各位如果有推薦或有興趣的題材，也歡迎直接來信tyra.public@gmail.com，或推薦相關領域專長的朋友加入project Tyra （務必事先取得被推薦人同意）。謝謝大家！

project Tyra

170520 Dark Matter, SuperCDMS Experiment, and the Super(conductive) Future of Particle Physics

Title:
Dark Matter, SuperCDMS Experiment, and the Super(conductive) Future of Particle Physics

Speaker:
Yen-Yung Chang (Caltech)

Time: 
05/20 (Sat.) 15:00 PDT, 16:00 MDT, 17:00 CDT, 18:00 EDT,
05/21 (Sun.) 06:00 Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/

(如需 YouTube 演講錄影連結請直接聯絡講者。)

Abstract:

This talk will focus on dark matter, the concept public media refers to more often as “Cosmos’ 10 (or 5) greatest mysteries [1],” or “the 26% (or 95% if they’ve got the idea wrong) of the Universe no one understands [2].” I will separate the talk into two seemingly unrelated parts: 1. Dark matter physics and experiments for direct detection and 2. cryogenic solid state physics and superconductive microwave technology. After the talk, we will poll on if you are convinced the two paths will merge. The content of this talk, hopefully also our poll data, will be published in summer, so I appreciate if you’d discuss with me before recording or distributing the material.

Keywords:
part 1:  dark matter, (nuclear/electronic) elastic scattering, SuperCDMS
part 2:  phonon, superconductivity, Kinetic Inductance Detector (KID)

Prerequisite knowledge:

undergraduate physical science/engineering background
read the Wiki introduction of one of the keywords you are interested in

---

[1] e.g. Dark Matter, Darker Still: The Cosmos' Greatest Mystery Deepens, TIME, Oct. 26^th, 2011
[2] e.g. The Dark Side of the Universe, The Guardian,  Mar. 2^nd, 2016

170506 Defect engineering and admittance spectroscopy study of CZTSSe solar cells

Title:
Defect engineering and admittance spectroscopy study of CZTSSe solar cells

Speaker:
Yi-Rung Lin (Visiting Postdoc in Caltech)

Time:
05/06 (Sat.) 15:00 PDT, 16:00 MDT, 17:00 CDT, 18:00 EDT,
05/07 (Sun.) 06:00 Taiwan

Link: 

(We are sorry that we did not record the screen correctly in this talk...)

Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/6366170552/
<note>  Due to hardware problem, the speaker's screen was not properly shared to YouTube (thus this video) this time. Please contact the speaker for the slides.



Abstract:
In the past decades, numerous promising solar cell concepts, ranging from single-crystallized silicon to thin-film based technologies, have been developed and are being studied intensely by an increasing number of scientific groups and companies. Within the thin-film based photovoltaic technology, kesterite-based Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTS) photovoltaics, which is the analogous of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)₂ (CIGS) photovoltaics, has emerged as a potential candidate absorber material for the next generation thin film solar cells due to their advantages of earth-abundance and low-cost requirements. In spite of the latest demonstration of solution-processed CZTS devices with over 12% power conversion efficiency, the development of CZTS as an absorber material is still behind in terms of both fundamental understanding of the material system and in the capability to precisely control the formation of MoSe₂ layer underneath of the absorber CZTS and Mo substrate for high-efficiency CZTS device, as compared with those of CIGS and CdTe. In this talk, I will present three key areas in this field to enhance the device performances, which include (1) Defect characterization and its relationship to carrier dynamics; (2) Modification of the interface of CZTS/Mo and (3) Solution-processing with environmentally friendly solvents for large-scale production.

170429 Affective Valence Signals Agency within and between Individuals

Title:
Affective Valence Signals Agency within and between Individuals

Speaker:
Yen-Ping Chang (UNC Chapel Hill)

Time:
04/29 (Sat.) 15:00 PDT, 16:00 MDT, 17:00 CDT, 18:00 EDT,
04/30 (Sun.) 06:00 Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/4644635972/


Abstract:
Affective valence is a core component of all emotional experiences. Building on recent evidence and theory, we reason that valence informs individuals about their agency—the mental capability of doing and intending. Expressed affect may also lead to perceptions of agency by others. Supporting the hypothesis that valence influences self- and other-perception of agency, across five studies, we showed that participants perceived more agency in themselves in positive versus neutral and negative personal and interpersonal events. Participants also perceived more agency in fictional characters showing positive versus negative affect, regardless of how acceptable the characters’ behavior was. Finally, we had participants personify 24 specific emotions across the valence dimension, and found that the more positive and less negative an emotion was, the more agency participants ascribed to the “person”. We discuss the results in terms of how valence may help with human self-and social regulation.

170422 Carving Out the Landscape of Worlds

Title:
Carving out the landscape of worlds

Speaker:
林穎璇 (Caltech) 
Disclaimer: 為增進聽眾的理解 演講內容將科學事實簡化而不盡嚴謹

Time:
04/22 (Sat.) 15:00 PDT, 16:00 MDT, 17:00 CDT, 18:00 EDT,
04/23 (Sun.) 06:00 Taiwan

Link:
Join the talk on BlueJeans: https://bluejeans.com/4644635972/


Abstract:
The set of physical laws governing our universe is not the only mathematically consistent possibility. Within the framework of quantum field theory, there is a vast landscape of “alternative worlds”, each described by a different theory. In this talk, I will paint you a road map to this landscape of theories, using conformal field theories as landmarks. I will provide a cartoon definition of conformal field theories, and explain a novel method for solving these theories — the conformal bootstrap.