Habitat for humanities

The Chicago Humanities Festival comes to a close this week, ending two week of public programming in film, theater, literature and science. The remaining exhibitions, lectures and performances all revolve around the theme, “The Climate of Concern.” For schedule details, visit chfestival.org.

Howard Markel: “Epidemics and Our Anxiety Over Infectious Diseases”
Markel, author of When Germs Travel, raises the scary prospect of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, which he says are on the rise thanks to climate change, ease of travel and other factors. Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S State St at Van Buren St (312-494-9509). Sat 10, 10:30–11:30am. $5.

“Governing the Great Lakes—Past, Present and Future”
According to this talk, freshwater will become a commodity more highly valued than oil. A panel of environmental and policy experts from various disciplines discuss how the Great Lakes’ water supply, shared by eight U.S. states and Canada, might be governed and managed in the future. Rubloff Auditorium, Art Institute of Chicago, 230 S Columbus Dr at Monroe St (312-494-9509). Sat 10, 4–5:30pm. $5.

Wars of Scarcity Discussion
With the crisis in Sudan as a launching point, panel members discuss the probability of future wars over access to increasingly scarce resources such as oil, land and water. Hear from Sudanese refugee Valentino Achak Deng; Sudan Education Initiative codirector Abraham Awolich; and What Is the What author Dave Eggers, whose book recounts Deng’s experience. Thorne Auditorium, Northwestern University, 375 E Chicago Ave at Lake Shore Dr (312-494-9509). Sat 10, 5–6:30pm. $5.

Ann Druyan with Michael Benson: “Far Out! Deep Space”
Druyan’s work as an author and a television and film writer investigates the possible effects of science and technology on our civilization. Her portfolio includes several books, the film Contact and the TV series Cosmos. For this talk, she’ll be joined by Benson, an award-winning filmmaker and photographer who authored Beyond: Visions of the Interplanetary Probes. Thorne Auditorium, Northwestern University, 375 E Chicago Ave at Lake Shore Dr (312-494-9509). Sun 11, 11am–12:30pm. $5.

Sara Schechner: “Halley’s Comet, Noah’s Flood, and the End of the World”
For centuries, Halley’s Comet was thought to signify the coming apocalypse, war, famine and pestilence. In this talk, astronomy museum curator Schechner discusses the doomsday scenarios people once envisioned. Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 77 E Randolph St at Michigan Ave (312-494-9509). Sun 11, 11am–noon. $5.