Nick Hornby will be at Politics and Prose Thursday signing copies of his new book.

DCist’s guide to lectures and discussions in the D.C. area

Tuesday:
>> Today begins the Smithsonian’s three day online conference on climate change from 11 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. today through Thursday. Registration is free; find out all about it on their website, which includes a live webcast.

>> Head to Politics and Prose tonight for a 7 p.m. book talk with NYT restaurant critic Frank Bruni, who will be joined by Maureen Dowd. They’ll discuss his memoir, Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater, which “recounts a lifelong love-hate relationship with food, which began when he was a bulimic baby and progressed to eating in his sleep and binging.”

Wednesday:
>> Get out your dancin’ shoes and head to the 14th Street Busboys and Poets this evening. At 6 p.m., the authors of The Beat! Go-Go Music From Washington, D.C will give a lecture about the history of Go-Go and sign their book. Author Ms. Mahdi will interview the Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown, and show clips from the new film Jazz In the Diamond District. The early events are free, but stick around for a performance from Faycez U Know at 9 p.m., which costs $10.

>> Or choose the K Street Busboys instead for a 6 p.m. author event with Christina Asquith and her book Sisters in War: A Story of Love, Family, and Survival in the New Iraq.

>> Head to the National Zoo‘s Visitor Center Auditorium at 7 p.m. for a panel discussion on Cheetahs in Crisis. Panelists include Laurie Marker, founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund; Adrienne Crosier, research biologist at the Zoo; Craig Saffoe, biologist at the Zoo; and Carlos Sanchez, veterinarian at the Zoo. Show up at 6 p.m. to mix and mingle at the cash bar.