Events of Interest—October 2007

Please E-mail NSWA with suggested announcements for the NSWA Business Calendar or Events of Interest list.
Some events may require advance registration or admission fee. Check with the Sponsoring organizations for further details. Please send additions or corrections to deafrost atsign gmail dot com – and feel free to submit events for future calendars. Please put “NSWA-to be posted” in the subject line.

NSWA Business Calendar | University of Washington Events

NASW Science in Society / CASW New Horizons

Registration is open through Tuesday, October 2 for NASW’s Science in Society Meeting, the biggest science writing event to hit the Northwest in years. The meeting will be hosted by Pacific Northwest National Labs and the University of Washington, and will take place in Spokane, WA, at the top-rated and recently restored Davenport Hotel.

The NASW Science in Society Meeting, Oct. 19-20, features networking opportunities with fellow writers and workshops on topics such as freelancing, wrestling big topics, and switching from reporting to PR. It will also feature another round of the ever-popular pitch slam. See the meeting program, register, and learn more about volunteer and fellowship opportunities at the Science in Society Meeting web site.

The NASW meeting will be immediately followed by the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing’s New Horizons in Science Briefing, Oct. 20-23. This is a chance to hear top researchers talk about topics that will make headlines in the coming year. Registration for this portion of the meeting is free. For more info, see the CASW web site, then register online concurrently with NASW.

The NASW/CASW meeting is more intimate than the AAAS and it’s a great chance for both experienced and newbie science writers to meet in a relaxed setting, chat and learn about new topics and skills.

To top it all off, NSWA presents Sleepless in Spokane, Saturday, October 20
Kick up your heels with The Dusty 45s, one of Seattle’s top roots and rockabilly bands. Come see their famous live show, complete with flaming trumpet. Click for Details.

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Thursday, October 4, 11:00 a.m.:
The Northwest Fisheries Science Center MonsterJAM seminar series will feature Dr. Roland Anderson, Invertebrate Curator at the Seattle Aquarium, for their first talk of the quarter. Dr. Anderson’s presentation, entitled: “How Smart are Octopuses?” will take place on in the Northwest Fisheries Science Center Auditorium at 2725 Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle. Additional information about the Monster Seminar JAM Series can be found at
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/events/monster.cfm

Thursday, October 4, 3:30 p.m.:
T.V. Raman of Google Research will present “The Web the Way You Want.” This talk will highlight specialized browsers in the context of accessibility, e.g. for use in mobile environments or by persons with special needs. The talk will conclude with a brief overview of where such Web technologies are headed and what this means to the future of making Web content accessible to all. University of Washington, EE 105.
http://www.cs.washington.edu/news/newdlshome.html

Thursday, October 4, 5:00 p.m.:
Maureen Munn, Ph.D., Scientific Outreach Coordinator UW Department of Genome Sciences will discuss “Science Education Outreach: Bridging the Research and Education Communities” for the Bioscience Career Seminar. UW Health Science Complex, Room T-625.
http://courses.washington.edu/phd/

Thursday, October 4, 5:00 p.m.:
The Experience Music Project and the Science Fiction Museum join the Seattle tradition of celebrating art and culture by offering free admission from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the first Thursday evening of every month. All EMP/SFM Galleries. 325 5th Avenue North, Seattle.
http://www.sfhomeworld.org

Thursday, October 4, 2007, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.:
Astronomy Day at the Museum of Flight is also the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1. Local astronomers and aerospace and astronomy groups converge on the Museum for their annual Astronomy Day – a free First Thursday event. Dr. Roger Wolthius who worked with the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts will talk about “Human Adaptation to Space Flight” in the William M. Allen Theater from 7:00 to 8:30.
http://www.museumofflight.org

Thursday, October 4, 6:30 p.m.:
Dr. Peter Ward, a popular science writer and professor of paleontology at the University of Washington, will discuss climate change and its impact on species survival in one of many worldwide celebrations commemorating the 300th birthday of Carl Linneaus. Dr. Ward’s most recent book, Under a Green Sky: Global Warming, the Mass Extinctions of the Past and What They Can Tell Us About Our Future examines the role of climate change and past cataclysmic extinctions, as well as the possible human-caused catastrophe to come. The Seattle Public Central Library.
http://www.spl.org

Friday, October 5, 7:00 p.m.:
Journalist Chris Mooney and communication professor Matthew Nisbet present “Speaking Science 2.0” in which they explain how scientists and their allies can “reframe” old debates in new ways, remaining true to the science but taking advantage of a fragmented media environment to connect with a broader American public. Drawing on case studies from stem cell research, global warming, evolution, and other subjects, they will emphasize that scientists must adopt a language that combines shared values and broad appeal. This event is sponsored by FOSEP at the Pacific Science Center's Eames IMAX Theater (free admission).
http://www.fosep.org

Saturday, October 6, 10:00 a.m. – 2 p.m.:
Burke Museum archaeologists take you “into the field” at Discovery Park for a look at the natural and cultural history of the Puget Sound on Discovery Park Archaeology Day. Archaeology Day is a free event and is co-sponsored by the Burke Museum and the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation. Parking and check-in is located at the Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center, where a shuttle to the Discovery Park lighthouse will be provided.
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/events/index.php

Sunday, October 7:
Celebrate 30th anniversary of Pacific Science Center’s Willard Smith Planetarium with special open house all day!
http://www.pacsci.org/events/

Tuesday, October 9, 7:30 p.m.:
Dr. Mark Liponis will discuss his latest book (with co-author Mark Lyman), “Ultraprevention,” which outlines a six-week program for reducing the various causes of illness (malnutrition, impaired metabolism and detoxification, inflammation, and oxidative stress) with life-style changes that stop these forces and create a lifetime of good health though personalized nutrition and supplements, stress management, sleep restoration, and gentle movement. Presented as part of the Future of Health series with Kim Ricketts Book Events, Downstairs at Town Hall. Tickets are $5 at the door only.
http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Wednesday, October 10, 12:00:
Ning Zheng, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology, will speak on “Protein Ubiquitination: From Plant Biology to Human Diseases.” This lecture is sponsored by The Office of Research and Graduate Education, School of Medicine New Investigator Science in Medicine series; it will be held in the UW Hogness Auditorium, A-420, Health Sciences Building.
http://uwmedicine.org/Research/ResearchTrainingAndSeminars/SIM.htm

Wednesday, October 10, 7:00 p.m.:
Author Peter Tertzakian will read from and sign A Thousand Barrels a Second: The Coming Oil Break Point and the Challenges Facing an Energy Dependent World. Originally written for investors, Tertzakian’s new book makes a convincing case for a move toward alternative energy sources. This is, in his estimation, “the dawn of a new energy age,” where the U.S. and China must struggle for oil—a resource that just may be nearly exhausted. University District Book Store.
http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Thursday, October 11, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.:
Dr. James L. Mullins, a virologist at the University of Washington, will address the Monster Seminar JAM on “Forces shaping the HIV proteome and a new approach to vaccine immunogen design.” The presentation is at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s auditorium.
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/events/monster.cfm

Thursday, October 11, 7:00 p.m.:
Author and energy issue writer for the Economist, Vijay Vaitheeswaran will read from and sign Zoom: The Global Race to Fuel the Car of the Future at the University District Bookstore. Vaitheeswaran puts it succinctly: “Oil is the problem. Cars are the solution.” Japan, India, China, and the U.S. are right now working on the car of the future, trying to build one that runs on cleaner, renewable energy sources. Zoom explores the history of that race, and looks at the key players searching for the automobile of tomorrow.
http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Friday, October 12, 1:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.:
The “UW Medical Genetics 1957-2007: A 50th Anniversary Celebration Symposium” will bring geneticists and other scientists from UW and elsewhere to give presentations on the history of medical genetics and of the UW Division of Medical Genetics, mechanisms of human genetic disease, ethics, gene therapy, and other topics. Free and open to all. The symposium is sponsored by the Division of Medical Genetics. UW Hogness Auditorium, A420 Health Sciences Complex.
http://depts.washington.edu/medgen/anniversary/index.html

Friday, October 12, 7:00 pm
Matthew Brzezinski will read from and sign Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Hidden Rivalries that Ignited the Space Age. Brzezinski tells the story of the major players (like Lyndon Johnson, Dwight Eisenhower, Nikita Khrushchev, and Werner von Braun) in the quest for the technological and military control of the sky. This is a Seattle Science Lecture, held at the Pacific Science Center and co-sponsored by Town Hall, University Book Store, the Pacific Science Center, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, KUOW and Microsoft. Admission is $5 at the door.
http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Monday, October 15, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.:
A “Behind-the-Scenes Engineering Tour at Benaroya Hall” is being offered by the UW Alumni Association. Benaroya Hall sits directly above the primary rail corridor for the city and adjacent to the Metro Bus Tunnel. The tour will explore how the hall floats on rubber pads to isolate it from the traffic noise. You'll get a peak at the depths of the building as well as the catwalks high above Taper Auditorium and learn about the acoustical engineering that makes it a world class performance hall. For more information and online registration, follow the link below.
https://go.washington.edu/uwaa/events/200710eng_benaroya/details.tcl

Monday, October 15, 7:30 p.m.:
Devra Davis, the Director of the Center for Environmental Oncology and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, will read from and sign Secret History of the War on Cancer. The “War on Cancer,” launched in 1971 by President Nixon, set out to find, treat, and cure a disease. Unfortunately, the “war” was run by the leaders of industries that made cancer-causing products and sometimes also profited from drugs and technologies for finding and treating the disease. Many of the things known to cause cancer—tobacco, the workplace, radiation, and the environment—were left untouched. Davis has written the story of a major public health effort that has been diverted and distorted for private gain. Location: Downstairs at Town Hall, enter on Seneca Street Presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life with University Book Store. http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Wednesday, October 17, 6:30 p.m.:
The Seattle Association for Women in Science (AWIS) will host a presentation by Susan Lauzac, Ph.D., titled “Attention Scientists! Avoid The 13 Deadly Science Career Mistakes.” Lauzac is CEO of Career Journeys, Inc. and president of the Puget Sound Career Development Association. The monthly meeting, open to all who are interested, will be held at UW South Lake Union Building, 815 Mercer St.
http://www.seattleawis.org

Wednesday, October 17, 7:00 p.m.:
Elizabeth Kolbert, author of Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change, the 2007-08 UW Common Book, discusses her global environmental experiences. Register at http://www.uwcommonbook.org (recommended). This event will be held in the Bank of America Arena/Hec Edmundson Pavilion and is sponsored by UW’s Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
http://www.uwcommonbook.org

Wednesday, October 17,
Join the MIT Enterprise Forum and Seattle-based moderator Ross Reynolds of KUOW to learn more about what is enticing local entrepreneurs into a sector that includes bio-feedstocks, processing plant technology, new distribution chains and more. “Surfing the Perfect Storm: Opportunities and Challenges in the Emerging Biofuels Industry” Panelists for the program will include: Rob Elam, CEO of Propel Biofuels, Tomas Endicott, Chairman of Sequential Biofuels, Dan Parker, CEO of Parker Messana, and Michael Weaver, CEO of Bionavitas.
http://www.mitwa.org/

Wednesday, October 17 at 7 p.m.:
The annual presentation of the Washington State Book Awards, an annual, juried honor given to books by Washington authors published in 2006 will be held at the Seattle Public Central Library. Congratulations to History/Biography winner: Timothy Egan, The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl and General Nonfiction winners: John Marzluff and Tony Angell, In the Company of Crows and Ravens. A public reception follows the award ceremony. Free admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.
http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=calendar

Thursday, October 18, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.:
Dr. Ashley Steel, Research Biologist at the Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center will speak on “Science education and the future shortage of scientific thinkers: Local solutions to a problem that affects us all.” Northwest Fisheries Science Center auditorium.
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/events/monster.cfm

Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 6:00 p.m.
Science with a Twist presents “Monster Legends,” an adult happy hour; and film viewing opportunity. "Have you ever had a close encounter with Big Foot or thought you’ve spotted Nessie through the morning mist over Lake Washington? Join us for a hauntingly good happy hour, then get face to face with the creatures of “Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure in IMAX.” Tickets are $15 and include one drink from the bar, $12 for Pacific Science Center members. You must be 21 or older to attend, ID required.
http://www.pacsci.org/events/

Thursday, October 18, 7:00 p.m.:
The College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Scandinavian Studies and the UW Alumni Association will welcome Swedish Diplomat Dr. Hans Blix to the UW’s Seattle Campus for a guest lecture, “From a Cold War to a Cold Peace: Time for a Revival of Disarmament?” Dr. Blix will discuss the impact of our current political climate on world affairs and share his insight and expertise regarding instituting change via weapons control. UW Kane Hall, Room 130. Advance registration is requested.
https://go.washington.edu/uwaa/events/2007hansblix_lecture/details.tcl

Thursday, October 18, 7:00 p.m.:
UW journalism professor Lance Bennett sees a disturbing trend in the contemporary news media: it's more interested in power and political wrangling than in acting as an independent watchdog. Bennett explores the ways the press can continue to serve the public, not the power players. He will read from and sign his work, When the Press Fails: Political Power and the News Media from Iraq to Katrina at the University District Book Store.
http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Friday, October 19, 7:00 p.m.:
Dr. Oliver Sacks, the internationally-acclaimed writer/physician, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, A Leg to Stand On, An Anthropologist on Mars, Seeing Voices, and more, will be the featured speaker for the “Future of Health Series.” He is here this evening with his newest work, Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain. Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Public Central Library but NOTE: The Library will close at its regular 6 p.m. Friday time, but will reopen at the Fourth Avenue entrance at 6:30 p.m. Special $5 parking coupons (a limited number) for the Library parking garage will be available for those attending. For more information, please see
http://www.spl.org or call (206) 386-4636.

Saturday, October 20, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.:
The Science Fiction Museum hosts Family Days every 3rd Saturday of the month. Family Day activities include art projects, music demonstrations, special tours and workshops for everyone. Bring the family and join us for a day of fun and creativity!
http://www.sfhomeworld.org

Monday, October 22, 7:30 p.m.:
For more than thirty-five years, Nobel-nominated Dr. Helen Caldicott has been an articulate and passionate voice speaking about the public hazards of every form of nuclear technology. In the face of global warming there’s been a recent uptick of interest in nuclear technology as a sustainable energy source. Caldicott argues that nuclear power will not reduce global warming or our dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, she believes that new generations of nuclear reactors are not safe, that the potential for catastrophic accident or terrorist attack outweigh potential benefits, and that we are already being harmed by the radiation from nuclear power plants. This lecture is one of the “Future of Health Series,” presented with Antioch University and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Elliott Bay Book Company at the Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue.
http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Monday, October 22, 7:30 p.m.:
Jennifer Ackerman will read from and sign, Sex, Sleep, Drink, Eat, Dream: A Day in the Life of Your Body. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave. Science writer Ackerman uses a single day to frame her look at how the fleshy vehicle of our consciousness functions. She begins with the alarm in the morning, and peers beneath the skin through a day’s activity—and even stops for a look at the midday nap. Presented as part of the Seattle Science Lectures.
http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Tuesday, October 23, 7:30 p.m.:
Florian Schulz, a German-born wildlife photographer, will discusses his experiences photographing the Yellowstone to Yukon mountain ecosystem over 10 years in this Seattle Town Hall lecture and slide show. Schulz’s photos, on display at the Burke Museum in “Yellowstone to Yukon: Freedom to Roam,” capture not only the beauty and drama of North America’s wild places, but also document the impact of human development on some of the last remaining continuous wild habitat on the continent. This talk is presented by the Burke Museum with support from The Mountaineer Books, Elliott Bay Book Company, and Seattle Town Hall.
http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Tuesday, October 23, 7:00 p.m.:
Buddy D. Ratner, Professor of Bioengineering, will present “Rebuilding the Baby Boomer: Replacement Parts for the 21st Century” as the kickoff topic for the free lecture series “Engineering Lecture Series, Engineering the Best: Boomers, A Bridge and the Boeing 787” that move research to real world applications. UW Kane Hall, Room 110. http://www.washington.edu/alumni//clubs/eng/2007lectures_1023.html
https://go.washington.edu/uwaa/events/2007eng_lectures/details.tcl

Wednesday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.:
For nearly 30 years, boys have been falling further behind girls in nearly every subject in school. A major cause is that boys read less than girls. Award-winning young adult author Walter Dean Myers will explore the relationship between boys and books, and discuss how we can work together to foster boys’ love of reading. The annual Spencer Shaw Lecture promotes the art and techniques of storytelling, and the joy of reading and sharing stories for learning and enjoyment.
https://go.washington.edu/uwaa/events/2007ischool_shawlecture/details.tcl

Wednesday, October 24, 6:30 p.m.:
Mark Matthews will read from and sign A Great Day to Fight Fire: Mann Gulch, 1949 at the Seattle Public Library, Montlake Branch, 2401 24th Avenue E, Seattle. In 1949, sixteen men battled a wildfire in Mann Gulch, Montana. Only three made it out alive. Because of this tragedy, the Forest Service developed safety equipment and training methods. In the 50 years since, no one talked openly about it—until Montana writer Mark Matthews convinced families, coworkers, and friends to end their silence.
http://www.spl.org/

Wednesday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.:
Former rock musician turned cognitive neuroscientist, Daniel J. Levitin will read from and sign This Is Your Brain On Music: The Science of a Human Obsession at the University District Book Store.
http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Wednesday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.:
Pepper Schwartz, professor of Sociology and author of numerous books on sex-related topics, will speak at this public lecture, "Why We Are Still Scared of Sex." UW Kane Hall, Room 210. Attendance is free, but seating is limited so registration is required. Please go to http://www.soc.washington.edu/RSVP to register, using the code “Pepper.”
http://www.soc.washington.edu/RSVP

Thursday, October 25, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.:
Dr. Laurie Weitkamp, Res. Biologist, Conservation Biology, NWFSC Newport Research Station, will discuss “Where in the ocean are they? Chinook and coho salmon ocean migration patterns inferred from coded wire tag recoveries.” This presentation will be at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center auditorium for the MonsterJam seminar series.
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/events/monster.cfm

Saturday and Sunday, October 27-28:
Enjoy “Tricks Treats & Science Feats” at the Pacific Science Center with your favorite little guys and ghoulies. They'll have treat stations, face painting, Halloween themed planetarium shows, demonstrations, and bug handling as the highlights of this event. Guests will learn about bats, spiders, and cockroaches against a Halloween backdrop. Rhys Thomas’ Science Circus shows will bring basic physics to life.
http://www.pacsci.org/events/

Thursday, October 25, 7:30 p.m.:
Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus are veteran environmental advocates who two years ago authored a provocative article, “The Death of Environmentalism,” in which they criticized environmental movement for its unwillingness and inability to present a bold, positive vision for the country. They believe that a new kind of aspirational politics that resonates with modern American values is required to address both the big picture of global climate change and as specific issues such as American oil dependency. Shellenberger and Nordhaus will launch their new book, Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility, at Town Hall Seattle.
http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Friday, October 26, 7:00 p.m.:
Geneticist David Suzuki, well-known as the host of the television series The Nature of Things and recently featured in Leonardo DeCaprio's film The 11th Hour, gives a keynote address entitled "Sustainability within a Generation." Suzuki's remarks will be followed by panel discussion featuring local community leaders addressing how a "sustainable Cascadia" can be achieved. Town Hall Seattle, Great Hall, enter on 8th Avenue. Advance tickets are $25/$22 students at http://www.brownpapertickets.com or 800/838-3006. $30/$28 at the door.
http://www.sustainablecascadia.org
http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Monday, October 29, 7:30 p.m.:
Henry Petroski is a civil engineer and the prolific author of many books on the history of industrial design. Author of To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design and The Pencil, Petroski displays his flair for combining technical expertise and cultural acumen in a new book about one of the oldest and simplest of manufactured things in The Toothpick. Presented at Town Hall with Elliott Bay Book Company.
http://www.townhallseattle.org/

Monday, October 29, 7:00 p.m.:
Science on Tap will bring Joshua Tewksbury, Department of Biology, University of Washington, to the Pub at Ravenna Third Place where he will open up a discussion of “The Biological Impacts of Climate Change: trouble in the tropics.” http://www.scienceontap.org

Tuesday, October 30, 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.:
Elson Floyd, PhD, new President of Washington State University, will be the keynote speaker at the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA) Annual Meeting the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 30. Floyd will discuss the statewide vision of WSU, Washington’s land grant university, with regard to global health, the life sciences and economic development. WSU has a diverse population of more than 23,000 students in 10 colleges and graduate school and campuses in Pullman, Spokane, the Tri-Cities and Vancouver. WSU has strengths across the life sciences, including advanced plant science, zoonotic disease, diabetes, sleep research, cancer therapies and others, with spin-off bioscience companies located around the state working in areas as diverse as animal science, reproductive medicine and oncology. The meeting will be held at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel; $80.00 WBBA members/$175 for non-members/No Charge for pre-approved members of the media. Contact pamlove@washbio.org if you would like to attend as comp’d media; non-media online registration at
http://www.washbio.org.

Tuesday, October 30, 4:00 p.m.:
Eric Schadt, Ph.D., Executive Scientific Director, Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC., will discuss “Constructing predictive regulatory networks in yeast and other species from large-scale data integration: The real deal or just more hype?” Sponsored by the Department of Microbiology ; Room T-733, UW Health Sciences Center.
http://depts.washington.edu/micro/

Tuesday, October 30, 7:00 p.m.:
The Provost Distinguished Lecture will feature “At the leading edge of an Environmental Renaissance” by Dr. John Delaney. Many natural phenomena that occur throughout the world’s oceans and seafloor also occur in, on, and above the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate, which sits just off our coast. Scientists with the National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative will use a planned underwater research observatory associated with the plate to investigate such global processes as major ocean currents, active earthquake zones, creation of new seafloor, and rich environments of marine plants and animals in an effort to explore and better understand this last frontier on Earth.
https://go.washington.edu/uwaa/events/200710provost_delaney/details.tcl

Wednesday, October 31, 2:30 p.m.:
Dr. Stephen Waxman, PhD, Director of the Center for Neuroscience & Regeneration Research at Yale University School of Medicine, will lecture on “Playing with Fire: Multiple Roles of Sodium Channels in Neurological Disease” Presented by Charles Chavkin, Chair of the Allan and Phyllis Treuer Endowed Lecture on Pain Research. Sponsored by the Pharmacology Department in UW Health Science Building, T-625/
http://courses.washington.edu/phcol507/schedule.shtml