Events of Interest—October 2008

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Note: Some events may require advance reservation, admission fees and/or a minimum age (for example, for events where alcohol is served).

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Featured Events in October

Congratulations

NSWA member and Cosmic Log author Alan Boyle for winning a national award from the National Academies of Science for his “pioneering efforts to bring daily coverage of the physical sciences, and technological innovation and space science to broad new audiences on a popular news site.” Read more about Boyle’s award at http://ksjtracker.mit.edu/?p=7512

Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment

Thursday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m.
Come meet the Northwest’s leaders in brain cancer research. Tour Swedish Neuroscience’s world-class Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment. Participate in a panel discussion about brain cancer in our region. Swedish Neuroscience Institute has announced the official unveiling of the first community-based multidisciplinary brain tumor treatment center in the Northwest. The Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment’s unique design places its world-class research facility directly adjacent to the patient clinic, providing patients with instant access to promising new therapies discovered through gene-sequencing technologies. As part of the Swedish Neuroscience Institute, located in Swedish Medical Center’s Cherry Hill Campus, the center is the first brain tumor-specific facility of its kind in the Northwest and is providing new hope for patients with all stages of brain tumors, including brain cancer. Please join the center for a private media tour and learn more about the life-changing research that will be conducted within the facility. Tours will include access to the following:

• The Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment patient clinic as well as a team of skilled doctors available for questions.

• A recent patient of the center for a question and answer session.

• The center’s laboratory and first-hand access to state-of-the-art technology including gene-sequencers and a look into the lab’s brain tumor tissue bank.

• The Cyber Knife facility where small tumors can be “zapped” out by highly concentrated levels of radiation.

A panel discussion will feature the region’s experts on brain cancer and the science behind the technology that provides hope for a cure for brain cancer. WHERE: Tour begins at Swedish Medical Center’s Conference and Education Center (First Floor, Room “C”) at the Cherry Hill campus located in the James Tower, 550 17th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 (Corner of Cherry St. and Jefferson St. on 18th Ave.) Street parking is available. A parking garage is located on 16th Avenue. If you park in the garage, follow the sky bridge to the east, continue through the hospital and head toward 18th Avenue).

NSWA Board Meeting

Monday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.
NSWA monthly board meeting. Contact Michael Bradbury at mikeb@seanet.com to RSVP and get venue information.

NSWA Freelance Friday Happy Hour

Contact Lisa Farino (LisaFarino@gmail.com) about the next freelance happy hour. You don’t need to be a freelancer to attend. Everyone is welcome.

NSWA Annual Meeting/CASW New Horizons

REMINDER: The registration deadline for the National Association of Science Writers’ (NASW) annual conference Oct. 24-29 in Palo Alto, Calif., is Monday, Oct. 6. An early bird registration discount applies until Monday, Sept. 1. The “ScienceWriters 2008” conference is an opportunity for science writers to network, attend a variety of professional development workshops and science briefings, and explore Bay Area environs on field trips designed with science in mind. Information and registration: http://www.sciencewriters2008.org

Join NSWA

As an NSWA member, you get discounts on some of our events, inside information on job openings and other opportunities, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re supporting the Pacific Northwest’s community of science communicators. Annual dues are just $20.

For information or to join, visit our Join page.

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Tuesday, Oct. 7, 12:30 p.m.
Sean Shaheen assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Denver, gives a talk titled “Organic Photovoltaics: From Molecular Design to Industrial Scale Fabrication.” Organic photovoltaics (OPV) are poised to become a commercial reality—at least for some applications—within the next few years. Shaheen will provide an overview of the operational mechanisms of OPV and discuss what parameters are currently limiting power conversion efficiency. He also will discuss the prospects for commercialization and touch upon issues of device stability and manufacturing scale-up that are crucial for industrial development. This event is presented by the UW Center for Nanotechnology. Venue: UW Bagley Hall, Room 260.
Information: http://www.nano.washington.edu

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Keith David, National Public Radio’s “Math Guy,” discusses “The Unfinished Game: Pascal, Fermat and the Seventeenth-Century Letter that Made the World Modern.” Until the mid-17th century, mathematicians generally agreed that it was impossible to accurately determine the likelihood of one event occurring rather than another. Everything changed in 1654 when French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote to Pierre de Fermat describing a method to predict mathematical futures. Devlin traces the history of Pascal’s letter, explaining how vital risk management is to modern life and how radically humanity was changed by it. Sponsored by Town Hall and University Book Store. Part of the Town Hall Center for Civic Life. Tickets are $5 and are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com, (800) 838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. Town Hall members receive priority seating. Venue: Town Hall Seattle, downstairs.
Information: http://www.townhallseattle.org

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.
David Boose, evolutionary biologist and professor at Gonzaga University, gives a talk titled “What Can Evolution Tell Us About God?” as part of Science on Tap. The talk highlights “Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia” series of programs at the Pacific Science Center (PSC). Presented by PSC and KCTS Public Television. Venue: T.S. McHugh’s Irish Pub.
Information: http://www.scienceontap.org

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Terry Tempest Williams speaks as part of the Seattle Arts and Lectures series. Williams has been called a “citizen writer” who speaks out eloquently on behalf of an ethical stance toward life. A naturalist and advocate for freedom of speech, she explores how environmental issues are social issues that become matters of justice. She is the author of the environmental classic, Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place. Her latest work is Finding Beauty in a Broken World. She won a Guggenheim fellowship and teaches in the Environmental Humanities Program at the University of Utah. Program sponsored by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Glant Textiles, and underwritten by the National Endowment for the Arts with support from North Cascades Institute. Venue: Benaroya Hall.
Information and tickets: http://www.lectures.org/current2008-09.html

Thursday, Oct. 9 to Saturday, Oct. 11
UW, the National Science Foundation and Microsoft Research present the 2008 Workshop on Neural Engineering. More than 100 local researchers interested in Neural Engineering will attend. Scheduled lecture topics include insect flight, brain-computer interfaces and using the brain to control a robotic arm. Registration is free. Venue: Microsoft Campus, Redmond, WA.
Information and Registration: http://neuralengineering.washington.edu/workshop.html

Friday, Oct. 10, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Colleen Delaney from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center will discuss using umbilical cord blood to save lives as part of the Washington Technology Alliance’s Science and Discovery Series. The series is designed for business and community leaders who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in Washington. Venue: Rainier Club, downtown Seattle.
Information and tickets: http://www.technology-alliance.com

Saturday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Pacific Science Center and the City of Bellevue welcome everyone to the grand opening of the expanded Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center. Tucked in the heart of Bellevue, the Mercer Slough is “a gem in the Northwest landscape.” This 320-acre nature park is home to hundreds of diverse plants and animals that depend on this unique ecosystem for survival. The expanded center brings thousands of school children and families from throughout our region face-to-face with this precious resource. The celebration includes talks on the history of Mercer Slough, the scope and importance of local watersheds, salmon, green architecture at the center, energy efficiency, and more. Hands-on workshops will explore topics including animal tracks, birds, wetlands, owl pellets and more. Other activities include native species on-site planting, exploring water creatures in the ponds, toddler hikes, and a tour of facilities with park rangers. Venue: Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, 4333 Factoria Boulevard S.E., Bellevue.
Information: http://www.pacsci.org/events

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2 p.m.
The Museum of Flight presents “The Boeing 707: Fifty Years of the Jet Age in Commercial Aviation.” During the mid-1950s, Boeing made a risky gamble to redesign the “Dash 80” into a passenger jet airliner. Pan Am flew the new Boeing 707 on its first commercial flight from New York to Paris on Oct. 26, 1958. Join the museum for a panel discussion with those who were involved in the introduction of this historic aircraft into commercial aviation. The panel will include Joe Sutter, 707 chief aerodynamicist; Brien Wygle, 707 test pilot; Peter Morton, 707 training instructor; and Herb Stevenson, 707 captain for Pan Am. Mike Lombardi, Boeing chief historian, will moderate. Program is free with museum admission. Venue: Museum of Flight, William A. Allen Theater.
Information: http://www.museumofflight.org

Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m.
David Macaulay will discuss “The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body” in a free program for children, teens and their families. “The Way We Work” is a visual journey through the human body. Starting with an exploration of the cell, Macaulay proceeds through the major systems of the body, using detailed colored pencil drawings to illustrate how the various parts of the body work both separately and together. He is the winner of a MacArthur “Genius” award and Caldecott Medal. Presented by The Seattle Public Library and Elliott Bay Book Co. Venue: Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave.
Information: http://www.spl.org

Monday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.
NSWA monthly board meeting. Contact Michael Bradbury at mikeb@seanet.com to RSVP and get venue information.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m.
Penelope Eckert, professor of linguistics and anthropology at Stanford University, discusses “Why Do Adolescents Talk?” as part of the Walker Ames Lecture Series. Adolescence is the time when people move from being “just kids,” dependent on adults for identity and social control, toward participating in the wider adult social order. Based on ethnographic and linguistic research in elementary, middle and high schools, Eckert’s lecture will explore the role of linguistic innovation in the emergence and maintenance of the adolescent social order. Sponsored by the UW Graduate School and University Book Store. Free and open to the public. Venue: UW Kane Hall, Room 120.
Information: http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Betty Fussell discusses Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef. Fussell, author of The Story of Corn, has turned her attention to America’s most iconic food. She offers a cultural history of steak, with players ranging from yesterday’s cowboys to today’s corporations which breed, feed, slaughter, package and distribute the animals we turn into meat. In the end, the story of beef becomes the story of our colonial beginnings, of our geography and ecology, and of our national identity. Sponsored by Town Hall and University Book Store. Part of the Town Hall Center for Civic Life. Tickets are $5 and are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com, (800) 838-3006 and at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. Town Hall members receive priority seating. Venue: Town Hall Seattle, downstairs.
Information: http://www.townhallseattle.org

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m.
The Association for Women in Science present “Self-Employed in Biotech: A Panel of Independent Consultants.” Biotechnology companies employ an army of consultants to move their products through the FDA approval process, from overseeing regulatory affairs, supervising toxicology studies and outsourcing manufacturing processes. Where do these consultants come from? What does it take to become a consultant? A panel comprising several independent biotechnology consultants will talk about why they became consultants, and the advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed. Venue: UW South Lake Union Building, first floor auditorium.
Information: http://www.seattleawis.org/events.htm

Thursday, Oct. 16, 5:30 p.m.
The Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI) presents “Global Health 101.” SBRI president and founder Ken Stuart will lead an “Ask the President” session, fieldingquestions on global health. SBRI will provide tours of its labs and offer a hands-on experiment in the BioQuest Learning Lab. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free but space is limited. Please register by Monday, Oct. 13 by contacting Elli Koskella at elli.koskella@sbri.org or (206) 256-7214. Venue: SBRI Discovery Conference Room, 307 Westlake Ave. N.
Information: http://www.sbri.org/news/gh101.asp

Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.
Celebrate the arrival of Lucy, the world’s most famous fossil, as part of Pacific Science Center’s “Science with a Twist” series. Channel your inner archaeologist as you watch a screening of “Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures Of Ethiopia.” As you sip cocktails and sample cuisine from Lucy’s homeland, meet Pasquale Scaturro, the geophysicist whose 2004 team became the first in history to complete the full 3,250-mile descent of the Blue Nile from source to sea. At the end the evening, the Eames IMAX Theater presents “Mystery of the Nile,” which follows Pasquale and his team as they seek to complete a trip that has eluded explorers for centuries. Tickets are $25 and $22 for Pacific Science Center members, and include appetizers and one free drink. Venue: Pacific Science Center.
Information: http://www.pacsci.org/TWIST

Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.
Yoky Matsuoka, UW associate professor of computer science and engineering, gives a talk titled “Where Humans and Robots Connect” as part of UW College of Engineering’s Fall Lecture Series. Matsuoka is a trailblazer in the emerging field of neurobotics, transforming our understanding of how the central nervous system coordinates musculoskeletal action and of how robotic technology can enhance the dexterity and mobility of people with disabilities. She is the winner of a MacArthur “Genius” award and was named one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10.” Presented by the UW College of Engineering and the UW Alumni Association. The event is free but seats fill up quickly. Venue: UW Kane Hall.
Information and registration: https://go.washington.edu/uwaa/events/2008eng_lectures/details.tcl

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Russell Shorto discusses Descartes’ Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict between Faith and Reason. Shorto’s latest work examines the conflict between science and religion, describing how it all got started with the publication of Rene Descartes’ “Discourse on the Method” more than 350 years ago. Descartes’ famous phrase, “I think therefore I am,” is one of the most influential ideas in human history and is the foundation of the scientific method. Part of the Seattle Science Lectures series. Sponsored by Town Hall and University Book Store. Tickets are $5 and are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com, (800) 838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. Town Hall members receive priority seating. Venue: Town Hall Seattle, downstairs.
Information: http://www.townhallseattle.org

Friday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 26
The Northwest Environmental Education Council presents a two-day course titled “Intro to Wild Mushroom Identification on the Olympic Peninsula,” an overview of wild mushroom species, edibility/toxicity and field identification methods. Mycologist Thom O’Dell will be the instructor. Venue: Olympic Park Institute-Lake Crescent, 111 Barnes Point Road, Port Angeles.
Information and registration: Visit http://nweec.org/bio-302_10-08_peninsula.html, or e-mail Marc Stifelman at stifelman@gmail.com.

Friday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m.
Greg Melville discusses Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, a Car Powered by Vegetable Oil, and a Cross-Country Trip in Search of a Greener World. Can you go coast to coast without a single stop at a gas station? Two guys in a car that ran on french-fry oil were determined to try. So they loaded up their diesel station wagon and set out to see sea to shining sea powered by fast food run-off. Venue: University Book Store.
Information: http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Saturday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m.
The Museum of Flight presents a panel discussion with the 368th Fighter Group. A panel of five P-47 Thunderbolt combat pilots from the 368th Fighter Group will share their stories. The 368th was one of the most productive fighter groups during the World War II and received the Presidential Unit Citation. In addition to spearheading the use of pilots as forward air controllers, the 368th was the first unit to first to drop napalm bombs and supported disembarking troops on D-Day. Program is free with museum admission. Venue: Museum of Flight.
Information: http://www.museumofflight.org

Saturday, Oct. 25, 5:30 p.m.
The Museum of Flight and the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) honor Northwest aerospace luminaries Joe Clark and Reba Gilman at the 27th Annual Pathfinder Awards Banquet. The evening’s program will start off with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. in the museum’s Great Gallery and a procession of past Pathfinder awardees at 6:15 p.m., followed by dinner and presentation of the 2008 Pathfinder Awards in the Side Gallery. Seating is limited and by reservation only. Individual tickets start at $100 per person, and table reservations start at $1,500 per table of 10. To purchase tickets or request an invitation, please call (206) 764-5709 or email sewing@museumofflight.org. Venue: Museum of Flight.
Information: sewing@museumofflight.org

Monday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
John Soennichsen discusses Bretz’s Flood: The Remarkable Story of a Rebel Geologist and the World’s Greatest Flood. In the 1920s, legendary geologist J. Harlen Bretz explored the Channeled Scablands, the land between Idaho and the Cascades. And while he was there, he determined the area was created by a flood of epic - and some might say Biblical - proportions. Though satellite photos would one day confirm his theory, at the time a campaign by the geological community tried its best to derail him. Venue: University Book Store.
Information: http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Thursday, Oct. 30 to Saturday, Nov. 1
The inaugural Safety and Security Education and Research conference, co-hosted by the Pacific Rim Visualization and Analytics Center (PARVAC) and the Institute for National Security Education and Research (INSER), will be held on the UW campus. The conference focuses on disaster preparedness, response and recovery. This year’s theme is “Exploring a Regional Cooperation Framework.” Keynote speakers include scientist Gary Klein, UW professor Mark Haselkorn, Captain of the Seattle Port Suzanne Englebert and US Coast Guard Captain Stephen P. Metruck.
Information and registration: http://parvac.washington.edu/events/saser2008/index.php

REMINDER:
The Northwest Association for Biomedical Research needs volunteers for Life Sciences Research Weekend from Friday, Nov. 7, to Sunday, Nov. 9, at Pacific Science Center. Volunteers who are able to staff tables or offer hands-on science activities for children ages 7 to 11 are asked to contact Reitha Weeks at rweeks@nwabr.org.

Additions? Corrections? Write calendar@nwscience.org.