Events of Interest—August 2009

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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 August

Health Care Reform: What's the Evidence?

Monday, Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.:
Join NSWA for a discussion on health care reform at the Group Health Center for Health Studies (which will change its name in September to Group Health Research Institute), 1730 Minor Ave., Room 1509A/B (between Olive Way and Howell, near I-5).

During this season when health care reform is daily national news, local science writers are curious about the science behind it all. Group Health Center for Health Studies has been doing comparative effectiveness research since before it had a name. That means research to figure out what works — and what doesn't — in health care. The goal: keeping people healthy and caring for the sick, without breaking the bank.

MODERATOR: David Ansley of NSWA.

PANELISTS: Eric Larson, Greg Simon, Bruce Psaty, and Paul Fishman, Ph.D., of Group Health and the University of Washington.

HOW MUCH: Free for NSWA members; $5 for non-members. Appetizers, wine, and beer provided.

RSVP to: Rebecca Hughes at hughes.r@ghc.org by Wednesday Aug. 12.

NSWA Board Meeting

Monday, Aug. 17, 5 p.m.:
The monthly NSWA board meeting will also be held at the Center for Health Studies, before the event on health care reform. Contact Michael Bradbury at mbradbury@realscience.us for more information.

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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Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2 p.m.:
The Museum of Flight will host a robot rover-building workshop for families. During this two-hour session, participants will use the museum's robotics kits to explore the basic engineering skills required to build a successful extra-terrestrial rover. Venue: Museum of Flight, Side Gallery.
Information: http://www.museumofflight.org/calendar

Saturday, Aug. 15, 2 p.m.:
The Museum of Flight will host a panel discussion with survivors of the fire on the deck of the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise aircraft carrier on Jan. 14, 1969, when 28 lives were lost and 343 were injured. Venue: Museum of Flight, William M. Allen Theater.
Information: http://www.museumofflight.org/calendar

Monday, Aug. 17, 5 p.m.:
The monthly NSWA board meeting will be held at the Center for Health Studies, before the "Health Care Reform: What's the Evidence?" event (see details in the next entry).
Contact Michael Bradbury at mbradbury@realscience.us for more information.

Monday, Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.:
Join NSWA for a discussion on health care reform titled "Health Care Reform: What's the Evidence?" RSVP to Rebecca Hughes at hughes.r@ghc.org by Wednesday, Aug. 12. During this season when health care reform is daily national news, local science writers are curious about the science behind it all. Group Health Center for Health Studies has been doing comparative effectiveness research since before it had a name. That means research to figure out what works—and what doesn't—in health care. The goal: keeping people healthy and caring for the sick, without breaking the bank. David Ansley of NSWA will moderate. Panelists include Eric Larson, Greg Simon, Bruce Psaty and Paul Fishman, PhD, of Group Health and the UW. Free for NSWA members; $5 for non-members. Appetizers, wine and beer provided. Venue: Group Health Center for Health Studies (which will change its name in September to Group Health Research Institute), 1730 Minor Ave., Room 1509A/B (between Olive Way and Howell, near I-5).
Information: http://www.nwscience.org

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m.:
Joan Hockaday and David Streatfield, UW professor, will discuss Hockaday’s new book Greenscapes: Olmstead’s Pacific Northwest. Frederick Law Olmsted designed New York's Central Park, the most familiar examples of a pastoral space in an urban setting. His stepson John Charles Olmsted believed in his stepfather and mentor's vision for healthy urban life, and brought those ideas with him when he came to Portland and Seattle to design our park systems. Venue: University Book Store.
Information: http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Thursday, Aug. 20, 4 p.m.:
Jerry Nadler will present a seminar titled "Inflammation Pathway Cross-Talk Linking Visceral Obesity, Beta Cell Damage and Athersclerosis." The seminar is presented by the UW’s Diabetes & Obesity Center of Excellence. Venue: Orin Smith Auditorium, Administration Building, UW Medicine South Lake Union Research Complex.
Information: http://www.diabetes-obesity-center.org

Saturday, Aug. 22, 2 p.m.:
Diane Bartels, author of Sharpie: The Life Story of Evelyn Sharp, will discuss Sharp and her adventures as a barnstorming pilot who became one of the first women to ferry U.S. Army Air Force fighters during World War II and gave her life in the process. Venue: Museum of Flight.
Information: http://www.museumofflight.org/calendar

Monday, Aug. 24, 5:30 p.m.:
W. Conrad Liles, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Toronto General Hospital, will give a talk titled "Beyond Antimalarials - Harnessing the Host Response to Improve Clinical Outcome in Cerebral Malaria," The talk is part of the Washington Global Health Alliance Discovery Series. Venue: UW Foege Auditorium, Room S-060.
Information: http://depts.washington.edu/deptgh/resource_center/ghevents_lect_wghads.php

Thursday, Aug. 27, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Note: registration is from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a reception from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.):
Jill Tarter, director of the Center for SETI Research, and Don Brownlee from the UW’s Department of Astronomy will engage in a discussion titled "The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Is Anything or Anybody Out There?" The Jodie Foster character in the movie Contact is largely based on Tarter, a 2009 TED Award recipient as a "thought-provoking, action-oriented individual who has a good chance to change the world as we know it." Brownlee is principal investigator of NASA's Stardust comet sample return mission and the author of Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe. Given their different stances, how are each conducting their research, and what sorts of specialized instruments are being used? If life does exist, where do they think it will be found and in what form? Should we bring back soil samples from Mars to test for life? What kind of funding is being allocated to the search, and what have they discovered to date or on the horizon that we might not know about? This event is sponsored by the Experience Music Project, and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Venue: Science Fiction Museum at the Experience Music Project, Seattle Center, 325 Fifth Ave.
Information: Contact Sara Neppl, CityClub program & administrative coordinator, at sneppl@seattlecityclub.org

Saturday, Aug. 29, 2 p.m.:
Artist Paul Calle was hired by NASA to document the space program during the 1960s and was the only artist allowed to observe and sketch preflight preparations for Apollo 11. The Museum of Flight will be the exclusive host of a new exhibit of approximately 20 original sketches and paintings of Apollo 11 scenes by Calle. In conjunction with the exhibit, the artist and his son Chris Calle will be at the museum to talk about NASA art and the Apollo missions. Venue: Museum of Flight, William M. Allen Theater.
Information: http://www.museumofflight.org/calendar

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.:
T.R. Reid, NPR commentator and author, will give a talk titled "A Quest for Better Health." According to the World Health Organization, the United States, the richest country in the world, ranks 37th overall on health care costs, quality and coverage. As politicians, providers and the general public debate how to reform America’s health care system, Reid takes a more global view. He visited successful health care systems around the world, examining why other countries have more accessible, cheaper health care than the United States. Presented as part of the Future of Health Lecture Series with University Book Store. Tickets are $5 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com or (800) 838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. Town Hall members receive priority seating. Venue: Town Hall Seattle.
Information: http://www.townhallseattle.org/calendar.cfm

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.:
Alison Gopnik will give a talk titled "Breakthroughs in Infant Development." Scientists used to believe that babies were irrational and cognitively limited. Recent research has shown that babies learn more, create more, care more and experience more than we could have imagined. In book The Scientist in the Crib, Gopnik argued that there is good reason to believe that babies are actually smarter, more thoughtful and even more conscious than adults. In her latest book, The Philosophical Baby, the author, psychologist and mother explains the groundbreaking new science around the psychological and philosophical development of very young children. This event is presented as part of Seattle Science Lectures, with Pacific Science Center, University Book Store and Seattle's Child. 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. Babies are welcome. Venue: Town Hall Seattle.
Information: http://www.townhallseattle.org/calendar.cfm

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.:
Carol Yoon, Bellingham biologist and journalist, will discuss her new book Naming Nature. From Linnaeus, whose system turned classification from a hobby to a science, and Darwin, who ended the idea of rigid species definitions, to today’s dream of naming all of Earth’s species and listing them online, Yoon investigates the poetic and deeply human need to label the natural world, and what such a drive means to us today. Presented as part of Seattle Science Lectures, with Pacific Science Center and University Book Store. Tickets are $5 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com or (800) 838-3006, and at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. Town Hall members receive priority seating. Venue: Town Hall Seattle.
Information: http://www.townhallseattle.org/calendar.cfm

Additions? Corrections? Write calendar@nwscience.org.