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Past Pubs
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- May 21 — Water is ubiquitous in our world. Nearly 3/4 of the earth's surface is covered with water, and water constitutes 2/3 of the human body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to different parts of the body while removing toxins and waste. It regulates body temperature through perspiration, reduces friction between joints, and acts as a cushion between organs in order to protect them. We know a lot about what it does but continue to be perplexed by some of the most fundamental issues regarding how it carries out many of these important tasks. Join us for a conversation about the magic and mysteries of this elixir of life.
With Geri Richmond, University of Oregon http://richmondscience.uoregon.edu/
Professor Geri Richmond holds the Richard M. and Patricia H. Noyes Professorship in Chemistry at the University of Oregon. Richmond is recognized for her fundamental studies of molecular processes at water surfaces using state-of-the-art laser techniques. She has received numerous national and international awards honors for these studies with over 150 publications to her credit. Richmond is also known widely for her innovative science teaching and outreach efforts, particularly in developing science literacy courses, communicating science to the general public and encouraging more girls and women to follow science careers.
- April 30 — The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens leveled more than 150-square miles of forest and captured the imagination of volcano enthusiasts around the world. The area around the volcano has become an important laboratory for understanding volcanic processes and how ecosystems respond to large-scale disturbance. Peter Frenzen will describe 26-years of landscape change and major lessons learned at one of nature's youngest and most accessible volcanoes. Repeat photographs will reveal amazing changes that have taken place in a matter of minutes, over decades, and during two-years of continuous eruptive activity.
Peter Frenzen, Monument Scientist, USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
- March 26 —Fire has been present in the forests of the Pacific Northwest long before the arrival of European man, and will likely continue to play an important role in our wildlands for coming generations. The past 100 years have seen many attempts to suppress fires across Oregon and the West, but often to no avail: the 2002 Biscuit Fire in southern Oregon burned for several months and cost hundreds of millions in suppression costs, yet only stopped its forward spread when the rains came. The recently completed 2006 fire season saw the Federal agencies spend over $1 Billion again. The March Science Pub will address the natural role of fire in the Pacific northwest, the changes that have occurred since the days of Lewis and Clark, and the ever changing expectations and demands of the American public as they move away from the urban setting and into the areas now being called the "wildland-urban interface".
Dick Mangan of Missoula, Montana is a retired member of the US Forest Service in Fire Management and now has a private fire consulting company, Blackbull Wildfire Services. He served as the President of the International Association of Wildland Fire for 2004-2006 (www.iawfonline.org), and has lectured on wildfire issues across the US and Canada, as well as in Spain, Portugal, Australia and Siberia. Dick remains active in wildfire suppression operations, working as the Operations Chief or Safety Officer on some of the US's largest wildfires.
- February 26 — The iPod has become a cultural icon, and an estimated 14 million will be purchased during the 2006 holiday frenzy. Lawsuits, rumors, accusations are flying around about the role of iPods in the current epidemic of noise-induced hearing losses, especially among young people. Sure, loud sound must be able to damage ears, but how much sound is required? Can iPods or other personal stereo systems cause deafness? What can I do to save my ears?
Dr. Billy Martin is a world-renowned hearing scientist who deals with all kinds of noise that affects our community. He leads a team of Portland area scientists, educators, clinicians, public health experts and others in the study of noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus prevention. Dr. Martin will talk about the dangerous noises in our every day life - what they are, what damage they cause, and how to protect yourself... iPods included.
Dr. Billy Martin, Professor of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery at OHSU
January 29 — Embryonic stem cell research has been an extremely divisive topic that needs sustained, thoughtful conversation to be able to develop sound public policy. To enter into such a conversation, it is vital to understand the basic biological concepts of early human embryonic development, the current state of technology with respect to embryo manipulation, and the prospects for use of embryonic stem cells. Dr. Sardinia will explore
questions surrounding the ethical limits of embryo manipulation, and how concrete results of advances in stem cell technology can be distributed in a time of limited resources.
For some information on stem cell research and controversy, watch this NOVA ScienceNow segment that aired on April 19, 2005. Though some of the research findings are outdated, the video provides a good background on the topic:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3209/04.html
Dr. Lisa Sardinia, Associate Professor of Biology at Pacific University
Additional resources:
Books
Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential (Paperback)
by Ann A. Kiessling
The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy (Basic Bioethics) (Paperback)
by Suzanne Holland (Editor), Karen Lebacqz (Editor), Laurie Zoloth (Editor)
The Proteus Effect: Stem Cells and Their Promise in Medicine
by Ann B Parson
Article
"The Future of Stem Cells." Scientific American. July 2005
by Clive Cookson, John Rennie, Christine Soares, Richard Gardner, Tim Watson, Patti Waldmeir, Gary Stix
Web sites
http://www.dnalc.org/stemcells.html (animation)
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics1.asp
November 27, Steve Zack spoke about Conserving the International Wildlife Nursery in Arctic Alaska. Dr. Zack and his colleagues from the Wildlife Conservation Society have been studying wildlife in arctic Alaska for six years. This is an internationally important region for migratory
birds and arctic mammals, and it is changing dramatically with increasing
oil development and climate change. Dr. Zack discussed how he and WCS
are attempting to use their studies to achieve conservation in this
once-remote region.
For more information on the WCS's work in Alaska, check out:
http://www.wcs.org/alaska
http://www.wcs.org/international/northamerica/alaska/arcticnews2006
http://www.wcs.org/international/northamerica/pacificwest
Other related articles:
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The Origins of Life on Earth: Where did life come from? What is alive, anyway? How could it all have started on a lifeless planet? On October 30, Dr. Niles Lehman, Professor of Chemistry at Portland State University, explored problems in studying the origins of life, and told us about some insights and advances towards solving the puzzle of the beginning of life.
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On Friday, September 29, a talk on Energy Services and Poverty Alleviation was given by Lemelson Grantees Dr. Harish Hande, Managing Director of SELCO-India, the first rural solar energy service company in India, and Mr. Amitabha Sadangi, founding member of the International Development Enterprises-India, providing long-term solutions to poverty, hunger and malnutrition.
On Monday, September 25, 2006, Kyle Dittmer, Hydrologist & Meteorologist, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission - Hydro Program , and President of the Oregon Chapter, American Meteorological Society, spoke about past, present and future climate change: "How will global warming affect the Pacific Northwest?" For more information on that topic, check out:
The first Science Pub on Monday, August 28, 2006 was a discussion on "Nanotechnology: What is it, and why is it important?" Presented by Mike Thompson, Business Development Manager of FEI.
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