Science Café
- EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY
Science Café
A free monthly event that brings scientists face-to-face with the general public in Greater Seattle.
Science Café Video Archive
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
Beer, Hops, Humulones & Health
April 2013 - Kirkland
Join UW's Werner Kaminsky, Ph.D., to discover how he used X-rays to create a more accurate understanding of the structures of humulones, key compounds in hops. How might this new knowledge also impact medicines and our health?
Earth’s Magnetic Field
April 2013 - Tacoma
The UW Tacoma's Peter Selkin, Ph.D., explores what we know about Earth’s magnetic field, its history of reversals, and how we use the geological record to look into the deep Earth.
What is 3D Printing?
April 2013 - Queen Anne
The UW Tacoma’s Mark Ganter, Ph.D., discussed 3D printing. From building tools to creating food, 3D printing, or the process of making solid objects by printing layers of materials on top of each other, can meet a variety of needs.
Harmful Algae in the Puget Sound
March 2013 - Kirkland, WA
At the March Eastside Science Café, join UW Tacoma’s Cheryl Greengrove, Ph.D., to learn more about dangerous algae and how these harmful algae blooms impact us in Puget Sound.
Crowdsourcing for Science
March 2013 - Seattle, WA
Join Seattle University’s Stephanie Zimmerman, M.L.I.S., to explore how social media tools are pushing research beyond its current limitations and empowering you to make your own mark on scientific research.
The Secret World of Geoduck Clam Larvae
February 2013 - Tacoma, WA
At the February Tacoma Science Café, join UW Tacoma’s Bonnie Becker, Ph.D., to explore the intriguing world of these larvae. How and why are local researchers trying to understand these strange little creatures?
Personal Genome Sequencing
February 2013 - Kirkland, WA
At the February Eastside Science Café, join the Institute for Systems Biology’s Jared Roach, M.D., Ph.D., to explore some of the new knowledge about the genome.
The Science of Smell
February 2013 - Seattle, WA
Join the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Luis Saraiva, Ph.D., to explore the mechanisms and complexities behind the sense of smell and how the brain makes sense of it all.
The Curious World of Ice & Snow
January 2013 - Kirkland, WA
At the January Eastside Science Café, join snow-crystal researcher Jon Nelson, Ph.D., to explore the common, curious, and sometimes totally bizarre ice formations we see around us during winter.
Autopsy Answers: Forensic Pathology in Washington
January 2013 - Tacoma, WA
Join forensic pathologist Carl Wigren, MD, to explore how death investigation works in Washington state and how to read the clues left behind to determine the cause and manner of death.
Genetic Warfare
January 2013 - Seattle, WA
Join the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Greg Brennan, D.V.M., Ph.D., to discover how viruses and animals have been engaged in an evolutionary arms race for millions of years.
What Causes Autism?
December 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join UW's Raphael Bernier, PhD, to explore how recent scientific advances have helped identify many of the causes of autism and provide insight into the development of the social brain.
Behind the Scenes of How Software is Made
December 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join Chris Vander Mey to explore the relatively new business of software engineering.
Weather Forecasts: From Tragedy to Triumph
December 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join UW Atmospheric Sciences professor Cliff Mass, PhD to explore the improving technology of weather prediction.
Rivers from Mt. Rainier to Puget Sound
November 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join the U.S. Geological Survey’s Chris Magirl, PhD, to discuss the causes of floods and approaches to reduce the threats of flooding in our communities.
The Science of Good Cooking
November 2012 - Pacific Science Center
Join America's Test Kitchen's Christopher Kimball for a discussion on the Science of Good Cooking.
Science on Ice: Modern Polar Expeditions
November 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join oceanographer and award-winning photojournalist, Chris Linder, to explore how modern scientists make landmark discoveries while enduring some of the harshest environments on earth.
Elections, Politics, and Science
November 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join us and a non-partisan selection of local scientists and researchers to discuss the intersection of politics and science, including how scientists are involved in shaping policy and how funding affects scientific research.
Astronomy
October 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join UW’s Tyler Robinson, PhD, to explore how we find and study planets that orbit other suns.
Higgs Boson Particle
October 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join UW’s Gordon Watts, Ph.D, to explore where the Higgs fits into our model of the universe, where we are now in discovering it, and what the near future holds.
To the Moon, Mars, & Beyond: Robotic Spacecraft Exploration
September 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join UW’s Joshua Bandfield, PhD, to discuss the ins and outs of working on missions that use unmanned spacecraft.
Archaeological Exploration in Egypt's Valley of the Kings
August 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join Pacific Lutheran University's Donald P. Ryan, PhD, as he shares some of his experiences as an archaeologist working in Egypt, including the Valley of the Kings.
Science of Learning: Child Development and TV
August 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join UW's Sarah Roseberry to explore the world of educational television, games, and apps, and their effects in early childhood development.
Discovering & Recovering Marine Debris
August 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join NOAA's Peter Murphy to explore marine debris origins, impacts, and actions.
Bednets: Designing for Humans, Not Mosquitoes
July 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join Anthro-Tech’s Laura Schlenke to explore how researchers and engineers build the needs of real people into technology, especially those designed to keep people around the world safer and healthier.
Cloaking: Science Meets Science Fiction
July 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join UW's Gunther Uhlmann to discover several recent scientific projects, such as "transformation optics," designed to take invisibility out of the fictional worlds of Perseus and Harry Potter and make it a reality.
Higgs Boson Explained
July 2012 - Seattle, WA
Faculty from the UW Physics Department provide some context for our current understanding of particle physics, the Higgs boson, and the experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider.
Better Coffee Through Chemistry
July 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join Seattle University's Susan Jackels to discover how she trains local coffee farmers in Nicaragua to use chemistry and scientific investigation to produce quality coffee.
Coastal Response to the Elwha Dam Removal
June 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join Washington Sea Grant’s Ian Miller to explore how researchers are tracking the coastal ecosystem and how it will respond after dam removal.
Food, Science & Why Every Kitchen Needs a Centrifuge
June 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join Scott Heimendinger of Modernist Cuisine and SeattleFoodGeek.com to explore the history of the modernist cuisine movement, sous vide cooking, electricity, lasers and why every kitchen should have a centrifuge.
The Future of Space Exploration
May 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join us for an interactive discussion with local researchers to explore some of the unresolved key questions about the future of space exploration.
Preserving Asia's Wild Cats
May 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Clouded leopards, fishing cats, bay cats, and more: Southeast Asia's wild cats are beautiful and fascinating, yet poorly understood.
Autopsy Answers: Forensic Pathology in Washington
May 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join forensic pathologist Carl Wigren, MD, to explore how death investigation works in Washington state and how to read the clues left behind to determine the cause and manner of death.
Climate Change and the Arctic Ocean
April 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join Dr. Mike Steele from the University of Washington's Polar Science Center to discuss his experiences in the Arctic studying how our changing climate is affecting the Arctic Ocean.
Expeditionary Art
April 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join expeditionary artist Maria Coryell-Martin as she shares her experiences in painting polar and glaciated regions on modern expeditions with scientists and travelers.
Mass Extinctions and Evolution
April 2012 - Seattle, WA
Explore how mass extinctions in the past have shaped present life on our planet, and how such events might affect our future.
What's New in Stroke Care: Cool Toys & Cool Treatments
March 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join Aaron Heide, MD, Director of Stroke Services at Auburn Medical Center, to discover the latest in how to prevent, treat, and recover from a stroke.
Breaking the Rules of Inheritance for Disease
March 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Explore the unexpected ways that our ancestor's genetics and environment affect us across generations.
Concussions in Sports
March 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join UW Medicine's Stanley Herring, MD, to explore the causes, symptoms, effects, and recovery from sports concussions.
Revolutions in Time, Culture, & the Cosmos
February 2012 - KCTS 9 Studios
Join us for an interactive conversation about our perceptions of and relationships with time, culture, and the cosmos with Adam Frank, PhD.
Sex in the Sea
February 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Sex is essential for Darwinian fitness, or how successfully an organism passes on its genes. Explore the many ways that marine organisms, from anemones and barnacles to flat worms and mussels, reproduce.
Elwha River Dam Removal
February 2012 - Kirkland, WA
How will salmon populations respond to the destruction of the two dams on the Olympic Peninsula's Elwha River?
The Art & Science of Reading
February 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join Microsoft's Kevin Larson, PhD, to discover how optical illusions in some popular fonts make things easier to read and how the design and appearance of text can make you more cognitively creative.
The Physics of Music: Using Light to Study Sound
January 2012 - Tacoma, WA
Join the University of Puget Sound's Rand Worland, PhD, to discover how he uses lasers to produce images of sound vibrations and how differences in vibrations alter how we perceive sounds.
Preparing for a Pacific Northwest Volcanic Eruption
January 2012 - Kirkland, WA
Join UW's Brittany D. Brand, PhD, as she explores how to monitor volcanoes for signs of unrest and how we can prepare for the possible consequences of an erupting volcano in our area.
Climate Change and the Arctic Ocean
January 2012 - Seattle, WA
Join Dr. Mike Steele from the University of Washington's Polar Science Center to discuss his experiences in the Arctic studying how our changing climate is affecting the Arctic Ocean.
Pierce County's Air Quality Problem
December 2011 - Tacoma, WA
Join Erik Saganic from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to discuss how air pollution affects our health and what can be done to improve local air quality.
Watch: Pierce County's Air Quality Problem
The Art & Science of Reading
December 2011 - Kirkland, WA
Join Microsoft's Kevin Larson, PhD, to discover how optical illusions in some popular fonts make things easier to read and how the design and appearance of text can make you more cognitively creative.
Born to Learn: The Science of Early Learning
December 2011 - Seattle, WA
Join Gina Lebedeva, Ph.D., of the UW's Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences to explore how our social interactions shape children's brains and influence their capacity to learn.
Climate Change and Your Grocery Bill
November 2011 - Kirkland, WA
Join the U.S. Geological Survey's Matt Bachmann, Ph.D., to discover how a changing climate will affect local water supplies, the state's economy, and your grocery bill.
The Quiet Sky: Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
November 2011 - Tacoma, WA
Join the University of Puget Sound's Bernard Bates, Ph.D., to explore the ideas behind the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, and what conclusions might be drawn from our last half-century under a "quiet sky".
Gravity: A Lens to the Universe
November 2011 - Seattle, WA
What is the universe made of? Where did the universe come from? UW's Jake VanderPlas explores what we currently know about the universe and how a phenomenon called "gravitational lensing" can help us discover more.
The Surprising Behavior Of Crows
October 2011 - Tacoma, WA
Do crows really talk, give gifts, and use surfboards? John Marzluff, a bird expert from the University of Washington, discusses the amazing behavior of these so-called "feathered apes."
Next Generation of Solar Cells
October 2011 - Kirkland, WA
Join UW's Dr. Cody Schlenker to discover how the next generation of solar cells could revolutionize the way we think about the role of carbon in everything from smart phones to water purification.
Watch: Next Generation of Solar Cells
What's in Your Tailpipe?
October 2011 - Seattle, WA
Daniel Burgard (University of Puget Sound) talks about what's in your tailpipe, why these gases are of concern, and how they differ with different types of vehicles.
Archaeology in the Pacific Northwest
September 2011 - Kirkland, WA
Discover the science and stories revealed by archaeological sites in the neighborhoods, parks, and forests around Puget Sound.
Watch: Archaeology in the Pacific Northwest
Science of Consciousness
September 2011 - Seattle, WA
What happens in your brain when you watch a red sunset or stub your toe? Science is beginning to understand the basis of consciousness, which in part comes from organized tissues in mammals' brains.
Watch: Science of Consciousness
Finding Extrasolar Planets
August 2011 - Kirkland, WA
John Wisniewski, PhD, talks about the latest techniques for seeking out and photographing baby planets outside our solar system.
Watch: Finding Extrasolar Planets
COASSTal Citizen Science
August 2011 - Seattle, WA
Julia Parrish, Ph.D. discusses the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), a group that brings together regular citizens and marine scientists to monitor seabird populations.
Watch: COASSTal Citizen Science
Mysteries of Narwhals
July 2011 - Kirkland, WA
Kristin Laidre, PhD, discusses narwhal biology, migrations, diving, feeding, how narwhals are studied and what mysteries remain.
Watch: Narwhals
Fruit Flies
July 2011 - Tacoma, WA
University of Puget Sound's Leslie Saucedo, PhD, explores how she uses fruit flies to help decode the genetics of rampant cell growth, a defining feature of cancer.
Watch: What Can Fruit Flies Teach Us About Cancer?
The Science of Beer
July 2011 - Seattle, WA
Charles Finkel, founder and President of The Pike Brewing Company, explores the science of making beer through the eyes of Louis Pasteur.
Watch: The Science of Beer
Fighting Fear with Virtual Reality
June 2011 - Kirkland, WA
Dr. Hunter Hoffman, Director of UW's Virtual Reality Research Center, discusses how virtual reality exposure therapy is changing the way we can confront and overcome our fears.
Watch: Fighting Fear
Why Do We Need a Malaria Vaccine?
June 2011 - Seattle, WA
Malaria continues to ravage sub-Saharan Africa, and many believe the only way to stop it is a vaccine. Ashley Vaughan, Ph.D. discuss the challenges and efforts the group he works in is taking to develop a malaria vaccine.
Watch: Why Do We Need a Malaria Vaccine?
It's in Their Bones: Giant Ice Age Animals
June 2011 - Tacoma, WA
Kena Fox-Dobb (University of Puget Sound) discusses using techniques of geochemistry to unravel how ancient species (California condors & grey wolves) interacted with their environment.
Watch: It's in Their Bones: Giant Ice Age Animals
The Modern Legacy of Ancient Viruses
May 2011 - Seattle, WA
Dr. Harmit Malik from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discusses how prehistoric germs have not only shaped our immune system, but also contributed to the repertoire of human genes.
Washington Bears
May 2011 - Tacoma, WA
Have you ever wondered how humans affect the natural habitat and behavior of bears? Northwest Trek Wildlife Park zookeeper Angela Gibson discusses our relationship with bears in the NW.
Building a Collective Digital World
May 2011 - Seattle, WA
Microsoft's Blaise Agüera y Arcas discusses “computer vision” and crowd-sourcing as a way to build a 3D world from our photos and mobile snapshots.
Earthquake Hazards in the Pacific NW
April 2011 - Seattle, WA
Thomas Pratt (University of Washington) talks about earthquake hazards in the Pacific Northwest.
Vehicle Emissions
April 2011 - Tacoma, WA
Daniel Burgard (University of Puget Sound) talks about what's in your tailpipe, why these gases are of concern and how they differ with different types of vehicles.
Transforming Agriculture with Biochar
March 2011 - Tacoma, WA
Jerry Whitfield (BioEnergy Systems LLC) discusses biochar, charcoal's eco-friendly alter ego.
Arctic Climate Change
February 2011 - Kirkland, WA
Ignatius Rigor (University of Washington) talks about the hasty retreat of Arctic sea ice and its effect on Seattle and the globe.
Pesticides and Salmon
February 2011 - Tacoma, WA
John Stark (Washington State University) talks about the decline of Pacific Northwest salmon populations and solutions.
Watch: Pesticides and Salmon
Genetic Modification
February 2011 - Seattle, WA
Alex Berezow (RealClearScience.com) discusses the pros and cons of genetically modified organisms, from mosquitoes to tomatoes.
The Surprising Behavior Of Crows
January 2011 - Kirkland, WA
John Marzluff, a bird expert from the University of Washington, discusses how human development has aided and enhanced crows and their society.
The Discovery of Insulin
January 2011 - Tacoma, WA
Author Thea Cooper traces the intersecting stories of the principle discoverer of insulin and one of the first recipients of this miracle drug.
New Composite Materials for Aerospace
January 2011 - Seattle, WA
Brian Flinn (University of Washington) discusses the leaps in technology made possible by new materials that are lighter, stronger and more durable.
Marine Ecosystems around Puget Sound
December 2010 - Seattle, WA
Sarah Gaichas and Chris Harvey (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) discuss marine ecosystem management in Puget Sound.
Energy and the Economy
December 2010 - Tacoma, WA
George Mobus (University of Washington) talks about the relationship between energy and the global economy.
Climate Change Impacts on the Northwest
November 2010 - Kirkland, WA
Guillaume Mauger (University of Washington) talks about specific climate change impacts on the Pacific Northwest.
Tiny Plastic Debris in Puget Sound
November 2010 - Tacoma, WA
Julie Masura (University of Washington) discusses the ecological threat of microplastics - tiny fragments of plastic that accumulate in the environment.
The Orphan Tsunami of 1700
October 2010 - Seattle, WA
Brian Atwater (University of Washington ) discusses the great Japan tsunami in 1700 and the likelihood of another giant Cascadia earthquake.
The Science of Stroke Prevention
October 2010 - Kirkland, WA
Neurologist Aaron Heide talks about the latest in preventing strokes and the remarkable advances that have been made in stroke recovery.
Bacterial Pathogens
September 2010 - Seattle, WA
Stefanie Cabral (University of Washington) talks about Mycoplasma genitalium, the smallest bacterium that wreaks havoc on humans.
Distracted Driving: Technology can Help
August 2010 - Kirkland, WA
Linda Ng Boyle (University of Washington) talks about how new technology can actually help distracted drivers.
Oil Dispersants: Our Right to Know
August 2010 - Seattle, WA
Steven Gilbert (Institute of Neurotoxicology & Neurological Disorders) discusses the use of oil dispersants in crude oil spills.
Narwhal Whales
July 2010 - Seattle, WA
Kristin Laidre (University of Washington) discusses narwhal biology, migrations, feeding, and the mysteries that remain about Narwhal whales.
Autism
June 2010 - Kirkland, WA
Raphael Bernier (University of Washington) describes how the inner workings of the brain lead to the outer symptoms of autism.
Unlocking the Secrets of Dark Chocolate
June 2010 - Seattle, WA
Biologist Andy McShea explores the chemistry of chocolate and why this unusual foodstuff is still an enigma.
Great Windstorms of the Pacific NW
May 2010 - Seattle, WA
Cliff Mass (University of Washington) discusses major storms that have pummeled the Pacific Northwest.
Helicobacter Pylori
May 2010 - Kirkland, WA
Nina Salama (University of Washington) discusses Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that lives in the human stomach and causes gastric cancer.
Improving Survival with Hydrogen Sulfide
April 2010 - Kirkland, WA
Dana Miller (University of Washington) discusses factors and biological processes that impose survival limits on animals.
Mount St. Helens, 30 years after
April 2010 - Seattle, WA
Brittany Brand (University of Washington) talks about the volcanic activity leading up to the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.
Mathematical Modeling & Diseases
March 2010 - Seattle, WA
Ruanne Barnabas (University of Washington) explains how she uses mathematical models to gain insight into infectious disease epidemics.
Arctic Microbes: Living in a Frozen Ocean
February 2010 - Seattle, WA
Marcela Ewert (University of Washington) discusses sea-ice microbes, the risks they face and their strategies of survival.
Evolution of Stickleback Fish
January 2010 - Kirkland, WA
Katie Peichel (University of Washington) talks about the evolution of stickleback fish as researched in Lake Washington.
Touring the Landscape of Mars
January 2010 - Seattle, WA
Joshua Bandfield (University of Washington) gives us a tour of familiar and alien landscapes on the Red Planet.
2012: The Astronomy, The Hoax
November 2009 - Seattle, WA
Alice Enevoldsen debunks The "2012 Hoax," a giant conglomeration of various superstitions; and picks apart the action flick, "2012".
Nanotechnology for Aerospace
October 2009 - Seattle, WA
Russell Maguire (Boeing) talks about nanotechnology in commercial airplanes.
Systems Biology Approach & Influenza
September 2009 - Seattle, WA
Alan Dierks discusses how our immune system responds flu virus attacks and how flu viruses mutate and spread.
Mutations, Evolution, Infectious Diseases
August 2009 - Seattle, WA
Harmit Singh Malik (University of Washington) talks about mutations, evolution, and infectious diseases
Future of Fuel
July 2009 - Seattle, WA
Chemist Josh Haney discusses alternative methods for biodiesel, ethanol, and butanol production.
"SoundCitizen" and Puget Sound
June 2009 - Seattle, WA
Rick Keil (University of Washington) talks about scientific investigation of the chemical links between urban settings and aquatic systems.
Power of Tides
May 2009 - Seattle, WA
Jim Thomson and Brian Polagye (University of Washington) talk about tidal energy.
Climate Research in the Space Age
April 2009 - Seattle, WA
Gary Lagerloef shows satellite data that documents global sea level rise, melting ice sheets and disappearing sea ice from the Arctic.
Before the Big Bang
March 2009 - Seattle, WA
Astrophysicist Adam Frank takes us through the thorny domains of the Science vs. Religion debate
Buying Time with Suspended Animation
February 2009 - Seattle, WA
Dana Miller (University of Washington) talks about life-saving suspended animation.
Hubble Space Telescope
January 2009 - Seattle, WA
Bruce Balick (University of Washington) talks about the Hubble Space Telescope and the transformation of modern Astronomy
What can Evolution tell us about God?
October 2008 - Seattle, WA
David Boose (Gonzaga University) talks about Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia; and what evolution can tell us about God
About Science Cafés
Science Café events bring local scientists face-to-face with the general public at T.S. McHugh's in Seattle, Wilde Rover in Kirkland, and The Swiss Pub in Tacoma. All Science Café events are free to the public, open to all ages, and no science background is required. Science Cafés are presented in partnership with Pacific Science Center.
Upcoming Science Cafés
-
Queen Anne Science Café
July 2nd, 2013
Topic: Sleep & Behavior in Youth
Speakers: Michelle Garrison, Ph.D. -
Eastside Science Café
July 8th, 2013
Topic: Biodiversity in the Wildlands of South America
Speaker: Peter Morrison -
Tacoma Science Café
July 9th, 2013
Topic: Genetic Warfare
Speaker: Greg Brennan, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Contact Us
For more information about Science Café, please contact KCTS 9's Science Café Coordinator:
Tom Steele
tsteele@KCTS9.org
206.443.6755
Science Cafés are made possible in part by support from the MetLife Foundation and a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health, both via KCTS 9's project partner, Pacific Science Center.
