Dave Knows Portland

OMSI Science Pub (7-February-2011)

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Omsi Science PubReality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World is the topic to be presented at OMSI Science Pub at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne) on Monday, February 7, 2011.

Drawing on positive psychology, cognitive science, and sociology, Reality Is Broken uncovers how game designers have hit on core truths about what makes us happy and used these discoveries to astonishing effect in virtual environments. Videogames consistently provide the exhilarating rewards, stimulating challenges, and epic victories that are so often lacking in the real world. But why, [game designer Jane] McGonigal asks, should we use the power of games for escapist entertainment alone? Her research suggests that gamers are expert problem solvers and collaborators, since they cooperate with other players to overcome daunting virtual challenges, and she helped pioneer a fast-growing genre of games that aims to turn gameplay to socially positive ends.

This Science Pub will be presented by Jane McGonigal, PhD, director of Game Research and Development at the Institute for the Future. The show is from 7pm until 9pm, but arrive early (5pm doors open) to secure your beer, grub, and a seat! There’s a $3.00 suggested donation/cover charge. Minors with adults are welcome, otherwise this event is 21 and over.

February 3, 1892: “Sharp Earthquake” Strikes Portland

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Earthquake headline in The Oregonian on Feb 4, 1892At 8:30 in the evening on Wednesday, February 3, 1892 Portland and environs were hit by what the Morning Oregonian described as a “sharp earthquake.”

Here’s my favorite part of the paper’s report the next day:

The [Postal Telegraph Company] operator at St. Helens, on the Columbia River, in Columbia county, answered that he felt a very heavy shock at 8:37 and immediately after a long report came from the direction of Mount St. Helens, an extinct volcano. The operator looked in the direction of the mountain, but it was obscured by clouds, and he noticed nothing unusual.

[Tee hee – they thought it was extinct!]

According to the U.S. Geological Survey organization, the buildings swayed, and terrified people rushed into the street. Astoria and Salem also felt the quake, and in Umatilla several building were damaged.

OMSI After Dark (26-January-2011)

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OMSI After DarkThe theme of the latest OMSI After Dark is Sex, Love, and OMSI After Dark. It takes place Wednesday, January 26, 2011.

Treat yourself to childfree, brain-building science fun at OMSI After Dark! Check out live demos, new featured exhibitions, and old favorites. Sample tasty snacks and sweets along with beer and wine, and talk to regional food and beverage artisans about the science behind them. The OMSI Cafe will be open with a special dinner menu and cash bars will be available for those who want more than just a taste! It’s geeks gone wild!

Yup, childfree OMSI! With a bar!

Bring cash for the beer and wine bar. Enjoy special menu items at the OMSI Cafe.

Featured science demonstrations and activities following the Sex, Love theme include Flower Dissection, Aphrodisiacs, Sexual Selection, Spreading of STDs, and DNA Extraction.

The Wanderlust Circus will be performing, and several other special activities and events take place – visit the OMSI After Dark webpage for more information, including schedule.

Hours are 6pm to 10pm. Admission is $10 for nonmembers (free for members). You can buy tickets online, or at the door (no reservations necessary). 21 and over only!

OMSI Science Pub (3-January-2011)

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Omsi Science PubHow to Repair a Damaged Brain : From Lumps of Sugar to Spheres of Stem Cells is the topic of the first OMSI Science Pub of 2011, on Monday, January 3.

Brains are delicate organs that can be damaged in a lot of different ways: traumatic injury, strokes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and also during the course of normal aging. Dr. Sherman will discuss the latest findings and strategies, including work from his own laboratory, on ways to treat damaged brains and restore or retain function. These strategies range from developing new drugs that enhance the brain’s ability to repair itself, to using stem cells that can be “trained” to become specific types of brain cells. Come find out about exciting new research on how to keep our brains healthy!

This Science Pub will be presented by Larry Sherman, PhD, a senior scientist at the OHSU Brain Institute.

The show takes place at the Bagdad Theater (3702 SE Hawthorne) from 7pm until 9pm, but arrive early (5pm doors open) to secure your beer, grub, and a seat! There’s a $3.00 suggested donation/cover charge. Minors with adults are welcome, otherwise this event is 21 and over.

OMSI Science Pub (16-November-2010)

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Omsi Science PubI Dig Bones: Adventures in Forensic Anthropology is the topic of the November 16 2010 edition of OMSI Science Pub at the Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan).

Ever want to know what happens when mysterious human remains are found in the woods? Ever wondered how bodies are identified, even after death and decomposition? Dr. Nici Vance will provide a glimpse into the life of bones, bodies, and biological anthropology as she explains how skeletal remains are discovered, recovered, and analyzed for identification purposes. Dr. Vance will also highlight the importance of DNA analysis in bringing closure to families of missing persons throughout the nation and what you can do to help.

This Science Pub will be presented by Dr. Veronica “Nici” Vance from the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory and the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office. The show is from 7pm until 9pm, but arrive early (5pm doors open) to secure your beer, grub, and a seat! There’s a $3.00 suggested donation/cover charge. Minors with adults are welcome, otherwise this event is 21 and over.