Dave Knows Portland

The Microbiome: An Alien Organ Within the Human Body – OMSI Science Pub (18 August 2015)

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OMSIScience Pub Portland presents The Microbiome: An Alien Organ Within the Human Body at the Empirical Theater at OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave.) on Tuesday, 18 August 2015.

For almost a century the human body has been conceived as a set of trillions of human cells organized into organs and systems that work synchronously to keep our body alive and free of germs. However, in the past few years it has become evident that in our quest to understand how the human body works we were missing one essential piece of the puzzle: a new organ composed of hundreds of trillions of microorganisms known as the human microbiome. This huge collection of microbes performs many vital functions helping us to fight diseases, participating in the processing and synthesis of essential nutrients and even controlling our behavior. In this talk Lorenzi will present what we currently know about the role of the human microbiome in health and disease, how it is inherited from our parents and varies across individuals and how it can be used as a therapeutic tool.

Presenter Hernan A. Lorenzi, PhD, is assistant professor in the bioinformatics department at the J. Craig Venter Institute.

The Portland Science Pub takes place monthly at the Empirical Theater at OMSI. Check in at the theater entrance (doors open at 5 PM) – there’s a $5 suggested admission. OMSI’s restaurant Theory, and the Empirical Cafe are open and you can take food and drinks into the theater with you.

Parking is free for the event, but consider taking the streetcar or any of the multitude of buses that cross the Hawthorne Bridge (eastbound/westbound), which has stops a few blocks from OMSI.

Building the Panama Canal – OMSI Science Pub (3 August 2015)

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OMSI Science PubOMSI presents Building the Panama Canal as part of the Science Pub Portland series, on Monday, 3 August 2015 at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd).

During the early 20th century strategic control of the oceans was essential to all of the great industrial powers of the world. In 1904 President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt would commit the brains of American engineering and the brawn of America’s industrial machine to build a canal of unprecedented scope and challenge.

Panama Canal’s successful construction was the result of the convergence of extraordinary men, machines, and methods. In the decades preceding Panama Canal’s construction, tremendous advancements were realized in every discipline of engineering. In the realm of heavy civil construction, these collective engineering advancements provided the construction technology that made Panama Canal possible. This presentation highlights how the right men, the right machines, and the right methods all came together in 1904 to build a project of unprecedented scope and challenges.

Presenter Raymond “Paul” Giroux is a construction engineer and civil engineering historian.

The Hollywood Theatre Science Pub takes place monthly and is open to all ages. There’s a $5 suggested cover charge.

OMSI Science Pub: Clinical Genetics and DNA Testing (17 March 2015)

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Omsi Science PubOMSI presents Clinical Genetics and DNA Testing: It is Good to Know as part of the Science Pub Portland series, on Tuesday, 17 March 2015 at the Empirical Theater (1945 SE Water Ave).

Do you know that we already live in a world where it is affordable and commonplace to choose to have your DNA analyzed in order to make informed medical decisions? That isn’t to imply that everything about a person’s health can be derived from DNA. What it does mean is that there are many aspects of your health, your children’s health, or other loved one’s health that a doctor and genetic counselor can determine confidently based on DNA analysis. You can also choose to order such analyses today. Wouldn’t it be good to know what exists and is real, documented, and likely affordable?

The presenter is Jayson Falkner, PhD, a bioinformatician and software engineer at Counsyl.

The Portland Science Pub takes place monthly at the Empirical Theater at OMSI. Check in at the theater entrance (doors open at 5 PM) – there’s a $5 suggested admission. OMSI’s restaurant Theory, and the Empirical Cafe are open and you can take food and drinks into the theater with you.

Parking is free for the event, but consider taking the streetcar or any of the multitude of buses that cross the Hawthorne Bridge (eastbound/westbound).

Science Pub Portland: Shaping Light with Folded Surfaces (18 November 2014)

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Omsi Science PubScience Pub Portland presents Shaping Light with Folded Surfaces tonight at the Empirical Theater at OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave.).

Light reveals our visual universe. Light shapes how we perceive form and the boundaries of space. Light gives vitality to immutable form, revealing the familiar in new ways. Small adjustments in light intensity, composition and viewpoint can yield big changes in highlights and shadow patterns.

Nancy Cheng experiments with how sheet materials can be cut, creased, or crimped to generate lighting effects that change with the sun’s movement, while blocking unwanted heat and glare. Her Shaping Light project explores how physical prototyping and digital methods can be combined to foreground material properties in design. She seeks the creative possibilities that stem from a material’s stiffness, shininess, translucence or color. She has used digital modeling for geometric variations, kinetic studies and lighting simulation in both open-ended studies and interior installations.

Presenter Nancy Cheng is Portland Program Director and an Associate Professor at the University of Oregon. The program begins at 7 PM, and there’s a $5.00 suggested cover charge.

Portland Weekend Amusements (June 28-30, 2013)

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The first really warm weekend of the year is upon us, so of course: beer. Portland’s summer seems to have begun a bit early this year – the 4th of July isn’t until next week!

Friday

Back Row Picture Show: The Octagon

Back Row Picture Show

The Back Row Picture Show (tag line: Lights! Camera! Disappointment. We make bad movies worse.) takes place every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month at the East Bank Saloon (727 SE Grand).

Hosted by Jessica Lea DeNardo and Jay Mackin, Back Row Picture Show is a comedy spectacle where cult movies of questionable origin are screened and insulted – MST3K for the low brow Portland bar crowd.

This week’s film is The Octagon.

All Weekend

North American Organic Brewers Festival

North American Organic Brewers FestivalThe 2013 North American Organic Brewers Festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, June 27 through 30, at Overlook Park in North Portland (N. Fremont and Interstate).

Over the years this has become one of my favorite local beer festivals. Over 60 organic beers and ciders will be available this year, and you’ll find food and vendors, live music, and plenty of shade under the big trees.

Admission is free, but tasting requires a $6 reusable cornstarch glass and $1 beer tokens for tastes. Get a dollar off your tasting mug by showing a validated TriMet ticket (the Yellow Line stops right at the park!), a ticket from the on-site bike corral, or three cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank. Kids are welcome with parents.

Sunday

Astronomy Day 2013

OMSICelebrating Astronomy Day, OMSI presents a full day of all things celestial, with opportunity for starry-eyed guests to learn little-known facts about the universe, constellations, stars and planets. Space travel and the fascinating realities of life on the space station are expected hot topics as Silverton-born, astronaut Don Pettit, Ph.D., is the featured guest and speaker. Astronomy Day activities are free and open to the public.

The fun goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dr. Pettit, who’s been a part of three space flights and lived on the International Space Station for over five months, speaks at 11:30 a.m. Visit the event webpage for more details.

For more weekend events and activities, follow me on twitter, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.