Science on Tap - Oregon & Washington

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
There is no animal we’re more aware of having as neighbors as the American Crow. Loud, ubiquitous, and immediately recognizable, most Portlanders will see crows every day. And yet, there are few animals as mysterious and captivating.

• If I feed crows, will they bring me shiny presents?
• Why are crows so intelligent, and what do they do with those big brains?
• Why, if we look outside at dawn and dusk, do we see vast numbers of them all flying in the same direction?
• Why do they tear out the grass in our lawns?
• Why do they bring bits of food and wash it in our bird baths?
• Why do they dive bomb some people?
• Do they really remember human faces? And hold funerals for their fallen?

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
(Back by popular demand!) (Now with ASL interpreters!)
Forty-seven million people worldwide are affected by dementias, causing memory loss, difficulties with planning, difficulties with language, personality changes, mood changes, and agitation. These diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease, have devastating impacts on affected individuals, their families, and their friends.

• If everyone lived long enough, would we all develop some form of dementia?
• What causes dementia, and how does it progress?
• Why did earlier clinical trials to treat dementia fail?
• Do current treatments help?
• What do new findings suggest about how to treat dementia?

Join us to explore these and other questions, as well as new insights into how dementias begin and possible ways to slow or even stop them.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
A moth, a flea, a mosquito…
Insects are seldom mentioned in history texts, yet they significantly shaped human history. For example:

• Silkworms (moths) have been farmed to produce silk for millennia, and the Silk Road created a history of empires and cultural exchanges of ideas, philosophies, and religions.
• Fleas and lice carried bacteria that caused three major plague pandemics. Bacteria carried by insects left their ancient clues as DNA embedded in victims’ teeth.
• Lice caused outbreaks of typhus, especially in crowded conditions such as prisons and concentration camps. Typhus aggravated the effects of the Irish potato famine, and Irish refugees took typhus to North America.
• Mosquito-borne yellow fever was transported to the Americas via the trans-Atlantic slave trade, causing panic in the US and creating hazards in constructing the Panama Canal.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Have you ever looked through a foggy window and wondered what if that were your eyesight? What happens when the window of your eye becomes cloudy?

The cornea—the clear front surface of the eye—plays a critical role in focusing light and allowing us to see the world sharply. But infections, injuries, genetic conditions, and aging can damage this delicate tissue, leading to blurred vision, pain, and sometimes even blindness. The remarkable news is that many of these conditions are treatable—and in some cases, surgeons can replace the damaged “window” of the eye to restore sight.

Whether you have a corneal disease, know someone with vision problems, or are simply curious about how modern medicine can bring sight back, join us to learn about:

• How the cornea works
• What cause it to become cloudy or scarred
• How treatments work
• How donated tissue can restore sight

Gain a deeper understanding of how damage to this tiny, transparent tissue is among the top causes of global blindness and how advances in eye care are helping people see the world clearly again.

Afshan Nanji, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Casey Eye Institute at OHSU. She cares for patients with diseases of the cornea including infections, keratoconus, dystrophies, ocular surface cancers, and other conditions. In addition to her clinical work, she teaches future eye surgeons and conducts research to improve diagnosis and treatments for corneal disease.
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COST:
$15 DISCOUNT (senior, student, it's your birthday, just can't afford the GA price right now)
$25 GENERAL ADMISSION
$35 VIP Premium seating (front center rows)
$45 SUPPORTER (Premium seating, pint glass (beer not included), and good feelings for supporting the program)