Science on Tap - Oregon & Washington

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
(Note: Tuesday show (not our usual Wednesday))

The Pacific Northwest has a reputation for being damp, dark, and cold. However, there’s much more to it. From the dry summers to highly localized wind storms, bomb cyclones, surprise snow storms, and the inland desert, Washington and Oregon have a lot of weather to offer.

• Why do weather apps often fail in the Northwest?
• What makes weather in this region so difficult to forecast?
• How do these difficulties manifest themselves in wind and solar power?

Lack of data and widespread mountainous terrain makes it so weather apps often leave much to be desired. It can even be hard to interpret what a human forecaster is trying to say. After the challenge of forecasting weather, meteorologists in the region are met with the almost harder challenge of conveying that forecast.

This diversity of weather is a significant renewable energy asset, with numerous companies scrambling to harness the power of Columbia Gorge wind and Columbia Basin sunshine. As our energy infrastructure becomes more weather-dependent, it is more important than ever to understand and tackle these regional issues to maintain a reliable electrical grid during North America’s transition to green energy sources.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Have you ever noticed a tree not fall over? A tree’s natural state is upright—it’s their default mode. Yet, myths pervade:

• “You should thin your tree”
• “You should top your tree”
• “Douglas-firs have shallow roots”
• “Lone trees are more likely to fall”
• “The roots will ruin my foundation”
• “That tree will fall and kill my whole family”

Despite the ubiquity of normal, upright trees around us, we often only notice those scattered few that stop being upright, most often in extreme weather. And frankly, those few sully the good reputation of the thousands of others.

In the Pacific Northwest, our trees grow to be some of the tallest and largest organisms on the planet, and that can be understandably intimidating as you watch them bend and sway during winter weather from your home. Luckily, our trees did not achieve their prominence by accident, and this talk will explain what the trees are doing, how they react to their environment, and what you can do to make sure your trees are safe.

How does a tree build itself? How does it choose which direction to grow? Is it a giant, static monolith waiting to crush everything beneath it? or a dynamic, self-optimizing living system that wants to keep itself upright arguably more than you? Join us on a journey through the lifecycle of a tree: how it grows, lives, and dies. In other words: how do trees become trees and what makes them so good at it?

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
You’ve probably heard of monarch butterflies, but have you heard of a Bartram’s scrub-hairstreak? What about a St. Francis’ satyr? A Taylor’s checkerspot? In the US, there are 21 butterfly species listed as federally threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. All of these butterflies have unique ecologies that help them survive, whether it’s relying on a particular ant species for protection, or the regular bombing of artillery ranges to maintain habitat, or waiting for rain.

With recent headlines of butterfly declines in the news, learn what conservation scientists are doing to try to recover some of America’s rarest butterflies and what you can do for butterflies in your own backyard.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Babies sleep more per day during the first two years than any other point in life. Scientists agree that this is a period of rapid change in the brain and body – but the mystery remains, what function does sleep serve us so early in life?

One idea is that sleep is an opportunity for our brains to practice, and process — especially critical early in life, when we are experiencing so many new things in the world around us. The brain controls how we connect with each other, and form relationships with our peers and loved ones. Healthy physical connections with others, including a foundation called “social touch”, is formed early in life and requires proper sleep to fully develop.

Studies have found an association between poor sleep early in life and neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by differences in social connection. This talk will expand on this lingering mystery by exploring:
How does the function of sleep change with age?

How a unique rodent – the prairie vole – can teach us how sleep and snuggles help our brains develop the foundation of social touch.
Noah Milman is a graduate student in the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU. Previously, he contributed to the first-in-human clinical trial of 40Hz sensory stimulation for Alzheimer’s Disease. Now, he is interested in how early-life sleep and environment impact the sensory brain and our social connections later in life.

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COST:
$15.00 DISCOUNT (senior, student, it's your birthday, just can't afford the GA price right now)
$25.00 GENERAL ADMISSION
$35.00 VIP Premium seating (front center rows)
$45.00 SUPPORTER: Premium seating, pint glass (beer not included), and good feelings for supporting the program