April 4, 2008
Jonathan Betz-Zall
Gardening Builds Sustainable Communities
We know that energy use will have to decline rapidly and soon. How can we secure a sustainable and just future?
Posted on April 16, 2008
April 11, 2008
Susan Rich
What can Poets do for Science? What can Science do for Poets?
Poetry and science are sometimes thought of as opposites. One, a field that strikes as closely and as directly to the emotional
center of human experience as possible while the other attempts to remove emotionality and replace it with pure rationality as it
tries to explain the physical world. Yet, to many poets and scientists these two fields are kindred spirits - both attempting to
find the ultimate truth and observe as things really are.
Posted on April 16, 2008
April 17, 2008
Jeffrey Bennett
On the Cosmic Horizon: The Top Ten Mysteries in Astronomy Today
Do you enjoy the astronomical headlines, but wonder what they really mean? Astronomer and author Jeffrey Bennett will help you
put it all into context with his personal "Top 10" list of the biggest mysteries in astronomy today. Along the way, he'll discuss
how solving these mysteries may change our perceptions of ourselves and of our home planet Earth. Children are welcome; those over
about age 10 should be able to understand most of the talk, and younger children will still enjoy the pictures!
Learn more about Jeffrey Bennett by visiting:
www.JeffreyBennett.com
www.BeyondUFOs.com
Posted on April 24, 2008
April 18, 2008
Tina Ostrander and guests
Demystifying Computer Science
What is Computer Science? Is it for you? Come and “demystify” this incredibly broad and growing field through an
interactive presentation sponsored by the University of Washington Tacoma and Highline Community College.
Posted on April 24, 2008
April 25, 2008
Rosalind Billhar
H5N-What? The Last Ten Years of Avian Influenza
It was 10 years ago that the first cases of 'bird flu' killed 6 people and led to the culling of millions of domestic poultry in Hong Kong in 1997. Ten years and more than 200 human casualties later, the threat of a pandemic still looms. Of special concern is that, in some cases, the avian influenza virus has acquired resistance to all of the antiviral drugs currently available. Similarly, there is no approved vaccine to protect against avian influenza. At the University of Washington, researchers are working hard to find out how we can defeat this incredible virus that has the potential to impact humanity on an almost inconceivable scale.
Video - Not Available
May 2, 2008
Mark Prothero
CSI Green River Killer: How Science Solved the Case of State vs Gary Ridgeway
Mark Prothero, a Highline instructor and the defense attorney for the Green River Killer, will explain how science was critical in
building the case against Gary Ridgeway and in securing his guilty plea. The fascinating case involves the complex intertwining of
science and law, from the new DNA test that linked Ridgeway to his crimes, to the surprising micro-evidence that eventually led him
to confess.
Posted on May 14, 2008
May 9, 2008
Woody Moses, TM Sell, James Peyton
Going Green: Sustainable Economics
This week’s Science Seminar should be a real treat as an economist, environmental scientist and a journalist come together to answer such questions as
"How green is green?" "Are biofuels the answer, or just another problem?” “How can the market be made to function in a way that serves not only short-term economic growth but long-term economic survival?"
Posted on May 27, 2008
May 16, 2008
Marc Lentini
Learning and Technology
Since the days of chalk and slate, technology been held up as a beacon for revolutionizing how students learn and teachers teach.
But technology cuts both ways: in today’s networked world, we are creating more information in less time than at any point in
history, and more jobs than ever rely on making sense of that information, on learning new fields of inquiry, and on interaction
with people all over the world. Tools like blogs, social networks, and games help students and instructors do research, simulate and
learn new content, and communicate and collaborate around the world. We’ll look at some of these tools and techniques, and how
they help us live and learn in a networked world.
Posted on May 28, 2008
May 23, 2008
Ed Morris
M. C. Escher's Art and Non-Euclidean Geometries
Come and hear the last part of the trilogy.
How did Escher use non-Euclidean geometry to create his art?
Posted on May 28, 2008
May 30, 2008
Ron Sabado and Terry Nuzzo
Cleaning New Orleans after Katrina and Rita
After Katrina and Rita, how did the Corp of Engineers clean New Orleans? In New Orleans, nearly 29,000,000 cubic yards
(that’s 9,700,000 porta-potties!) of debris have been removed; over 8,000 salt-water killed were discarded removed from public
right of ways; an additional 50,000-plus storm-damaged trees have been disposed of; and nearly 250,000 abandoned and discarded tires
were removed.
Posted on June 10, 2008
June 6, 2008
John Pfeffer and special guest
The Fifth Annual HCC Chemistry Show!
If you make it to one science seminar all quarter, this is the one. Come see our chemist, John Pfeffer (assisted/led by a
special, surprise guest) do all kinds of neat chemistry. Your favorites will be there (elephant toothpaste for instance) and there
will be some new ones too. There will be smoke, a few mirrors, and lots of oohs and ahhhs. Those with bushy eyebrows (who want to
keep them) may not want to sit in the front row. Please note that this will take place in Building 7.
Posted on June 19, 2008
