OMSI Science Pubs at Kennedy School and the Museum

Photo by Samuel Sweet

Bring your appetite for food, drinks and knowledge to OMSI Science Pubs. These events invite people of all ages to learn about an interesting science topic in a friendly, fun environment. 

OMSI Science Pubs are monthly events that celebrate the marvel of science with food and drinks. Some of the science pub topics focus on what’s happening right here in Oregon, while others take you around the world to explore the many wonders of our planet.

Here’s the information on topics, dates and tickets:

OMSI Science Pubs

Events are held at McMenamins Kennedy School and OMSI.

At Kennedy School, you can get dinner, snacks and drinks throughout the presentation. Options range from pizza to burgers to popcorn and candy. And don’t forget the cajun tots. 

The Theory Restaurant serves specialty pizzas, bright salads, seasonal soups and sweet treats. 

Tickets

Tickets are a $5 donation to OMSI per person. Advance tickets are recommended. There will be a limited number of tickets available at the check-in table. Tickets at the door are first come, first served.

If you are unable to join in person, you can watch on Zoom. You’ll need to register at a special link at each event page.

Upcoming Topics and Dates

Where Do Ethics Belong in AI?

OMSI

When the camera on a self-driving car switches to a power-saving mode and takes low-resolution images, it hits a pedestrian. A decision to conserve power becomes a decision to value battery life over human life. This happens without anyone ever explicitly making that choice.

While we have long relied on software and automation, the prospect of a fully automated decision process is charged by new, ethical tensions. Where do ethics belong in Artificial Intelligence? In this talk, hear from Dr. Houssam Abbas, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Oregon State University, and Dr. Alicia Patterson, Assistant Professor of Applied Philosophy at the School of History, Philosophy, and Religion at OSU.

This science pub is Tuesday, October 1, from 7-9 p.m. at OMSI. Doors open at 6 p.m. Get tickets for this science pub. 

Ghost of the Past: Fear and Memory Erasure

McMenamins Kennedy School

Key brain mechanisms involved in processing fear have been delineated with years of research on the neurobiology of learning and memory. These mechanisms can be engaged by fun fear and more intense experiences. Traumatic experiences often result in anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

In this presentation, Dr. Matt Lattal, OHSU Professor in the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, review what we know about the neuroscience of fear and memory erasure, and offer caveats about what it means to erase memories scientifically and ethically.

This science pub is Tuesday, October 15, from 7-9 p.m. at Kennedy School. Doors open at 6 p.m. Get tickets for this science pub. 

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