OMSI Science Pubs at Kennedy School and Empirical Theater

Photo by Samuel Sweet from Pexels

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’s Empirical Theater.

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 Empirical Theater cafe serves sandwiches, salads and movie snacks. You can eat inside the theaters making this a great opportunity for a night out of the house.

Tickets

Tickets are a $5 donation to OMSI per person. Capacity is limited to 50% at the science pubs. 

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. Masks are optional.

Upcoming Topics and Dates

Seismology with your Ears: Listening to Patterns in Tectonic, Volcanic, and Human-induced Earthquakes

McMenamins Kennedy School

An earthquake’s seismic waves spread from the ruptured part of a fault. These waves are used to locate and study the earthquake, and also to build an image of the Earth’s interior. Over time, catalogs are accumulated from past earthquakes. Sonification of this data can help perceive patterns that could otherwise be missed.

This event will weave together many short animations with sonified seismic waves to demonstrate the rich and complex patterns of natural tectonic and volcanic earthquakes. Dr. Holtzman will then contrast these short movies to patterns of human-induced earthquakes. Speaker Ben Holtzman is a geophysicist at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University. He studies the mechanical behavior of rocks applied to problems, such as how magma migrates through the planet’s interior, how seismic waves propagate, and how earthquakes occur.

This science pub is taking place Tuesday, April 19 from 7-9 p.m. at McMenamins Kennedy School. Doors open at 6 p.m. Get tickets for this science pub.

From South Africa to Southern Alabama: Connecting History and Archaeology

OMSI’s Empirical Theater

In this presentation, Kamau B. A. Sadiki will focus on the history and archaeology of the São José Paquete de Africa and the Clotilda slave shipwrecks and their significance in the transoceanic slave trade. Explore the intersectionality of the South African apartheid system and systemic racism in southern Alabama through the histories and wrecking events of these two important ships.

There will also be a discussion of the prison release and presidential election of Nelson Mandela tying to the history of the anti-apartheid movement in Portland, Oregon during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

This science pub is taking place Thursday, April 21 from 7-9 p.m. at OMSI’s Empirical Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. Get tickets for this science pub.

The 2018 Kilauea Volcano Eruption: Expected or a Surprise and What Have We Learned?

OMSI’s Empirical Theater

The Kīlauea volcano in Hawai‘i is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory operates seismic investigations that address key issues regarding the evolution of volcanic and tectonic activity active volcanoes and earthquakes in Hawai‘i. 

This OMSI Science Pub event, Dr. Guoqing Lin will discuss the largest Lower East Rift Zone eruption and caldera collapse that Kilauea experienced in the past 200 years. Dr. Lin, a University of Miami professor, will present on the Kīlauea’s changes in earthquake distribution, seismic wave speeds, and stress field before and after the 2018 eruption based on the 33 years of HVO records. She will also review volcanic activity of other volcanoes on the Big Island.

This science pub is taking place Tuesday, May 3 from 7-9 p.m. at OMSI’s Empirical Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. Get tickets for this science pub.

Green Aliens Among Us – Why Plants are the Most Alien Creatures You’ll Probably Ever Meet

McMenamins Kennedy School

Early in the history of life on Earth, when only single-celled organisms called microbes were present, some organisms acquired the ability to convert light energy into chemical energy, a process we refer to as photosynthesis. This was a completely new way of life. Over millions of years, these photosynthetic microbes gave rise to plants and enabled the evolution and diversification of all life on earth.

In this talk, Portland State University Professor Mitch Cruzan will discuss these evolutionary marvels and explain the subtle, complex nature of plants. Plants have taken advantage of their sedentary lifestyles and unique biology to occupy every conceivable habitat, from arctic tundra to tropical rainforests to the driest deserts. Plants are evolving and changing to adapt to new conditions as they grow, filtering genetic mutations to eliminate the bad ones and to favor the beneficial ones, and rejuvenating themselves every growing season so they are effectively immortal.

This science pub is taking place Tuesday, May 17 from 7-9 p.m. at McMenamins Kennedy School Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. Get tickets for this science pub.

OMSI Science Pubs are taking place at McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave., and OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave., in Portland.

Parking is free and doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, visit OMSI’s event page. 

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