Beer and science.
These two seemingly disconnected subjects come together every first Thursday of the month across the state at an event that gives listeners a chance to eat, drink and learn in a relaxed setting with leading researchers and scientists in the state.
Amanda Thomas, coordinator of adult learning programs at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, created Science Pub in August 2006 after realizing that Oregon was a prime place for beer and science.
“Oregon is such a beer-friendly state,” Thomas said. “I also came to the conclusion that adults really enjoy a space where children are not involved and they can enjoy a good glass of wine or beer.”
Thomas said that Science Pub grew from its initial spot in Portland to two other locations in Corvallis and Eugene.
“The idea started from Science Cafes on the East Coast, and it proved to be ridiculously popular in Portland,” Thomas said. “Around June of 2007, Science Pub grew to Eugene and it’s been going gangbusters since.”
Tonight’s event, featuring physics and psychology professor Richard Taylor, explores the reason why fractals, repeating patterns in nature, seem to reduce stress.
Taylor has spent his time studying images people see in the wispy edges of clouds, in intricate branches of trees, or in the jagged peaks of mountain ranges. He found that the images were more than a “haphazard mess devoid of any pattern,” but a clue into human life.
“In this talk, I will explore some of the intriguing properties of fractals by taking a visual journey through the diverse disciplines I have worked in, including the collapsing ice shelves of the Antarctic and the deteriorating brain structure of Alzheimer’s victims,” Taylor said. “Along the way, I will describe how we can learn valuable lessons from nature by incorporating fractals into man-made devices, such as cell phones, retinal implants and future computers based on the brain’s fractal circuits.”
Taylor gave his talk, “Snowflakes, Stress, and Semiconductors: Do You See A Pattern Here?” last January in Portland to a standing room only crowd, Thomas said.
Brad Pitcher, who graduated from the University last spring with a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science, has only been to two Science Pub events in Eugene, but he plans to attend more for the intriguing content and the accompanying beer.
“I love going because I love the information presented, and I love getting to drink while I do it,” Pitcher said. “I think (the setting) makes science seem a bit more friendly.”
Elizabeth Culp is a diehard Science Pub fan.
“I think I have been to about 10 Science Pub events over the past year or so. I will be there (tonight), so make it 11,” Culp said.
The molecular and cell biologist and self-proclaimed “huge science nerd” said she loves “learning about other scientific fields outside of my specialized area. If it was possible, I would have stayed in school forever just to learn more about all the different science disciplines.”
For Culp, a 2006 University graduate in biology, Science Pub makes her appreciate science even more.
“It’s a lot easier to be open-minded and perceptive to new ideas when you’re away from work and life, hanging out with friends and colleagues, having a beer (while) listening to passionate articulate experts speak about their fields of research,” Culp said. “Being in a relaxed, open environment allows not just scientists like myself to attend and learn, but people from all occupations and backgrounds to learn and ask questions about these exciting topics of research.”
Like Pitcher, Culp likes to sit and listen with her drink of choice: Ninkasi Total Domination IPA.
“Sitting in a room of people who are all there for the express purpose of voluntarily and excitedly learning new things is a much more conducive environment than sitting in a cold lecture hall simply to fulfill a course prerequisite,” Culp said.
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