[Featured in The Oregonian on 2009-01-13 ]

Richard Taylor sees a pattern. The University of Oregon professor of physics is leading the way with internationally recognized research into fractals—curious patterns found in nature that repeat themselves. Taylor's startling discoveries show that these patterns-within-patterns may significantly reduce stress and have interesting implications for psychology, medicine, and even the semiconductor industry. Taylor has applied his studies to art, showing how fractal patterns in the work of abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock can distinguish a real Pollock from a fake. Come hear about this amazing intersection of art and science.

Richard Taylor, PhD, is an associate professor in physics, psychology, and art at the University of Oregon. Transforming lives by erasing academic boundaries might be why Taylor was named Outstanding Teacher in Higher Education for 2005 by the Oregon Academy of Science.

HURRY HURRY STEP RIGHT UP! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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http://dorkbotpdx.org/dorkbotpdx_0x03

Dorkbot PDX [[People doing strange things with electricity...in Portland]]

...welcomes you to the 4th installation of its lecture series.

• Where: AboutUs: 107 SE Washington St, Suite 520.
• When: Sunday, June 14th, 2009 - 7pm

As always, the event is free and open to the public. Feel free to bring snacks and beverages to share. Please spread the word!

Andrew S. Parnell

Pieces to be discussed include Semaphore-bot, Tangólumen, and Cardiolumen: a multifaceted exploration of the data we create both consciously and unconsciously and their inherent value.

Andrew S. Parnell is a Portland based digital artist. His work primarily deals with the physical manifestation of digital information using code, image capture, and electronics.

Michael Bunsen

Dome Control: Altering a space via physical and web-based interfaces

Michael Bunsen spends most of his time on the internet but is more interested in nature and the outside world. He developed Urbanedibles.org and began exploring microcontrollers to cultivate his mission of using the computer to get people off the computer.

Dan Gilsdorf

A presentation featuring works from 2006 to the present, including the recent exhibitions Interiotrope, 2008 and SRO Video, 2009.

Dan Gilsdorf is a sculptor and installation artist based in Portland. Using video, sound, and mechanics, his work addresses the mediating effect of technology on physical and cultural landscapes.

See you there!

The plan is to have a series of Lighting talks around the topic of "Worst Useful Hack".

Though our only scheduled speaker has come down with the sick so it might just end up being social hour... though if you have any ideas you would like to share please feel free to bring them up on the mailing list or on irc.

Mailing List info: http://pdx.pm.org/kwiki/index.cgi?MailingList

IRC info:

pdx.pm on irc.perl.org

More info on the wiki: http://pdx.pm.org/kwiki/index.cgi?February2011Meeting

topic: Mock::Quick speaker: Chad 'Exodist' Granum

Mock::Quick: (CPAN, Github) Is a modern mocking library taking advantage of modern Perl interface design.

Topics include: * Quickly throwing together a minimum object to shove somewhere * Mocking a quick, but strict object * Takeover an already loaded class redefining and restoring specific methods * Generate a mocked class that prevents the real one from loading * Anonymous package mocking for a reusable mock * Collecting usage data * Brief overview of internals (the more you know! -=*

Mailing List info: http://pdx.pm.org/kwiki/index.cgi?MailingList

IRC info:

pdx.pm on irc.perl.org

More info on the wiki: http://pdx.pm.org/kwiki/index.cgi?February2011Meeting

This ride will be a no-drop group ride for people attending RailsConf, local Rubyists who'd like to join in, and any assorted hangers-on who can put up with a bunch of nerds on bikes.

Check out the webpage for meetup and route details.

Thanks to Luke Francl for "driving" this!

Nerd Nite is a monthly event that strives for an inebriated, salacious, yet deeply academic vibe. Featuring short talks by several scientists, artists, experts of all types, and ordinary people with extraordinary skills, we aim to entertain, educate, elucidate, enlighten, and other things that start with "e." Come drink along with us!

When: Tuesday, July 30, 2013, doors at 6:00pm, event at 7:00pm Where: Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan, Portland Cost: $8.00 suggested cover at the door Check out the Facebook event page

This Nerd Nite will feature two awesome talks:

• Genital Plugs, Projectile Penises, and Gay Butterflies: A Naturalist Explains the Birds & the Bees with Becky Jaffe, photographer, naturalist, and educator

• Bugs, Bites, and Bodies: Insects and Death with Eric Tonsfeldt, Medicolegal Death Investigator, Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office

Genital Plugs, Projectile Penises, and Gay Butterflies: A Naturalist Explains the Birds & the Bees

Birds do it, bees do it–even educated fleas do it. Let’s do it, let’s fall in lust as photographer and insect fetishist Becky Jaffe takes us on a romp through Mother Nature’s freaky side. Biophilia? This talk may well bring on a biorgasm!

A photographer, naturalist, and educator living in Oakland, Becky Jaffe teaches high school biology and leads environmental science tours at UC Berkeley’s Botanical Garden.

Bugs, Bites, and Bodies: Insects and Death

To an insect, a decomposing human body left to rot in the woods can be the feast of a lifetime. To a forensic entomologist, those insects can give clues to how the person died, how long they’ve been dead, and even who that person was in life. Eric Tonsfeldt, Medicolegal Death Investigator at the Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office, will explain the ways that bugs can be used to help forensic investigation. Prepare to be creeped out (but in a good way!).

*A note on the suggested cover: Nerd Nite is completely supported by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering education to adults who want to learn, so if $8 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

Nerd Nite Portland #13 – The Mystique of Terroir: Geology, Soils, Climate and Wines in the Northern Willamette Valley

Nerd Nite is a monthly event that strives for an inebriated, salacious, yet deeply academic vibe. We aim to entertain, educate, elucidate, enlighten, and other things that start with “e.” Be there and be square.

ter·roir/tɛrˈwɑr noun Definition: the environmental conditions, especially soil and climate, in which grapes are grown and that give a wine its unique flavor and aroma.

The Willamette Valley has a certain je ne sais quoi, no? What special quality of the region’s terroir yields such exceptional wines? How do the soil, climate, and conditions lend themselves to lovely Pinot Noirs, but not Cabernets or Merlots? How does the region’s geologic past affect where and how to grow grapes? How does Oregon compare to other wine-growing regions in the United States and other countries around the world? Join us as Dr. Scott Burns, professor of geology and past chair of the Department of Geology at PSU, and wine enthusiast, tells us about all this and more about what makes a vineyard successful.

*A note on the suggested cover: Nerd Nite is completely supported by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering education opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $8 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Nerd Nite is a monthly event that strives for an inebriated, salacious, yet soundly academic vibe. We aim to entertain, educate, elucidate, enlighten, and other things that start with “e.” Be there and be square.

When: Wednesday, March 12, 2014, doors at 6:00pm, event at 7:00pm

Cost: $8.00* suggested cover at the door

This Nerd Nite will feature two talks:

Owls and Other Night Birds Owls are the first type of birds that come to mind when we think of feathered night fliers, but many other species of birds are also active after dark. Jonathan Plissner, PhD, is a senior scientist with ABR, Inc. Environmental Research and Services and has been studying bird populations and behaviors for 30 years. His presentation will focus on nocturnal activities and adaptations of various groups of birds, as well as the risks these birds face in navigating landscapes altered by human beings.

The Biology, Behavior & Benefits of Bats Bats are essential to the health of our natural world. They help control pests and are vital pollinators and seed-dispersers for countless plants. Yet these wonderfully diverse and beneficial creatures are among the least studied and most misunderstood of animals. Cris Hein, PhD, is a biologist with Bat Conservation International and has been studying bat behavior and ecology for 14 years. Cris will discuss the amazing adaptations of these nocturnal animals and their importance to humans and the environment.

*A note on the suggested cover: Nerd Nite is completely supported by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering education opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $8 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!

It's Nerd Dinner time again! We'll gather at Washington Square Mall in the food court. Be There and Be Square!