Kiggins Theatre

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Event Description:

The ambitious and exciting Dawn mission is one of NASA’s most remarkable ventures into the solar system. Launched in September 2007, this mission is to explore the two most massive and uncharted residents of the main asteroid belt in our solar system: Vesta and Ceres.

At this Science on Tap, Greg Cermak, a NASA Solar System Ambassador and former Astrobiology instructor at WSU, will describe the Dawn mission and NASA’s commitment to exploring the Solar System.

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*Science on Tap is largely supported by money collected at the door. If $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door. This is an all-ages event.

Food & Drink: Beer, wine, pizza slices, popcorn and snacks available.

Event Description:

In addition to being tasty, oysters are a critical member of the ecosystem and the economic reality of the Pacific Northwest. And they’re in trouble. Invasive species and changing ocean conditions have killed thousands of oysters and cost the industry millions of dollars a year, but the recent publication of the Pacific Oyster genome has led to new ideas to try to overcome these losses. At this Science on Tap, Dr. Steve Sylvester, a molecular biologist at WSU Vancouver, will give a brief history of oystering in the Northwest and tell us his ongoing research aimed at helping the oyster industry to overcome biological and chemical problems that limit production.

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door. This is an all-ages event.

Event Description:

What is real, what is a sensory illusion, and how do we know? The blue/gold dress illusion demonstrates that you can’t always trust your brain. Dr. Michael Morgan, Professor of Psychology at WSU Vancouver, will use sensory illusions to reveal how the nervous system creates perceptions of the world. In this case, what you see is not what you get. Come learn about the brain’s limitations, exaggerations, and omissions.

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door. This is an all-ages event.

Full Title: Crime Scene Reconstruction: The Devil Is In The Details

Have you ever wondered how crime scene investigations actually work? At this Science on Tap, join Rod Englert of Englert Forensic Consultants as he takes you behind the scenes and explains how homicide investigations can test the limits of an investigator’s power of observation, intuitive thinking, and creative ability.

Chief Deputy (Retired) Rod Englert, a 50-year veteran of law enforcement, retired as Commander of the Operations Division, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Portland, Oregon, in 1995. He is also is the author of Blood Secrets: Chronicles of a Crime Scene Reconstructionist.

Books will be available for sale and signing.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is largely supported by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Event Description:

Hanford Nuclear Reservation, located on the Columbia River in eastern Washington, is the largest contaminated site in the western hemisphere. Used to make plutonium for nuclear bombs during WWII and the Cold War, the Hanford site generated vast quantities of chemical and radioactive pollution. Cleanup at Hanford began in 1989 and we know it will now continue for generations to come.

At this Science on Tap, Abigail Cermak, Hanford Coordinator with Columbia Riverkeeper, Dirk Dunning, Chemical Engineer & Nuclear Specialist from the Oregon Department of Energy, and Tom Carpenter, the Executive Director of Hanford Challenge will talk about the history of Hanford, how we built the atomic bomb, and what the government is doing to clean up the nuclear waste.

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is largely supported by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door. This is an all-ages event.

Event Description:

Parasites constitute a global health problem of unimaginable magnitude. Two out of three people worldwide are afflicted with a parasitic disease, and most people who harbor parasites actually are afflicted with a multiplicity of diseases. The organisms that are considered traditional parasites are either protozoa, worms, or insects, although viruses, bacteria, and fungi also meet the classic definition of a parasite.

At this Science on Tap, Dr. Buddy Ullman, parasitologist at OHSU, will take a somewhat irreverent tour of the major time-honored parasites and describe where they live, how they reproduce, and what effect they have on humans. Warning: this talk will be both gross and fascinating!

(Note: This is a repeat of the talk held in Portland on January 6, 2015.)

Event Website

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Please note new date. Location and time remain the same.

Junk In the Trunk: Recent Controversies in Genomics

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015

Time: Doors at 6 p.m. event at 7 p.m.

Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door. This is an all-ages event.

Food & Drink: Beer, wine, pizza slices, popcorn and snacks available.

Event Description:

You may have heard that less than 2% of the human genome is comprised of protein-coding DNA. So what is the 98% composed of, where does it come from, and what does it do? Sarah Schaack, PhD, assistant professor of biology at Reed College will take you on a guided tour through the genomic landscape of some fully sequenced plants and animals, including humans. Her talk will explore the recent heated debate among biologists surrounding "junk DNA", its utility (or lack thereof), and why bigger isn't necessarily better, at least when it comes to genome size.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Full Event Title: This Is Your Brain on (Legal) Drugs: The Neuroscience and Art of Cannabis and Alcohol

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Time: Doors at 6 p.m. event at 7 p.m.

Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door. This is an all-ages event.

Food & Drink: Beer, wine, pizza slices, popcorn and snacks available.

Event Description:

Humans have used intoxicants like alcohol and marijuana for thousands of years, and we modern humans are no different. The Northwest is home to thriving beer, wine, and spirits industries, and now that both Washington and Oregon permit the recreational sale and use of marijuana, there are more legal opportunities to get high.

At this Science on Tap, have a beer and stimulate both sides of your brain as neuroscientist Bill Griesar, PhD, and artist Jeff Leake from NW Noggin discuss both the science and art of alcohol and marijuana. Find out how these drugs affect the chemistry our brains and how they change our behavior. Also find out how some well-known artists have approached (and sometimes used) these drugs in the creation of works of art.

Event Website

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

An Animal's Guide to Dating Success

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Time: Doors at 6 p.m. event at 7 p.m.

Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door. This is an all-ages event.

Food & Drink: Beer, wine, pizza slices, popcorn and snacks available.

Event Description:

Just in time for Valentine's Day! Have you ever wondered how animals find and impress that special someone? From crazy dances to unanticipated sex changes, animals have some unusual strategies for attracting and keeping their mates. Join Dr. Allison Coffin, Assistant Professor of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience at WSU Vancouver, for this fun romp through the dating lives of birds, fish, and other animals. No date required!

Event Website

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 Time: Doors at 6 p.m. event at 7 p.m. Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets , $10* suggested cover at the door. This is an all-ages event.

Food & Drink: Beer, wine, pizza slices, popcorn and snacks available.

Event Description:

Those pesky fruit flies that seem to come out of nowhere have actually evolved a pretty sophisticated way to stay healthy. Fruit flies are often host to parasitic wasps who lay their eggs inside the flies and which, after they hatch, consume the flies from the inside out. (Yes, like the movie Alien.) Since fruit flies are often around rotting, fermenting fruits, the flies that are infected with the parasitic wasps will actively seek out otherwise harmful levels of alcohol that has the effect of killing off the wasps in their system. They can also identify the wasps by sight, and when they see them, they will lay their eggs on more alcoholic food sources in (presumably) an effort to protect their offspring from being infected in the future. Todd Schlenke, PhD, professor of biology at Reed College, will talk about his studies that seem to show fruit flies self medicating and discuss how alcohol might be used as medication in humans as well.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

COST: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door

FOOD & DRINK: Beer, wine, pizza slices, popcorn and snacks available.

DESCRIPTION:

This event will feature two speakers:

Doug McCarty, Professor of Astronomy with the Science Integration Institute and past Planetarium Director and Astronomy Instructor, at Mount Hood Community College,

Pat Hanrahan, current Planetarium Director and Astronomy Instructor at Mount Hood Community College.

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge!

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Time: Doors at 6 p.m. event at 7 p.m.

Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door

Food & Drink: Beer, wine, pizza slices, popcorn and snacks available.

Event Description

Hearing is one of our basic senses – it helps us communicate and to perceive the world around us — but we shouldn’t take it for granted. Approximately 15 percent of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 (about 26 million Americans) have some kind of noise-induced hearing loss, and much of that loss could have been prevented with a few simple precautions. At this Science on Tap, Dr. Allison Coffin, assistant professor in the neuroscience department at Washington State University Vancouver, will be joined on stage with live musicians and will talk about the mechanical and neurological process of how we hear and how we can protect our ears. Come ready to listen and learn…and maybe dance!

Event Website

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover at the door: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 is a hardship for you, please come anyway and donate what you can.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint, and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don’t have to be a science geek to have fun—all you need is a thirst for knowledge! Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Time: Doors at 6 p.m. event at 7 p.m.

Location: Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, Wash.

Cost: $8 online advance tickets, $10* suggested cover at the door

Food & Drink: Beer, wine, pizza slices, popcorn and snacks available.

Event Description

Just in time for Halloween! This Science on Tap will feature two speakers:

Arachnophilia: Fun Facts About Spiders and Their Kin Myths abound about spiders and their relatives (known as arachnids), and fears persist about their perceived danger to people. But these animals should inspire fascination, not fear! Dr. Susan Masta, an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Portland State University, is studying the diversification of arachnids. She will discuss and answer questions on the biology of several common arachnids in the Pacific Northwest, and will help dispel some of the myths that exist surrounding spiders and their kin. Join us and get hooked on these amazing creatures!

Debunking Bats’ Bad Rap What animal is blind, gets tangled in your hair, and hangs out in belfries? Whatever it is, it’s not bat! Many people still believe these myths about bats even though there has been an increased effort by conservationists, researchers and animal lovers to educate the public about these fascinating and ecologically important creatures. Dr. Christine Portfors, a Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University Vancouver, is studying the brains of bats. She will discuss and answer questions on the biology and neuroscience of bats, and will help dispel some of the myths about bats. Join us and learn about these fascinating animals.

Event Website

Science on Tap at the Kiggins is produced in partnership withWashington State University Vancouver.

*A note on the suggested cover: Science on Tap is supported, in part, by money collected at the door. We are committed to offering educational opportunities to adults who want to learn, so if $10 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 deeply academic vibe. We aim to entertain, educate, elucidate, enlighten, and other things that start with “e.” Be there and be square.

Cost: $8.00* suggested cover at the door

Food and beer available in the theater.

This Nerd Nite will feature one talk:

A forensic anthropologist is on the front lines of speaking for those who can no longer speak for themselves. At this event, Dr. Veronica "Nici" Vance from the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory will talk about how skeletal remains are found, how bones are analyzed, and how victims can be identified. Discover how the differences and similarities in our bodies are reflected in our bones and tissues, and how they can tell a story of how someone lived…and died. Hear about new technologies being used to solve cold cases and identify missing persons throughout the nation, and what you can do to help.

Facebook Event Page

Meetup Event Page

*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.

We have a new location in Vancouver, WA! Our first event is:

Nerd Nite Vancouver #1 – Lust, Chocolate and Prairie Voles: The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Love

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!

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

Where: Kiggins Theater, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, WA

Cost: $8.00 suggested cover at the door

Come early if you want to order food and drinks and get a good seat!

Is the brain chemistry behind our love for chocolate equivalent to that which drives infatuation with a new lover, the love of a particular song, or addiction? How does the brain sort out pleasure and discomfort? What drives our decisions to stay with one person for life or go from one lover to another, never settling down? This Nerd Nite will focus on these and other questions that reveal much about how neurochemical changes can have major effects on our behaviors—how we love, what we love, and who we love.

Dr. Larry Sherman is a Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology and Neuroscience at OHSU. He was identified as someone who is "Changing our World" by Portland Monthly Magazine and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and he was awarded OHSU Teacher of the Year in 2012.

*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.