January 13, 2012
No Science Seminar
No Science Seminar during the first week of classes.
January 27, 2012
Jeff Ward
The Science of Consumer Behavior, or, Why did I Just Buy That?
Sellers have been trying to convince buyers to part with their money ever since it was invented (and before). From bartering for perfumed
oils in ancient Egypt to online ads for day trading, marketers have honed the craft that has become known as the Science of Consumer
Behavior. In this seminar Jeff Ward will explore the reasons people buy things, and will dive courageously into the dark recesses of the
consuming mind. Let's hope he can get back out.
Febrary 3, 2012
Eric Baer
The Global Landslide Hazard
Often geologic disasters such as volcanoes and earthquakes hog the headlines. However landslides are much more common and kill thousands of
people a year. Indeed, it is often landslides that are the actual killer when earthquakes and hurricanes strike. Come see some AMAZING
videos as we find out that sometimes the earth beneath our feet isn’t as solid as we think.
Febrary 10, 2012
Mira Beins
Influenza virus: Morphing to "Pandemic" proportions
It's that time of year again folks...flu season. In the 2009-2010 flu season, a new strain of H1N1 Influenza virus emerged and caused the
first pandemic in more than 40 years. While history has taught us that this virus can be the deadliest of killers (think 1918 Spanish
Influenza pandemic), we also know that tens even hundreds of thousands of people get the flu year after year and recover. How then can this
virus be so deadly one year but not the next? How does it change? How can a virus make the "jump" from animals to humans? Come learn about
this fascinating little virus and why it might be a good idea to get that flu shot after all.
Febrary 17, 2012
Lonnie Somer
Race Does Not Exist
The categorization of humans into racial groups in the U.S. has nearly universal acceptance. It is manifested in governmental policy, census
data, and hiring policies. Its negative impacts include discrimination and stereotyping. Since the 1990s, the official platform of the
American Anthropological Association is that race is just a social construct and has no biological validity. How is this possible? What are
the justifications? If there are no races, then why do we look so diverse?
Febrary 24, 2012
Rus Higley
The 2010 Arroyo Gray Whale "Footprints of a Whale"
Come join us for the sad, but fascinating journey that Highline Community College’s MaST Center took in obtaining and articulating a 38 ft.
Eastern Pacific Gray Whale. From his death in April of 2010 to his display at the MaST Center, we’ll tell you his story. Then, with a nod
to the TV show CSI, we’ll look at possible factors behind his death, including poisoning, hit and run, strangling, and other potential causes.
Maybe we can solve the case in less than an hour as well. After learning about our whale, plan on coming down to the MaST Center on Saturday,
March 3, between 10 and 2, for our Unveil the Whale Event. Besides, the actual whale, exhibits will help answer the questions of "how bad did
it smell?" and "how much it weighed?" and you'll have a chance to go inside a life-sized inflatable whale as well.
March 2, 2012
Marie Nguyen and Heather Price
The Eighth Annual HCC Chemistry Show!
If you make it to one science seminar all quarter, make it this one. Come see our chemists do all kinds of neat chemistry. Your favorites
will be there (including elephant toothpaste!) and there will be some new ones too. There will be smoke, a few mirrors, and lots of oohs and
ahhhs. Those with bushy eyebrows (who want to keep them) may not want to sit in the front row. Last year, rumor has it they made one of the most deadly
chemicals known - dihydrogen oxide - it was an explosive event!
March 9, 2012
Helen Burn, Kevin Stanley and James Peyton
Measuring Happiness
How might we measure people’s happiness using numbers? And how might we measure the happiness of an entire country? This science seminar focuses on these two questions and introduces the audience to the mathematical idea of an index, including ideas from economics such as Gross Domestic Product. This interactive presentation is a collaboration between the Economics and Mathematics departments at Highline.
