October 9, 2015
Eric Baer
Are You Ready To Rumble?
On October 15, Highline College and millions of other people will participate in the largest earthquake drill ever performed in the United States. Will you know what to do? Come to Science Seminar to get tips on what to do during and immediately after an earthquake, as well as how to be more prepared. This Science Seminar may just save your life…
October 23, 2015
Kayoko Mozley
Sleep Apnea: The Schnorrer Beside You
Do you snore? Do you wake up in the morning feeling as tired as when you went to bed? Has your spouse complained about your loud snores, gasps and chokings every night? Then you might have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is a common sleep disorder that often requires lifelong care. In this seminar, you will learn the basic information about how/why OSA happens and the common treatments.
October 30, 2015
Steve Lettic
The Science of Forensics
How many crime scene investigation (CSI) variations can you think of…CSI, CSI Miami, CSI Cyber, and CSI New Orleans, the first 48, How to get away with Murder to name just a few? Explore the science behind the different aspects of a forensic investigation and discuss who conducts those investigations as well as what it takes to be a “CSI” in Washington State. We will also discuss the role the state crime lab plays in the system and how the science of Forensics has evolved in to what it is today. Time permitting we will also discuss the “CSI” effect.
November 6, 2015
Mary Graff
Saving Lives Through Organ Donation
We’re reminded every day that organ donation is a rare and remarkable process. The generosity of the person at the center of this process----the donor---touches everyone who takes part, from family members to medical professionals to transplant recipients.
November 13, 2015
Tim Campbell
The Secondary Treatment Process at the Des Moines Creek Treatment Plant
In America, we take water for granted. Drinking water is so plentiful that we water our lawns with it. But there is a murkier side – namely what do we do with all the waste water that we generate? In this talk, Tim Campbell from our local Midway Sewer will share on the basics of treatment plant operation and how to clean up waste water.
November 20, 2015
Chris D. Brown
A Bertha Sized Update
Presented by Chris D. Brown, Alaskan Way Viaduct. The Alaskan Way Viaduct, an elevated section of State Route 99 in Seattle, was built in the 1950s, and decades of daily wear and tear have taken their toll on the structure. Because of the viaduct’s age and vulnerability to earthquakes, replacing it is critical to public safety. Major elements of the program include:
- A two-mile-long tunnel beneath downtown Seattle.
- A mile-long stretch of new highway that connects to the south entrance of the tunnel, near Seattle’s stadiums.
- A new overpass at the south end of downtown that allows traffic to bypass train blockages near Seattle’s busiest port terminal.
- Demolition of the viaduct’s downtown waterfront section.
- A new Alaskan Way surface street along the waterfront that connects SR 99 to downtown.
December 4, 2015
Sandra Kaiser
Washington's Worst Ever Wildfire Season
The Okanogan Complex Fire was a wildfire affecting Okanogan County in north-central Washington state. It was composed of five fires that were caused by lightning strikes on August 15, 2015, with two of the fires near Conconully merging days later on August 19. At its peak, it burned over 304,782 acres of land and forced the evacuations of numerous towns, including Conconully, Twisp and Winthrop. Over 1,250 firefighters were deployed to the Okanogan Complex. Three United States Forest Service firefighters were killed in an accident. Traditional methods of containing such wildfires, such as creating bulldozer lines, were not readily available due to the irregular terrain and because an inversion layer trapped smoke in the valley, making it difficult to fly in water by helicopter.
