April 10, 2015
Aaron Moehlig
Beer! (and Chemistry)!
Society has been enjoying the product of grain fermentation, what we call beer, at least as far back as ancient Egypt. In the state of Washington alone there are currently 281 commercial breweries. It seems, people have always been fascinated by the process of brewing, but little about the process or the chemistry of this type of fermentation has changed over the past few thousand years. Brewing beer has always involved, sometimes by law, the combination and interaction of four ingredients: water, grains, hops, and yeast. This talk will focus on the chemistry that occurs when these four ingredients are combined during the brewing process as well as how people brew, analyze, and consume beer on both a small and large scale. Samples (of ingredients) will be provided!
April 17, 2015
Teri Balkenende
Organ Transplants/Single Payer Health Care
A Double Feature Science Seminar. This Science Seminar (sponsored in partnership with the Highline Honors Program) will feature two student groups along with guest experts. The first presentation will focus on the
benefits of a single payer health care system while the second is about the importance of organ transplants and the simple steps we can take to share life with others.
April 24, 2015
Helen Burn
Randomization-based approaches to probability and statistical inference
Having a practical understanding of statistics is important for everyone given that we are awash in data. Inferential statistics is the art of using sample data to make inferences about a population or to determine whether
differences between two groups are “statistically significant.” Yet educational research shows that traditional approaches to teaching statistical inference (t tests that rely on the Central Limit Theorem) are ineffective
in helping people understand the core logic of inference. As a result, there is a growing movement towards using randomization-based approaches. This session will have two to three hands-on activities to demonstrate this
approach and requires no formal understanding of statistics.
May 1, 2015
Carla Whittington
Landslides in Washington State
Life in the Puget Sound can be interesting. Geologic hazards are always knocking at our doors. Did you know that the Puget Sound has a landslide season? During the 2012-3 season, passenger train traffic between here and
Everett has been shut down 95% of the time. There have been over 75 landslides down onto the tracks during that period! More recently, the Oso slide had its tragic one year anniversary. Even more recent than that, a few
houses on the bluff in Des Moines were damaged in a slide. Why are this region's hills so prone to sliding? Is it just the rain or something more? This talk will cover why landslides occur in this area; what combination of
conditions have to happen to get the hills moving; where the trouble spots are; and how, if possible, this hazard can be mitigated.
May 8, 2015
Eugene Disney
Nudibranchs of the MaST Center
Come and learn about one of the most charismatic niches of sea slugs that are found in great abundance all over the Sound. We at the MaST Center have been following our internal species since October of 2013 and have been
seeing some very interesting trends. This presentation will not only cover what a nudibranch is and why they are important, but also how one can use citizen science to acquire more data than you ever could alone.
May 15, 2015
Dusty Wilson
Where Does Math Come From?
What is mathematics and is it discovered or invented? The Humanist, Platonist, and Foundationalist each provide answers. But are the options within the philosophy of mathematics so limited? This talk will provide a
historical/philosophical overview, introduce an inclusive framework, and perhaps connect it to our critical work as community college educators.
May 22, 2015
Kurt Giessel
Alan Turing and the Enigma Machine
Have you ever taken a Turing Test? Chances are you have several times and don't even realize it. Come learn about the math, machine, and father of computer science who arguably did more to defeats the Nazis that any other
person.Have you ever taken a Turing Test? Chances are you have several times and don't even realize it. Come learn about the math, machine, and father of computer science who arguably did more to defeats the Nazis that any
other person.
