Science On Tap: Garden To Gut - Vancouver 3/11 (Photo) - 02/18/26

Date: Wed, March 11th, 2026

Time: 7 pm

Location: Kiggins Theatre Vancouver, Wa

Tickets: $15-$45

Event Website: https://www.scienceontaporwa.org/events/kiggins_mar_11_gut-biome/

How do your immune cells get their intel?
Who digests your food?
Who gave your food nutrients in the first place?

Food crops not only make their own phytochemical menu that add flavor to our lives, ward off caterpillars, etc, but plants, themselves, have their very own microbiome! From mycorrhizal connections, endophytic fungi, and nodule-forming nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, the interdependent nature of nature is an inspiration.

Come for a good “gut feeling” about your microbiome, stay to hear what soil and planetary health can offer. From microorganisms to macro-nutrients, from the garden to our guts, from the latest scientific discoveries to our beliefs, we will ask the question: what is possible by cultivating diverse communities?

Dr. Adrienne Godschalx teaches Microbiology at Lower Columbia College to aspiring nurses. 

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, drink a pint, and enjoy learning. 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! For more information on this event or about Science on Tap, visit Science on Tap OR WA.

Science On Tap 2/25 In Portland: Your AI Lover (Photo) - 02/05/26

Date: Wed, February 25th, 2026

Time: 7 pm

Location: Alberta Rose Theatre

Tickets: $15-$45

Event Website: scienceontaporwa.org/events/alberta_feb_25_ai_lover/

Humans are inherently social, and for many, romantic love represents the pinnacle of emotional connection. Yet, not everyone finds a romantic partner or experiences the kind of connection they seek. Some may turn to AI for solutions.

From virtual companions to AI-driven therapists, artificial intelligence is already reshaping how we communicate, alleviate loneliness, and express desire. And as AI continues to evolve, it could become more than just a tool in our lives: it could become a romantic partner.

This show will delve into the science of love, belonging, and happiness to explore whether AI mitigates loneliness or exacerbates it. Using what we already know about the intersections of emotional connection and technology, she will reflect on whether humans can truly fall in love with an AI, and can an AI reciprocate? What might a human-AI romance look like, and what could it mean for the future of intimate relationships?

L. Kris Gowen is a queer sexuality educator who has spoken nationally and internationally on the intersections of sex and technology. She has authored textbooks, teacher guides, and lesson plans to support inclusive school-based sexuality education, based in science and curiosity. When not thinking about sex and relationships, she lives and breathes all things karaoke. 

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, drink a pint, and enjoy learning. 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! For more information on this event or about Science on Tap, visit Science on Tap OR WA.

Science On Tap 2/11 In Vancouver: How The Brain Manipulates Our Visual World (Photo) - 01/21/26

Date: Wed, February 11th, 2026

Time: 7 pm

Location: Kiggins Theatre Vancouver, Wa

Tickets: $15-$45

Event Website: scienceontaporwa.org/events/kiggins_feb_11_visual/

When we open our eyes, are we perceiving reality?

Why do we fail to agree on the color of “The Dress” (that went viral in 2015)?

Have you ever glanced at ticking clock and noticed the second-hand suddenly freeze for a split second?

Neuroscience research suggests that the brain evolved to make rapid, best-guesses about the objects in our environment, rather than create a one-to-one representation of the world. Through stories and demonstrations, Dr. Mark Pitzer will discuss some of the effects of this strategy and how our visual system can highlight some objects, delete others, and alter our conscious awareness in an attempt to help us navigate our visual world.

Mark Pitzer, Ph.D. is a neuroscientist at the U of P. For the last 25 years he has worked to better understand and treat diseases of the brain, including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. Currently, his lab studies how developmental influences in the womb can alter the number of dopaminergic neurons involved in movement and reward. Mark is also an award-winning teacher that uses the findings from the fields of learning and neuroscience to invoke enduring enthusiasm, curiosity and deep learning in his college students.  

(This is a repeat of a popular 2023 show, with some updates.)

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, drink a pint, and enjoy learning. 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! For more information on this event or about Science on Tap, visit Science on Tap OR WA.