For those of us who enjoy learning about science and appreciate a good time, Science Pub is a dream come true. Science Pub is an informal get-together where the speakers are leading researchers and scientists in the field, and questions are encouraged. Topics are focused on advances in science and technology that directly affect our lives. Science Pub is held the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm at Cozmic Pizza at 199 W 8th Ave., and is designed for adults.

When: The 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm
Where: Cozmic Pizza,

The Science Pub is open to anyone and everyone, no RSVP required. Science Pub is meant for adults. Tell your friends, and we hope to see you there!


Thursday, November 13
The Science of Melody: Motion, Metaphor, and Meaning in Music
Steve Larson, Ph.D., Professor of Music, University of Oregon

People sometimes talk of being "moved" when listening to a piece of music, or about "traveling" up and down the scale when hearing a sequence of notes. Do these experiences have some real relationship to physical motion and how is it connected to the feelings we have when we listen to music? This Science Pub will explore recent research in cognitive science using music analyses, psychological experiments, and computer modeling to show how physical motion relates to what we experience when we hear music, as well as the important role metaphor plays in creating musical meaning out of our sense of motion. Come see for yourself how music moves you, complete with live musical examples drawn from a variety of styles.

Steve Larson, PhD, is the Robert M. Trotter Professor of Music and a member of the Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences at the University of Oregon, where he teaches courses in music theory. He also serves as visiting faculty researcher at the Center for Research on Concepts and Cognition (the artificial-intelligence lab of Douglas Hofstadter) at Indiana University. He is a jazz pianist, performing solo and with the group BLUE SONJA. A few of his recordings can be found at his website.

NO SCIENCE PUB IN DECEMBER - see you in January 2009!


Thursday, January 8
Seeing Time: Geologic Clues to our Ancient Earth
Marli Bryant Miller, Ph.D., Geological Sciences, University of Oregon