Calendar
Ponyo
Fifth Annual Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective: Jan 9- Jan 26
Perfect for audiences of all ages, Ponyo centers on the friendship between five-year-old Sosuke and a magical goldfish named Ponyo, the young daughter of a sorcerer father and a sea-goddess mother. After a chance encounter, Ponyo yearns to become a human so she can be with Sosuke. As to be expected with Miyazaki, the film is awash in pure unbridled imagination and visual wonder — but it is the tender love, humor, and devotion exhibited by Ponyo and Sosuke that form the emotional heart of the film.
In 2009, the film was awarded with the 32nd Japan Academy Prize for both Animation of the Year and Outstanding Musical Achievement.
Duration: 101 mins. | Rating: G | Presented Jan. 12 & 18 dubbed in English
The Empirical Theater's Studio Ghibli Retrospective runs January 9 through January 26 and features a collection of some of the finest films from Japan's most renowned animation studio. Please call 503-797-4000 for more information.
Princess Mononoke
Fifth Annual Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective: Jan 9- Jan 26
Princess Mononoke is a landmark of animation and a film of unsurpassed power and beauty. An epic story of conflict between humans, gods, and nature, the film has been universally acclaimed by critics and broke the box office record on its original release in Japan.
While defending his village from a demonic boar-god, the young warrior Ashitaka becomes afflicted with a curse that grants him super-human power in battle but will eventually take his life. Traveling west to find a cure or meet his destiny, he journeys deep into sacred depths of the Great Forest where he meets San (Princess Mononoke), a girl raised by wolf-gods who is waging battle against the human outpost of Iron Town, on the edge of the forest. The girl Mononoke is a force of nature – with blood smeared lips, riding bareback on a great white wolf, doing battle with both gods and humans, she is as iconic a figure as any from film, literature, or opera.
Duration: 134 mins. | Rating: PG-13 | Presented Jan. 18 & Jan. 26 dubbed in English and Jan. 12 in Japanese with English subtitles.
Science Pub Corvallis: Willamette Valley Wildlife Refuge
Where the Willamette Valley’s Wild Things Live!
With Samantha Bartling, Visitor Services Manager at the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex
January 13, 2020 | 6-8PM; Doors open @ 5PM | FREE, RSVP Required | REGISTRATION for this Science Pub event will open December 16.
William L. Finley, Ankeny and Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuges are special places for very different reasons, depending on who you ask: family time, solace, hiking, birding, historic buildings, photography, hunting, wildlife viewing, making memories. Samantha Bartling, visitor services manager at the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex, will describe some of the hidden — and not so hidden — beauties of these valley wildlands.
The refuges host seven threatened and endangered species as well as legacy oak trees, colonies of acorn woodpeckers, herds of Roosevelt elk, bobcats, black bear and 200+ bird species.
Bartling graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Natural Resources Management and started her career at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Panamá and earned a master’s degree in Environmental Management from Cornell University, focusing on community-based management in protected areas.
Share an evening with Bartling exploring your local wildlands and getting an update on the latest science that drives their management.
The Science Pub presentation is free and open to the public.
RSVP for the Next Science Pub
Due to the continuing popularity of Science Pub, we are implementing a ticketing/RSVP process. Please read the specifics below.
- Limit of two free tickets per person.
- Registration opens three weeks prior to each Science Pub and is limited to the first 100 tickets.
- Available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the link above or by calling 541-737-4717.
- Advanced registration recommended to guarantee a ticket/seat.
- Only register if you plan on attending please.
- If plans change, please cancel your reservation via your initial confirmation email or by calling 541-737-4717.
- Walk-ins welcome, but seating will not be guaranteed and is based on availability.
- Register for the Science Pub listserv by emailing events@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-4717.
Sponsors of Science Pub include Terra magazine at OSU, the Downtown Corvallis Association and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu.
You can also listen to their podcasts at http://communications.oregonstate.edu/podcast.
Pom Poko
Fifth Annual Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective: Jan 9- Jan 26
Introduction and Talk by Dr. Kristin Faurest, Director, Japanese Garden Training Center
6:30PM | Talk
7:30PM | Film Screening
In this brilliant and often overlooked Studio Ghibli masterpiece from Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Isao Takahata, the forests are filled with groups of magical tanuki, mischievous raccoon-like animals from Japanese folklore that are capable of shape-shifting from their standard raccoon form to practically any object.
The tanuki spend their days playing idly in the hillsides and squabbling over food – until the construction of a huge new Tokyo suburb clears the nearby forest and threatens their way of life. In an effort to defend their home, the tanuki learn to transform into humans and start playing tricks to make the workers think the construction site is haunted, ending in a spectacular night-time spirit parade, with thousands of ghosts, dragons and other magical creatures descending on the city — in an abundance of fantastical characters that would not be matched on screen by Studio Ghibli until Spirited Away.
Duration: 119 mins. | Rating: PG | Presented Jan. 14 dubbed in English
The Empirical Theater's Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective runs January 9 through January 26 and features a collection of some of the finest films from Japan's most renowned animation studio. Please call 503-797-4000 for more information.
Whisper of the Heart
Fifth Annual Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective: Jan 9- Jan 26
Shizuku is spending her last summer vacation before high school reading and translating foreign music into Japanese. Perusing the eclectic selection of books she has checked out from the library, her curiousity is piqued when she notices that the name Seiji appears before hers on the checkout card of each one. Through a series of curious and magical incidents, she comes to meet and establishes a connection to Seiji – who has dreams of becoming a famous violinmaker in Italy, while she has aspirations of becoming a writer. As their life goals pull them in different directions, Shizuku and Seiji are determined to remain true to their feelings for one another.
A masterpiece about the awakening of creative talent, Whisper of the Heart was the first and only full-length feature by Hayao Miyazaki’s protégé Yoshifumi Kondo before his sudden death at the young age of 47. It remains one of the classics of Japanese animation.
Duration: 111 mins. | Rating: G | Presented Jan. 23 dubbed in English and Jan. 15 in Japanese with English subtitles
The Empirical Theater's Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective runs January 9 through January 26 and features a collection of some of the finest films from Japan's most renowned animation studio. Please call 503-797-4000 for more information.
The Wind Rises
Fifth Annual Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective: Jan 9- Jan 26
The Wind Rises is the fictionalized biopic of Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, most notable as the architect of the Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” World War II fighter aircraft. In the film, Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted and unable to be a pilot, he becomes one of the world’s most accomplished airplane designers, experiencing key historical events in an epic tale of love, perseverance and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world.
Hailed by reviewers for its vivid beauty – critic David Ehrlich called it “Perhaps the greatest animated film ever made” – The Wind Rises topped the Japanese box office in 2013 and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
The film was initially considered to be writer/director Hayao Miyazaki’s swan song when the Studio Ghibli co-founder announced his retirement in September 2013. However, Miyazaki has reportedly returned to work on the fantasy adventure How Do You Live? which is expected to be released in 2020 or 2021.
Duration: 126 mins. | Rating: PG-13 | Presented Jan. 15 dubbed in English
The Empirical Theater's Studio Ghibli Retrospective runs January 9 through January 26 and features a collection of some of the finest films from Japan's most renowned animation studio. Please call 503-797-4000 for more information.
Fermentation and your Microbiome
Fermentation is one of the oldest and simplest means of preserving foods. It is also the best way to manage your gut microbiome, the ~100 trillion bacteria that live in your gut and change your health in a myriad of ways. In this class you will create a personalized batch of sauerkraut to take home, as well as learn the basics of making your own kombucha and what a SCOBY is. You will also get an introduction to your microbiome, and snack on some fermented foods while you learn about new scientific discoveries on the depth and breadth of how our microbiome influences our health.
One adult participant per ticket, children under 12 are welcome to share a ticket with an adult. General Admission is not included in the price of the ticket. All Maker Workshops are 15% off for museum members.
Questions? Email foodscience@omsi.edu
Reel Eats: Spirited Away
Reel Eats taps into the senses using both cinema and cuisine. Each curated bite is tucked away in different numbered boxes matching key moments in the film, enhancing the narrative in electrifying ways. Come join us for this quarterly film series and experience the silver screen like never before.
6:15PM | Doors open; guests arrive and will be greeted with a tray of numbered boxes
7:00PM | Introduction and event instructions
7:15PM | Movie: Spirited Away (Duration: 2 hr. 5 mins. | Rating: PG
Tickets: $35 per person (due to the nature of the event, no dietary restrictions can be accommodated)
The Empirical Theater seats 300 guests. Due to event logistics, we sell a maximum of 250 tickets to this event so there is no need to arrive extra early to reserve a seat. Doors open at 6:15pm and we aim to begin the event promptly at 7pm.
The tasting menu that accompanies the film consists of 8 food items that average 3 bites. If you would like to purchase beverages or additional food from the Empirical Café prior to the event, please plan on arriving early. The café will be open until 8pm should you wish to get something additional during the movie.
ABOUT THE FILM
During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts
Miso Making Workshop
In this workshop participants will discover the history and science of miso, taste different types, and craft a batch of red miso to take home. Learn useful tips for how to use miso in the kitchen while enjoying a fresh bowl of traditional miso soup.
One ticket per batch of miso, 1 adult per ticket. Children 8-16 are welcome to share a ticket with an adult. General Admission is not included in the price of the ticket. All Maker Workshops are 15% off for museum members.
Foodstuffs in this lab include soy, a common allergen.
Kiki's Delivery Service
Fifth Annual Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective: Jan 9- Jan 26
From the legendary Hayao Miyazaki comes the beloved story of a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. It is tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and set out into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her life journey with her chatty black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a sea-side village, where a bakery owner hires her to make deliveries.
Rarely has the animator’s art been so brilliantly rendered as in this delightfully imaginative film – a beautiful and timeless story of a young girl finding her way in the world.
Duration: 102 mins. | Rating: G | Presented Jan. 18, 20 & 26 dubbed in English.
The Empirical Theater's Studio Ghibli Retrospective runs January 9 through January 26 and features a collection of some of the finest films from Japan's most renowned animation studio. Please call 503-797-4000 for more information.
Science Pub Portland: Radon & Landslides
NEW LOCATION! We are excited to announce that we are moving one of our regular Science Pub events to the Kennedy School Theater! We will be there every 3rd Tuesday of the month!
Radon and Landslides - Portland's Two Winter Geological Problems!
with Scott Burns, PhD, Professor of Geology at Portland State University
January 21, 2020 | Doors Open @ 5:30PM | 7-9PM | Suggested donation $5pp
The Portland Metropolitan area is a dynamic geological area with every one of the geological hazards present at some time or another. But, in winter two of these hazards really affect more people than at other times of the year. First is radon gas, a radioactive gas that comes naturally out of the soil all of the time. As tiny amounts of uranium and thorium break down into lead, they liberate this gas. In the winter, we close up our homes for energy conservation to keep the heat in, but we are also keeping in the radon gas that comes from the soil through cracks in the home foundations. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States behind smoking. Certain areas of Portland produce large amounts of radon. The distribution maps of indoor radon are explained by differences in geological units. We recommend that all homes be tested, but some areas are really, really important.
Winter time also brings on large amounts of precipitation which leads to increased dangers from landslides. We have many slopes in the Portland area with weak soils on them which are prone to landslides. We are concerned about preventing landslides because they are not covered by homeowner's insurance. Dr. Burns will discuss both of these Portland natural hazards using many examples. We will also discuss how we can reduce their influences in our lives - saving property and saving lives.
Scott Burns, PhD, is a professor Emeritus of geology and past chair of the Department of Geology at Portland State University where he has taught for 30 years. He has a B.S. degree in chemistry and a M.S. degree in physical sciences from Stanford University and a PhD in geology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Burns specializes in environmental and engineering geology, geomorphology, soils, and quaternary geology. In Oregon, his projects involve landslides and land use, environmental cleanup of service stations, slope stability, earthquake hazard mapping, the Missoula Floods, paleosols, loess soil stratigraphy, radon generation from soils, and the distribution of heavy metals and trace elements in Oregon soils and alpine soil development.
He has won many awards for outstanding teaching and his work in geology, including the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Portland State Alumni Association in 2001, the Richard Jahns Award for engineering geology from GSA and AEG in 2011, and the Outstanding Scientist for Oregon for 2014 from the Oregon Academy of Sciences. He has authored more than 100 publications and received more than 25 research grants. Dr. Burns actively helps local TV and radio stations and newspapers bring important geological news to the public and, for the past 51 years, has been studying wine and terroir—the relationship between wine, soils, geology, and climate.
Science Pub Portland at McMenamins Kennedy School is a monthly event that is open to anyone and everyone – no scientific background required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks and knowledge!
Kennedy School Theater has everything from pizza to burgers to popcorn and candy. Food and drink are welcome in the theater. Parking is free for the event. Doors open at 5:30pm.
For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu or call 503.797.4529.
Only Yesterday
Fifth Annual Studio Ghibli Film Retrospective: Jan 9- Jan 26
From Academy Award®-nominated director Isao Takahata and general producer Hayao Miyazaki, Only Yesterday is a masterpiece of time and tone, rich with humor and stirring emotion, and beautifully animated. Released in Japan over the summer of 1991, this coming-of-age drama was something of a surprise success topping the Japanese box office that year. However, aside from a 2006 airing on television channel TCM, it would be another 25 years before the film reached North America, courtesy of animation distributor GKIDS.
Set in 1982, Only Yesterday’s protagonist is Taeko a 27 year-old, unmarried salarywoman who has lived her whole life in Tokyo. She decides to visit her relatives in the countryside, and as the train travels through the night, memories flood back of her younger years: the first immature stirrings of romance, the onset of puberty, and the frustrations of math and boys.
At the station she is met by young farmer Toshio, and the encounters with him begin to reconnect her to forgotten longings. In lyrical switches between the present and the past, Taeko contemplates the arc of her life, and wonders if she has been true to the dreams of her childhood self.
Duration: 118 mins. | Rating: PG | Presented Jan. 21 dubbed in English
The Empirical Theater's Studio Ghibli Retrospective runs January 9 through January 26 and features a collection of some of the finest films from Japan's most renowned animation studio. Please call 503-797-4000 for more information.