Calendar
Cheese Making Workshop
Explore the wonderful world of cheese making! We’ll learn the art and science of making cow’s milk fresh mozzarella cheese in this class. Participants will sample a variety of cheeses, make their own mozzarella, and learn about several types of fresh cheeses to make at home.
Recommended for ages 8 and up with an adult, 14 and up without. Each ticket is per 1 lb batch of cheese, up to three people per ticket. General Admission is not included in the price of the ticket.
One ticket per batch of cheese, maximum three participants per ticket.
Time: 11AM - 1PM
Science Pub Portland: Rivers & Hydrology
A Random Walk Along the River: Vital Connections that Rivers Share with the Land, the Sky, and Us
With Sean W. Fleming, PhD, Chief Scientist, White Rabbit R&D LLC, and Courtesy Professor, College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and Water Resources Graduate Program, Oregon State University
November 19, 2019 | Doors Open @ 6PM; OMSI's restaurant, Theory will be open from 5-7PM
Please Note: OMSI's restaurant, Theory will now be open for Science Pub! Enjoy wood-fired pizza, salad, ice cream plus draft beer and cider!
$5 advance purchase for guaranteed seats; $5 suggested donation at the door. Tickets will be available online or at the OMSI front desk until 2pm the day of the event; see below for details.
Rivers are everywhere and affect everything. When all goes well, they provide us with water, power, food, transportation, recreation, and beauty. And when things go wrong, they wipe out our homes or even bring poisoned water to our taps. But how much do we know about how rivers actually work? How can a river flood one year and dry up the next? Where do canyons come from? How do we make forecasts of floods and water supplies? How do changes in land use and climate impact our rivers? And how does the study of water flow across the landscape – known as hydrology – overlap with other natural and social sciences, from biology to finance, and astrophysics to conflict studies?
In this talk, environmental scientist Dr. Sean Fleming explores how math and physics can reveal the hidden secrets of rivers, offers insights into the deep relationships rivers have with landscapes, ecosystems, and people, and looks at the threats our rivers face and how we can best protect them over the long run.
Sean started out as an exploration geophysicist using methods from geology, digital signal processing, and physics to search for oil, gold, and diamonds. His attention soon turned instead to hydrology, glacier science, and climate, and subsequently to data analytics and complex systems in general. His experience spans two decades of field, technical, and managerial work in the private, public, academic, and NGO sectors in the US, Canada, England, and Mexico. He currently runs a Corvallis-based data science consultancy, White Rabbit R&D, working mainly on applications of artificial intelligence to predicting water quality and quantity. He is also an affiliate faculty member at Oregon State University and the University of British Columbia and has been involved in several reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Sean is strongly active in science outreach, publishing a critically acclaimed general-audience book (Where the River Flows: Scientific Reflections on Earth’s Waterways) with Princeton University Press, engaging directly with the public through events like a Smithsonian lecture and a call-in NPR radio show, and writing for Scientific American and Wired.
OMSI Science Pub at the Empirical Theater is a ticketed event. To guarantee a seat at this event, please buy tickets online or at the OMSI front desk. Advanced tickets will be available for purchase until 2:00pm the day of the event. Please show your ticket at the theater entrance upon arrival.
If the event sells out, we will update the website and Facebook listings accordingly. If the event does not sell out in advance, attendance will be first-come, first-served at the door and at-the-door admission will remain a suggested donation.
Science Pub OMSI 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! For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu.
Sandwiches, hotdogs, snacks and beverages are available from the Empirical Café. Food and drink are welcome in the theater. Parking is free for the event. Doors open at 6pm.
For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu or call 503.797.4529.
Kendall Concerts Presents Korgy & Bass
Doors open @ 7:30PM; Music starts @ 8:00PM | $15 tickets | Parking is free
Beer, wine, snacks and more! Concessions available for purchase at the Empirical Theater Cafe.
Kendall Concerts: Music Under the Dome is a monthly planetarium concert series combining live performances with stunning visuals in riots of color, shape and movement, enveloping the audience into an adventure of the senses without ever having to leave their seat.
History, running hand-in-hand with art, has always been an exploration of tension and release, clutter and space, discord and harmony, industry and nature -- Portland-based duo Korgy & Bass documents this history exploring the clatter and clang of industry churning its gears into the earth to the chilling expanse of virtual landscapes. Their new album Remote bridges the gap between fear and hope with a sobering, aerial view of our planet in all its tremors and triumphs: a sonic journey from industrialization to the modern day tech industry.
The process of creating Remote was one of distance. The album was collaboratively written and mixed by Korgy & Bass in Portland, OR and trumpeter Cyrus Nabipoor in New Orleans. Each composition uses melodies and textures sent by Nabipoor that were added to, chopped, re-sampled, and produced by drummer Barra Brown and analog beatsmith Alex Meltzer of Korgy & Bass.
Kendall Concerts is an all ages, monthly music series. For more information please contact kmeyer@omsi.edu.
FOR PATRONS AND VISITORS WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES
Entrances
OMSI’s building has accessible entrances, and the Kendall Planetarium is located on the ground floor.
Accessible Seating
OMSI reserves accessible seating space for patrons using wheelchairs and their companion(s). You can purchase wheelchair seating by phone, in person, and online. For more information about accessibility, please contact Kathleen Meyer at 503.797.5411 or at kmeyer@omsi.edu.
Patron Drop-off Zones
Curbside drop-off zones are located along the front plaza, with easy access to the Kendall Planetarium.
Courtesy Wheelchairs
Patrons who wish to use an OMSI wheelchair may request a courtesy wheelchair from the Concierge window located next to the Main Lobby. We encourage you to notify OMSI in advance at 503.797.4511 as courtesy wheelchairs are limited.
Accessible Restrooms
OMSI has public restrooms that are wheelchair accessible. Gendered public restrooms are located in the Kendall Planetarium hallway. Companion care and non-gender-specific restrooms are located in the Turbine Hallway.
Parking
Parking is free in either of OMSI’s designated parking lots. There are 5 wheelchair accessible parking spaces in each lot, for a total of 10 spaces.
OMSI After Dark: Wild World
Hold a tarantula, learn about lapidary arts and eat a bug!
Shoot off water rockets, concoct chemical creations, and explore the wonders of OMSI with no kids in sight! Enjoy a glass of wine while learning about robots, tornados, or fossils. Talk to a brewer about the science behind beer, or sample products from local artisans.
All that and more with OMSI After Dark, a night at the museum for the 21-and-over crowd filled with food, drink, and science fun!
Visit our new exhibit, Exquisite Creatures.
21+ Only | ID's Required
Due to the popularity of this event, we strongly recommend that you purchase tickets in advance as capacity is limited and may sell out.
OMSI After Dark admission: $15/non-members, $7.50/OMSI Members and FREE for OMSI After Dark Access Pass Holders
SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS
Coming Soon!
PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS
Coming Soon!
THEMED VENDORS
Coming Soon!
ARTISAN VENDORS
Coming Soon!
Questions? Call 503.797.4642 or email events@omsi.edu.
Ticketing questions call 503.797.4634
For more information about purchasing an OMSI After Dark Access Pass, please email concierge@omsi.edu or give us a call at 503.797.4000 x0
Science Pub Portland: Stars & Birds
Back to the Night: Why Bringing Back the Stars is Not Just for the Birds
With Mary Coolidge, BirdSafe Campaign Coordinator at the Portland Audubon
December 5, 2019 | Doors Open @ 6PM
Please Note: OMSI's restaurant, Theory will not be open for this event.
$5 advance purchase for guaranteed seats; $5 suggested donation at the door. Tickets will be available online or at the OMSI front desk until 2pm the day of the event; see below for details.
For eons, the night was lit only by the moon and stars, and life on this planet evolved under regular cycles of bright days and dark nights. All that has changed in the last 130 years, and the night we know now is liberally colonized with artificial light. Most of us live in cities that are ablaze—from billboards to parking lots to streetlights—even while we sleep. Today, 80% of North Americans live in places from which they cannot see our own home galaxy because of the fog of light pollution. The overabundance of light at night has dire ecological consequences for plants, birds, fish and other wildlife, as well as for human health and culture.
In this talk, biologist Mary Coolidge will delve into the importance of darkness for nocturnal species as well as for the billions of migrating birds which use starry night skies to navigate. On this journey, we will explore the night’s wondrous mysteries and ask the question: Can we restore dark skies while simultaneously crafting vibrant, beautiful, and safe nighttime cityscapes?
Mary Coolidge is Portland Audubon’s BirdSafe Campaign Coordinator, working with architects, planners and designers to reduce hazards for birds in the urban environment while meeting other design, building performance and climate change objectives. Mary is dedicated to improving efforts to make urban environments more hospitable to wildlife and helping connect people to nature and place right here in the city. Mary splits her time between Portland Audubon and the Oregon Zoo’s California Condor breeding program.
OMSI Science Pub at the Empirical Theater is a ticketed event. To guarantee a seat at this event, please buy tickets online or at the OMSI front desk. Advanced tickets will be available for purchase until 2:00pm the day of the event. Please show your ticket at the theater entrance upon arrival.
If the event sells out, we will update the website and Facebook listings accordingly. If the event does not sell out in advance, attendance will be first-come, first-served at the door and at-the-door admission will remain a suggested donation.
Science Pub OMSI 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! For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu.
Sandwiches, hotdogs, snacks and beverages are available from the Empirical Café. Food and drink are welcome in the theater. Parking is free for the event. Doors open at 6pm.
For more information or to sign up for our mailing list, email: sciencepub@omsi.edu or call 503.797.4529.
Kendall Concerts Presents Naomi LaViolette
On December 5, 2019, Naomi LaViolette presents "Pictures in the Sky," a concert showcasing her songs that lyrically feature the stars or the sky and her new music singles released in 2019. She will be joined by Bill Athens on bass, Ken Ollis on drums, Tim Karplus on guitar, and Peter Frajola of the Oregon Symphony on violin.
Doors open @ 7:30PM; Music starts @ 8:00PM | $15 tickets | Parking is free
Beer, wine, snacks and more! Concessions available for purchase at the Empirical Theater Cafe.
Kendall Concerts: Music Under the Dome is a monthly planetarium concert series combining live performances with stunning visuals in riots of color, shape and movement, enveloping the audience into an adventure of the senses without ever having to leave their seat.
Portland, Oregon-based songwriter, pianist, and vocalist Naomi LaViolette has found her niche amongst retro-style grooves, cool jazz, and classical arrangements. Naomi’s smooth vocals are remniscent of Norah Jones' sultry blues and the ambience of Sarah McLachlan, and her wide-ranging keyboard sounds evoke both the funky rhythms of Billy Preston and classic folk-rock of Carole King.
Naomi has released four records, most recently Live at The Old Church with Members of the Oregon Symphony, released February 2019. Her work with Steven Goodwin and the Saving His Music project has received prominent coverage in national and local news, including CBS Sunday Morning. Their record, entitled The Nature Of Love, spent three weeks on the Billboard New Age chart in January 2018.
Naomi’s roots are deep in classical music—she has a master’s degree in classical piano performance—but she has also immersed herself in jazz standards, folk songs, soul, pop, and gospel. Her original music has received great reviews and critical acclaim from media and she has performed at esteemed venues and festivals including the Portland Jazz Festival, The Doug Fir Lounge, and The Bite of Oregon. She has been the pianist for the Oregon Repertory Singers since 2004.
Kendall Concerts is an all ages, monthly music series. For more information please contact kmeyer@omsi.edu.
FOR PATRONS AND VISITORS WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES
Entrances
OMSI’s building has accessible entrances, and the Kendall Planetarium is located on the ground floor.
Accessible Seating
OMSI reserves accessible seating space for patrons using wheelchairs and their companion(s). You can purchase wheelchair seating by phone, in person, and online. For more information about accessibility, please contact Kathleen Meyer at 503.797.5411 or at kmeyer@omsi.edu.
Patron Drop-off Zones
Curbside drop-off zones are located along the front plaza, with easy access to the Kendall Planetarium.
Courtesy Wheelchairs
Patrons who wish to use an OMSI wheelchair may request a courtesy wheelchair from the Concierge window located next to the Main Lobby. We encourage you to notify OMSI in advance at 503.797.4511 as courtesy wheelchairs are limited.
Accessible Restrooms
OMSI has public restrooms that are wheelchair accessible. Gendered public restrooms are located in the Kendall Planetarium hallway. Companion care and non-gender-specific restrooms are located in the Turbine Hallway.
Parking
Parking is free in either of OMSI’s designated parking lots. There are 5 wheelchair accessible parking spaces in each lot, for a total of 10 spaces.
Bitters Making Workshop
Bitters demystified! Learn how to make and use bitters in this hands-on workshop. This class will cover the history and science of bitters as well as basic formulas, tools, and processes to make bitter tinctures at home. Participants will have the opportunity to do tastings of various commercial bitters brands, as well as 36+ individual tinctures, and will blend two batches of bitters to take home.
One participant per ticket. Ages 21 and up, General Admission is not included in the price of the ticket.
Time: 10AM-12PM & 2PM - 4PM
How Does the Cookie Crumble? Gingerbread Workshop (All Ages)
Recent scientific “discoveries” have uncovered a revolutionary new building material that could change how we prepare for earthquakes – gingerbread! Come to OMSI and learn how buildings are designed to withstand quakes. Design, build and test your own quake proof gingerbread building. Put your tower on OMSI's shake table to see if it will survive “the Big One”!
This workshop is suggested for all ages.
Foodstuffs in this lab will include common allergens such as wheat, soy, and eggs.
Tickets are $20 per building; up to two people can work on each building.
Melt & Pour Soap Making
A special holiday edition of our popular soap making class! Learn about the science of soap molecules and why soap is so great at cleaning. Let your creativity guide you as you melt down already–prepared soap and add ingredients to make unique bars that are ready for immediate use.
One ticket per batch of soap, maximum three participants per ticket.
Recommended for ages 12+ without an adult or 6+ with an adult. General Admission and parking are not included in the price of admission.
Meet A Scientist: December
Included in General Admission | Current science gets up close and personal at Meet a Scientist. This program, held on the second Saturday of the month, features local scientists who share their research and knowledge with you through hands-on activities and conversation. Meet a Scientist exclusively features professionals who are OMSI Science Communication Fellows.
December 14 Topics
Come meet Ashley, George, and Phylicia!
- Do you know what happens after you flush the toilet or put food down the drain? Come learn how wastewater is treated and how we can use it to produce renewable energy!
- Learn the fascinating and unique structure of the inner ear with George, and discover how it tells different sounds apart.
- How does electricity get to your house? Let's bring electricity to a village without any power, while learning how to balance the power that travels between power plants and houses.
Science Pub Portland: Ocean Plastics
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!
Plastics, Bivalves, and a Straw Cape
with Nancy Judd of Recycle Runway; Britta Baechler, PhD Candidate, Portland State University; and Chanel Hason of Portland Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation
December 17, 2019 | Doors Open @ 5:30PM | 7-9PM | Suggested donation $5pp
We’ve all seen the video of a sea turtle with a straw up its nose, but there’s a lot more to the story of plastic pollution than we all think. For instance, did you know that plastic pollution in the ocean was first reported in research articles in the early 1970s? Or that micro plastics have been found in clams and oysters right here in Oregon? What about that straws and stirrers are the third most common item found in beach cleanups?
Come for a unique presentation blending science, art, and activism from three people working to change the story of plastic here in the Pacific Northwest. We’ll be hearing from Nancy Judd, Britta Baechlor, and Chanel Hason, who will be sharing how plastics are impacting some of our smallest critters, and what is being done to raise awareness of plastic pollution both here and across the US. Nancy will also lead audience members in an arts integration activity to reflect upon Britta’s research in creative ways.
BIOS:
Nancy Judd is an internationally recognized artist, environmental advocate and teaching artist. For over 20 years she has been creating art exhibitions made from trash that engage people in conversations about how we live on the earth. Nancy exhibits her work in public airports and museums and one of her pieces is in the Smithsonian Museum’s permanent collection. In her work as a teaching artist, Nancy provides arts integration to students in classrooms and adults in training settings. www.NancyJudd.com.
Britta Baechler is a graduate student in the Applied Coastal Ecology lab at Portland State University conducting research on microplastics in razor clams and Pacific oysters on the Oregon Coast. She became concerned about the state of the marine environment after encountering marine debris and trash while studying and working in the Caribbean, Aleutian Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and here in the Pacific Northwest.
Chanel Hason is the volunteer Chair and Communications Lead of the Portland Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation for over 2 years. She graduated from CSU Monterey Bay with a B.S. in Environmental Science Technology & Policy, focusing on Marine and Coastal Ecology. More recently, she attended PSU earning a M.S. in Leadership for Sustainability Education. Her background in marine conservation and environmental education are what drives her to be an active citizen scientist.
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.
How Does the Cookie Crumble? Gingerbread Workshop (18+)
Recent scientific “discoveries” have uncovered a revolutionary new building material that could change how we prepare for earthquakes – gingerbread! Come learn how buildings are designed to withstand quakes. Design, build and test your own quake proof gingerbread house. Put your tower on OMSI's shake table to see if it will survive the Big One!
This workshop is suggested for ages 18+. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Foodstuffs in this lab will include common allergens such as wheat, soy, and eggs.
Tickets are $20 per house; up to two people can work on each house.