Portland City Science Club

07/09/2013

If you see a ladybug around Portland or the surrounding area, please consider taking its picture and submitting it to this citizen science project. They are studying the changing distributions of all ladybird beetle species around the country, and there's a simple form that includes location data and other details.

Across North America ladybug species distribution is changing. Over the past twenty years several native ladybugs that were once very common have become extremely rare. During this same time ladybugs from other places have greatly increased both their numbers and range. Some ladybugs are simply f...

05/31/2013

Today's Google Doodle celebrates Julius Richard Petri, inventor of the standard culture dish:

Search the world's information, including webpages, images, videos and more. Google has many special features to help you find exactly what you're looking for.

05/30/2013

An interview with Ralph Keeling on the milestone (arbitrary as it may be) of atmospheric CO2 concentration passing 400 ppm. The Keeling Curve is one of the best long-term climate data sets we have, and anything from Keeling is always worth a read:

Atmospheric scientist Ralph Keeling explains the importance of measuring a CO2 concentration of 400 parts per million at the observatory his father set up

05/29/2013

This week on the Smithsonian's Women in Science Wednesday: Edith Kroupa, discoverer of tritium:

02/28/2013

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in NE Portland is hiring a part-time development assistant. This is a great opportunity for someone wanting to break into science and conservation fundraising. Pass it on.

This is a 15 hour a week position. The Develop Assistant will assist the Membership Coordinator with day to day activities including corresponding with donors, acknowledging donations, shipping merchandise orders, and making bank deposits. Please click here to read the complete job description.

02/20/2013

Today, the Pacific Seabird Group's 40th annual meeting begins in downtown Portland. PSG is a professional organization dedicated to the study and conservation of Pacific seabirds. Check out the official program of talks here:

Official Website for the Pacific Seabird Group (PSG).

01/31/2013

OSU got a huge grant to be the lead institution on a project to build as many as three new coastal research vessels. New boats for science.

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The National Science Foundation has notified Oregon State University that it will be the lead institution on a project to finalize the design and coordinate the construction of as many as three new coastal research vessels to bolster the marine science research capabilities of the…

01/27/2013

Unfortunate news about Science Pub. Looks like Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) wants to run it themselves and gave very little notice to the company that has run it very well for six years. More of a problem for me is that they are pushing a non-compete clause against Via, which will only result in fewer overall science events in Oregon for a year. Poorly handled.

Last Friday OMSI very unexpectedly canceled my contract to organize and host Science Pubs across Oregon, effective immediately. I am heartbroken that I will be unable to be involved in the program going forward. The reasons for the cancellation are unclear, and OMSI has stated that they will be orga...

01/22/2013

Pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) are endangered in the Columbia Basin (and somewhat unfairly cute). The Oregon Zoo reports today that some of the captive rabbits released in Washington state last summer are surviving the winter, a good sign for the recovery effort.

01/07/2013

Science Pub tonight! Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)'s Dr. Larry Sherman will be speaking at Bagdad Theater about Nature vs. Nurture using the example of a family of five biological siblings all raised in very different situations. Next week, deep ocean!

In this unique presentation, Dr. Larry Sherman weaves stories about his recently discovered biological family - including five siblings who all grew up in very different circumstances - with discussions about how our genes and environment influence our brains and, ultimately, who we are.

01/07/2013

A reminder that if you are going to keep a bird feeder, keep it clean to prevent bird disease. From OSU Extension Service wildlife expert Dana Sanchez:

If you're going to feed birds, be sure to use good practices to avoid diseases.

01/07/2013

Tsunamis aren't just a danger to coasts. If they hit in the wrong place, they can affect communities miles up rivers as well. Researchers from OSU, UW and Portland State University studied the potential effect of a Cascadia tsunami on the lower Columbia River:

[1] H. Tanaka, A. Mano, and M. Roh, Tsunami propagation into rivers, Preliminary report for the collaborative survey efforts, at Kansai University, Takatsuki, 7/16/2011.