Brynne Weaver
Grand Gesture Books is proud to partner with Alberta Rose Theatre to bring New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Brynne Weaver to Portland! Brynne will be here to discuss her new dark and funny romance, TOURIST SEASON. Welcome to Cape Carnage! Visit Once, Stay Forever. Cape Carnage is a seaside town of colorful houses, quirky shops, and an unusually high body count. But with tourists comes trouble, and Harper Starling won’t let anyone ruin her picture-perfect home. A skilled gardener with killer instincts, Harper protects her sanctuary at any cost—especially for her aging mentor with a fading memory. Troublesome tourists don’t check out of Carnage. They compost beneath Harper’s award-winning flowerbeds. But Nolan Rhodes isn’t your average tourist. Devilishly handsome, disarmingly charming, and skilled with a blade, Nolan is relentless in the pursuit of revenge. On every anniversary of the hit-and-run accident that fractured his life, Nolan slays another target. And he’s saved the best for last: the undeniably beautiful Harper Starling. In this slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance, destruction and desire are balanced on the edge of a blade—and where love becomes the most dangerous battleground of all. Brynne will be joined in conversation by fellow bestselling author Meghan Quinn. All tickets include a pre-signed edition of TOURIST SEASON. Brynne will not be personalizing any books at this event. There will be additional signed stock of the Ruinous Love Trilogy and books authored by Meghan for purchase at the show. After the in-conversation talk and audience Q&A, there will be a brief intermission to set up the photo opportunity for our authors. #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author and international sensation with works sold worldwide in more than twenty-five countries to date, Brynne Weaver has traveled the world, taken in more stray animals than her husband would probably prefer, and nurtured her love for dark comedies, horror, and romance in both literature and film. During all her adventures, the constant thread in Brynne’s life has been writing. With ten published works and counting, Brynne has made her mark in the literary world by blending irreverent dark comedy, swoon-worthy romance, and riveting suspense to create genre-breaking, addictive stories for readers to escape into. New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book. Ages 18+ Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardian.Review our venue FAQ here ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS.
Science On Tap – Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy
Join us for an interview (now a full-on tradition) with the friend-of-Science-on-Tap Mary Roach about her latest book! The body is the most complex machine in the world, and the only one for which you cannot get a replacement part from the manufacturer. For centuries, medicine has reached for what’s available—sculpting noses from brass, borrowing skin from frogs and hearts from pigs, crafting eye parts from jet canopies, and breasts from petroleum by-products. In Replaceable You, Mary Roach sets sail on the uncharted waters of regenerative medicine, exploring the remarkable advances and difficult questions prompted by the human body’s failings. When and how does a person decide they’d be better off with a prosthetic than their existing limb? Is there a sensitive way to harvest tissue and bones from the deceased? Which animals might be the best organ donors? Through interviews with patients, physicians, pathologists, engineers, and scientists, Roach immerses readers in the wondrous, improbable, and surreal quest to build a new you. Mary Roach is the author of the New York Times bestsellers STIFF, SPOOK, BONK, GULP, GRUNT, and PACKING FOR MARS. Mary has written for National Geographic, Wired, and The New York Times Magazine, among others, and her TED talk made the TED 20 Most Watched list. She has been a guest editor for Best American Science and Nature Writing and a finalist for the Royal Society’s Winton Prize. Get 15% OFF both ticket and book by selecting the combo option at the ticket page. Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardian Review our venue FAQ here ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS.
Science On Tap: Doctors By Nature: How Ants, Apes, & Other Animals Heal Themselves
The astonishing story of how animals use medicine and what it can teach us about healing ourselves. Ages before the dawn of modern medicine, wild animals were harnessing the power of nature’s pharmacy to heal themselves. Animals of all kinds—from ants to apes, from bees to bears, and from cats to caterpillars—use various forms of medicine to treat their own ailments and those of their relatives. Meet apes that swallow leaves to dislodge worms, sparrows that use cigarette butts to repel parasites, and bees that incorporate sticky resin into their hives to combat pathogens. De Roode asks whether these astonishing behaviors are learned or innate and explains why, now more than ever, we need to apply the lessons from medicating animals—it can pave the way for healthier livestock, more sustainable habitats for wild pollinators, and a host of other benefits. Doctors by Nature explores how scientists are turning to the medical knowledge of the animal kingdom to improve agriculture, create better lives for our pets, and develop new pharmaceutical drugs. Jaap de Roode received his MSc in Population Biology from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and his PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He is interested in the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases, and currently studies infectious diseases of monarch butterflies, honey bees and humans. Get 15% OFF the ticket AND book by selecting the Book/Ticket Combo option at checkout. Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardian Review our venue FAQ here ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS
Science On Tap: The Undammed Klamath – Tribal Knowledge of Water Resources
The summer of 2024 marked the largest dam removal in world history. Four dams were removed from the Klamath River, which runs through Oregon and California. Dam removal was caused in large part by the push from tribes local to the area. Come have a discussion with Civil Water Resource/ Restoration Engineer Brook M Thompson from the Yurok and Karuk Tribes, who has been involved in dam removal advocacy since she was seven years old. She’ll cover: How does one remove a dam? And what was so bad about the dam anyway? How traditional ecological knowledge can benefit successful restoration efforts? What can we expect now the dams are removed? What is next for bringing back the salmon population? Why are interdisciplinary fields required for successful restoration projects? What research is currently being conducted on the Klamath River post-dam removal? How you can build a connection with the local native community and support local restoration efforts. Brook M Thompson is from the Yurok & Karuk tribes of California and grew up on her ancestral river, the Klamath. The deaths there of tens of thousands of salmon encouraged her to become a water rights activist and a water resource/restoration engineer. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz, researching Klamath salmon, restoration cooperation with tribes, and water policy. She has an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Stanford and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from PSU. $15.00 DISCOUNT (senior, student, it’s your birthday, just can’t afford the GA price right now)$25.00 GENERAL ADMISSION$35.00 VIP: Premium seating in the front several rows of the center section$45.00 SUPPORTER: Premium seating, pint glass (beer not included), and good feelings for supporting the programMinors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardianReview our venue FAQ here
Consider This with Ben Rhodes
Join Oregon Humanities for a conversation about geopolitics, American power, and public service with Ben Rhodes, a former advisor to President Barack Obama on national security and diplomacy and host of the Pod Save the World podcast. How much should the general public know or understand about global affairs and foreign policy? How do the US government’s actions on the world stage respond to public interest? How do people who work on those policies respond when their understanding of the public interest differs from the majority of public opinion? Ben Rhodes is a writer, political commentator, and national security analyst. He is the author of After the Fall: The Rise of Authoritarianism in the World We’ve Made and The World As It Is: A Memoir of the Obama White House. From 2009–17, he served as a speechwriter and Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama. Rhodes is currently cohost of the podcast Pod Save the World; a contributor for MSNBC; and chair of National Security Action. General AdmissionPrice: $15 Conversation StarterPrice: $30 Ticket sales do not cover the full cost of presenting Consider This events. When you buy a Conversation Starter ticket, you help us keep ticket prices low for everyone. Oregon Humanities uses income from Consider This ticket sales to pay for venue rental and honoraria for our guests. Conversation Starter tickets convey no special benefits beyond good feelings and our gratitude. No Cost To make sure as many people as possible who want to attend are able to, we make a portion of tickets available at no cost. (More information below) If you’re able to pay for a ticket, we ask that you do so to help keep this program accessible to all. Please click the link below to register for no-cost tickets. Click here to register for no-cost tickets to Consider This. Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardian Review our venue FAQ here
Science On Tap: Confirmation Bias in Science: Disastrous Yet Essential
Humans unconsciously filter experience based on what they already believe (called confirmation bias). Seeing is not believing – rather, believing is seeing. Despite specific scientific methods to address this bias, it continues to confuse and confound science, leading to errors, mistakes, and failures – many on a monumental scale. Confirmation bias begins the moment a person has a belief, regardless of its origin or truth, even if the belief is harmful to the person who has it. (Remember Prosper-René Blondlot and the great fiasco of N-Rays?) Why would we evolve such a seemingly maladaptive trait? Surprisingly, despite the damage, without confirmation bias, forward progress in science would stop. It’s even essential to human thinking. In this Science on Tap, Dr. James C. Zimring will explore how and why confirmation bias both drives science forward and can also drive it off a cliff. He’ll explore the questions: How do we harness the remarkable advantages of confirmation bias? How does promoting diversity maximize those advantages? James C. Zimring MD, PhD holds the Thomas W. Tillack chair in experimental pathology at the U of Virginia. For the last 20 years, Dr. Zimring has been highly involved in teaching the “science about science” at the graduate and undergraduate levels, as well as a course on scientific thinking for high school. Dr. Zimring has published two books on the topic: What Science is and How it Really Works (Cambridge University Press) and Partial Truths (Columbia University Press). Tickets:$15.00 DISCOUNT (senior, student, it’s your birthday, just can’t afford the GA price right now)$25.00 GENERAL ADMISSION$35.00 VIP: Premium seating in the front several rows of the center section$45.00 SUPPORTER: Premium seating, pint glass (beer not included), and good feelings for supporting the programMinors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardianReview our venue FAQ here
Science On Tap: Storytelling With Data: Great Graphs, Bad Logos, & the Ethics of Data Visualization
So much data. So much misrepresentation. In our era, understanding the nuances of effective visual storytelling is more crucial than ever. What is the neuroscience of vision?The psychology of perception?How do our brains process visual information? Well-designed graphs can illuminate complex data, making it accessible and engaging for all audiences, while poor design choices, including misleading logos, can distort the truth behind the numbers. Sip on local brews and learn about the aesthetic elements of data visualization AND the ethical responsibilities that come with presenting information. How can we ensure our visuals tell an honest story? What are the implications of data manipulation in public discourse? How to think critically about the visuals you encounter and create, highlighting the ethical dimensions in the context of neuroscience and psychology. Science, design, and ethics—perfectly paired with a pint! Jackie Wirz, PhD, (our own MC!) is a biochemist by training, a nonprofit executive by profession, and a teller of stories. After 15 years of bad graphics as a research scientist, she decided to educate herself on what actually goes into a great visualization. She leveraged these skills as a data management specialist, academic administrator, and as a nonprofit executive. In her spare time she is the MC (mistress of ceremonies) for a variety of events including Science on Tap! Dr. Steven Bedrick is an Associate Professor at OHSU where his research focuses on the intersection of natural language processing and healthcare. He is also interested in the societal and ethical implications that arise from speech and language technology. Tickets:$15.00 DISCOUNT (senior, student, it’s your birthday, just can’t afford the GA price right now)$25.00 GENERAL ADMISSION$35.00 VIP: Premium seating in the front several rows of the center section$45.00 SUPPORTER: Premium seating, pint glass (beer not included), and good feelings for supporting the programMinors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardianReview our venue FAQ here
Science On Tap: Thigmomorphogenesis, or Why Most Trees Don’t Fall Over
Back by popular demand! Have you ever noticed a tree not fall over? A tree’s natural state is upright—it’s their default mode. Yet, myths pervade: “You should thin your tree” “You should top your tree” “Douglas-firs have shallow roots” “Lone trees are more likely to fall” “The roots will ruin my foundation” “That tree will fall and kill my whole family” Despite the ubiquity of normal, upright trees around us, we often only notice those scattered few that stop being upright, most often in extreme weather. And frankly, those few sully the good reputation of the thousands of others. In the Pacific Northwest, our trees grow to be some of the tallest and largest organisms on the planet, and that can be understandably intimidating as you watch them bend and sway during winter weather from your home. Luckily, our trees did not achieve their prominence by accident, and this talk will explain what the trees are doing, how they react to their environment, and what you can do to make sure your trees are safe. How does a tree build itself? How does it choose which direction to grow? Is it a giant, static monolith waiting to crush everything beneath it? or a dynamic, self-optimizing living system that wants to keep itself upright arguably more than you? Join us on a journey through the lifecycle of a tree: how it grows, lives, and dies. In other words: how do trees become trees and what makes them so good at it? An arborist, a dendrologist, and educator, Casey Clapp is the principal consultant with Portland Arboriculture and co-host/co-creator of CompletelyArbortrary, a weekly podcast about trees and other related topics. He’s also the author of the forthcoming book The Trees Around You: How to identify common neighborhood trees in the Pacific Northwest. Casey holds degrees in Forestry and Environmental Conservation, and he’s an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, and Municipal Specialist. Find him on social media @clapp4trees or reach him at casey@pdxarbor.com. Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardianReview our venue FAQ here ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS.
Science On Tap – Sleep & Snuggling: The Key to Social Connection
Babies sleep more per day during the first two years than any other point in life. Scientists agree that this is a period of rapid change in the brain and body – but the mystery remains, what function does sleep serve us so early in life? One idea is that sleep is an opportunity for our brains to practice, and process — especially critical early in life, when we are experiencing so many new things in the world around us. The brain controls how we connect with each other, and form relationships with our peers and loved ones. Healthy physical connections with others, including a foundation called “social touch”, is formed early in life and requires proper sleep to fully develop. Studies have found an association between poor sleep early in life and neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by differences in social connection. This talk will expand on this lingering mystery by exploring: How does the function of sleep change with age? How a unique rodent – the prairie vole – can teach us how sleep and snuggles help our brains develop the foundation of social touch. Noah Milman is a graduate student in the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience at OHSU. Previously, he contributed to the first-in-human clinical trial of 40Hz sensory stimulation for Alzheimer’s Disease. Now, he is interested in how early-life sleep and environment impact the sensory brain and our social connections later in life. Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardian Review our venue FAQ here ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS.
Science On Tap: Budding Science – Cannabis in Reproductive Health
Cannabis has been used since antiquity to ease illness, increase sex drive, and highlight the pleasures of life. Pair that with the increasing availability of legal cannabis products in the US and it is no surprise that many people are exposed to cannabis throughout their lives. In spite of this exposure from preconception through menopause, the long-term effects of cannabis are not widely understood. Join us to discuss what we know, and what we still need to know, about the effects of cannabis on: Sexual health and function Reproductive health and fertility Pregnancy and offspring Menopausal symptoms Jamie O. Lo, M.D., M.C.R. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ob/Gyn and Department of Urology at OHSU. She attended medical school at OHSU and completed her obstetrics and gynecology training at the University of Utah. She further specialized in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at OHSU and also completed a Masters in Clinical Research. Jasper Bash, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Urology at OHSU where he helps to lead the Men’s Health and Fertility team. After medical school and residency at OHSU he completed the Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery fellowship at UCLA before returning to Portland where he studies the effect of environmental exposures on reproductive health. Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardianReview our venue FAQ here ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS.
