Bears Are the Topic at Latest Science Café

So why I have never heard of a Science Café? As a self professed science geek, these are right up my alley. Thank goodness I saw the info on my Facebook news feed when the Pacific Science Center posted it the morning of the event.

Science Cafés are loosely affiliated gatherings across the U.S. The best way to explain what they are, and their evolution is to check out the website produced by NOVAscienceNOW at www.sciencecafes.org.

The Pacific Science Center and KCTS9 host three local monthly Science Cafés, one in Queen Anne, one in Kirkland and one in Tacoma. You can find the information on these particular Cafés at http://www.pacsci.org/sciencecafe/. All of the Cafés are taped by KCTS9 and are available for online viewing. They have a variety of topics from past Cafés dating back to 2008.

My 9-year-old and I attended the Tacoma event held the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at The Harmon Brewery, located at 1938 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma. The topic this month was Bears in the Northwest and the scientist/presenter was Angela Gibson, the zookeeper at Northwest Trek who manages the black and grizzly bears and their exhibit. Like all Science Cafés, it was free to the general public and appropriate for all ages.

Angela gave an approximately 20 minute presentation on our wild and captive population of Northwest Bears, complete with slideshow. The talk was interesting, informative and best of all, you didn’t need a PhD in Biology to follow it. She gave us a 10 minute break and then jumped right into a lively Q&A session that lasted about an hour. Microphones were passed around for the audience to ask questions and adults and children alike were encouraged to participate. My daughter loved this part, and I think all the children present (about 4) asked several excellent questions each. The two bear skulls and bear hide she brought and let them explore to their hearts content were also big hits with the kids.

There was a drawing at the end of the Q&A with items like free admission to the Science Center including an Imax movie and tickets to Northwest Trek. We didn’t win anything, but it was a fun addition to the event.

A few of my thoughts on the venue:

Pluses: The service was great and most people in the group ordered dinner before the presentation started. Many were enjoying an adult beverage (hey, it is a brewery after all!) We had already eaten so we ordered a slice of Red Velvet cake to share. While I felt that the slice was a little skimpy for the price, it was very good and the cream cheese frosting got a big thumbs up from my daughter. With all the chaos in the room, our drinks were kept filled and the food and check arrived promptly.

Minuses: The presentation was made in an ill-defined section of the restaurant during a busy night. Our group numbered about 40 with a slideshow screen, video camera and microphones to be heard over the general noise in the restaurant, which they were successful in doing. Immediately next to us was a large and boisterous pre-wedding party and behind them, an even larger gathering for what appeared to be a military awards ceremony. All these groups took up so much room that the path to the restrooms was rerouted through the server prep area where the food is passed through from the kitchen. Very odd.

So while the venue left a little to be desired, it was a great way to spend the evening and I will be adding it to our calendar of events. I am already looking forward to next month. While the exact topic hasn’t been determined, we were told that the speaker would be a paleontologist who specializes in the diet of ancient condors. Really. And I can’t wait!