Technology and Science Discovery Series
Schedule: Fridays, October 9, November 13, and December 11, 2009; 7:30-9:00 a.m.
Location: The Rainier Club, 820 4th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
Reg. # 105294

Course Description
The Science & Technology Discovery Series highlights new and breakthrough developments in science and technology with exclusive presentations from Washington's leading scientists and researchers. Speakers are experts in their fields and have included Nobel laureates and National Academy of Sciences members. Since 1997, over 100 scientists and researchers have informed and amazed us with everything from neurobotics, video of gigantic tubeworms living next to hot vents in the Atlantic Ocean, the fight against malaria, genetically engineered food truths and myths, the promise of predictive medicine, and images from the world's most powerful telescope. Presentations are held from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Rainier Club in downtown Seattle. The intimate setting, with approximately 70 attendees per breakfast, includes a breakfast buffet, a Q&A session following the speaker's presentation, and an opportunity to meet the speaker. There is a supplemental fee of $20 per session. The fee is for breakfast at the Rainier Club. Payment of the full supplemental fee of $60 must be paid at the time of registration. This fee is non-refundable.

The Rainier Club requires business casual attire. Business casual is defined as a collared shirt for men and business or social attire for women; no denim, athletic attire or shoes or shorts are permitted.

Instructors

David Baker, Principal Investigator, The Baker Lab, University of Washington; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
At his University of Washington lab, Dr. David Baker is pioneering the design of new proteins and enzymes not found in nature. Technology developed at the Baker Lab has been used to create an enzyme engineering platform that breaks down proteins, and has the potential to transform the chemical industry through the development of genetically modified plants, biofuels, other chemical intermediates from biomass, and therapeutic drugs.

Alan Aderem, Co-founder and Director, Institute for Systems Biology
Aderem is a global leader in immunology, infectious disease and cell biology research. An inaugural member of the Science Committee of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, Dr. Aderem studies how our body's immune system responds to infectious disease, particularly global threats such as AIDS and swine flu. His goal is to create new vaccines and improved treatments through understanding how our body's first line of defense detects and destroys - or fails to destroy - infectious threats. Dr. Aderem will discuss how the new science of systems biology enables a deep understanding of how the immune system fights infections, and how these insights will lead to better strategies to combat pandemic infectious diseases.

Sam Wasser, Director, Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington
Dr. Samuel Wasser is acknowledged worldwide as a pioneer of non-invasive wildlife forensics and monitoring methods, including the genetic, endocrine and detection dog techniques used at the Center for Conservation Biology. Among Dr. Wasser's numerous research studies are analyses focusing on the long term impacts of the poaching of African elephants, the impacts of roads and vehicle disturbance on spotted owls, and environmental impacts on the physiological health of killer whales in the Pacific Northwest.