The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

"A Celebration of Science in Sisters" kicks off on Tuesday, April 18, with a special lecture hosted by the Sisters Science Club.

"Science Reporting and Community Memory" will feature Mark Blaine, senior instructor at the University of Oregon in the School of Journalism and Communication. Blaine will tell the story of the UO's Science Stories Initiative, which brings students and scientists together to create credible, accessible stories about environmental research. The event is set for The Belfry at 7 p.m., with a social hour beginning at 6 p.m.

A slate of other events follow the opening lecture, all planned in support of the national March for Science on April 22 in Washington, D.C. and sponsored locally by the Sisters Science Club.

"We are grateful to the Sisters community for its support for science in the schools," said Dr. Robert Collins, co-founder and president of the Sisters Science Club. "This celebration is a great opportunity to thank the community through these special events in support of science education and the research that impacts all aspects of our lives."

Following the opening lecture, the week of events continues when science lovers meet to discuss "The Gene," by Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer." The Wednesday, April 19 event will be at Paulina Springs Books at 6:30 p.m .; on Thursday, April 20, discussion of "The Gene" will be at Roundabout Books in Bend at 7 p.m. Both discussions will be facilitated by Barbara Pettersen, a nationally certified genetic counselor.

On April 20-21, the Deschutes Land Trust will host two hikes at Whychus Canyon Preserve to explore the recent Whychus Creek restoration. Hikers will tour the restoration site and explore the role science plays in modern restoration and management of private lands. Hike leaders will include Martha Lussenhop of Sisters and Jen Zalewski, land steward for the Deschutes Land Trust.

On Friday, April 21, Boeing test pilot Capt. Michael Carriker will visit local schools to talk about the science and history of aviation. An aeronautical engineer, Capt. Carriker was the chief test pilot for Boeing's "Dreamliner" and was at the controls for the 787's first flight. Now Boeing's Chief Engineering Project Pilot for New Airplane Product Development, Carriker is a former Navy fighter pilot and the recipient of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots 2010 award for outstanding professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight-testing.

To round out the week's celebration, community members are invited to join the Sisters Science Club at the traditional Earth Day Fair and Parade in downtown Bend, sponsored by The Environmental Center, on Saturday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information or to sign up for email announcements, including opportunities to RSVP for the "Celebration of Science" events, visit http://www.facebook.com/groups/marchforsciencesisters, http://sistersscienceclub.org/science_celebration.html, or email [email protected]