Town Hall Seattle Science Series

Town Hall Seattle

The Science series presents cutting-edge research about biology, physics, chemistry, ecology, geology, astronomy, and more. These events appeal to many different levels of expertise, from grade school students to career scientists. With a range of relevant applications, including medicine, the environment, and technology, this series expands our thinking and our possibilities.

  1. 22h ago

    267. Lynda Mapes: America's Arctic: Too Precious to Lose

    The northernmost stretches of Alaska host an environmental wonder that very few people will connect with in their lives — millions of acres of largely undisturbed public land along the Arctic Circle. This region contains pristine tundra landscapes, unrestricted rivers shaped only by nature, and unique wildlife like polar bears, the only caribou herds in the United States, and more aquatic birds than can be found in any other Arctic wetland. And while the features and roles of these lands may be foreign to many even within the United States, science writer Lynda Mapes is committed to the importance of preserving one of America's most significant wildlands against a newly emboldened push of political interference. Join veteran journalist Mapes alongside longtime Arctic defenders for a multifaceted presentation on the wonder of these lands and the risks they face under a new agenda under the Trump administration, angling for maximum oil, gas, and mineral extraction in Alaska. The evening will open with an excerpt from the film The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness — shot by National Geographic photographer Florian Schulz — showcasing the spectacular beauty of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and urgency of protecting it. Mapes will then present on her own reporting just completed in the Arctic, with photography from the field taken in the actively threatened National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Her findings will expand on the non-commercial value of these wildlands that act as home to ancient Native cultures and some of the most important bird, salmon, caribou, and polar bear habitats on the planet. Already vulnerable to rapid changes brought on by the climate crisis, Mapes emphasizes the critical nature of keeping these lands shielded from the lasting impacts of development, drilling, and the selling of public lands. Learn why everyone is connected to what happens next in America's Arctic—and what you can do to protect it. Lynda Mapes is an award-winning journalist and science writer. She is the author of six books on the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest, including The Trees are Speaking and Orca: Shared Waters Shared Home. She worked previously as an environment reporter for The Seattle Times — focusing on nature, Native cultures and governments, and environmental news throughout her 27 years with the Times. She was named a finalist for a team award for the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting in 2025 and serves on the board of the Northwest Science Writers Association. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Braided River.

  2. Jul 27

    266. David Epstein with Katy Sewall: Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better

    Limits are the key to stimulating creativity, innovation, and collaboration. In a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and prizes freedom above all else, we have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be, and how to spend our time. All that choice is wonderful, but it is also overwhelming. The irony is that total freedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don't necessarily lead to the biggest breakthroughs. In fact, overvaluing complete freedom can be disastrous for everything from starting a company to harnessing creativity to finding personal satisfaction. In his new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, David Epstein argues that all of us — individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies — can benefit from narrowing our options. Epstein dives into the science and practice of constraints, exploring exactly when and how guardrails can be beneficial, whether we're working with limited resources or using self-imposed boundaries to tap unexpected wells of focus and innovation. Inside the Box reveals how boundaries create breakthroughs, and how setting the right constraints can help you become the most creative, productive, and satisfied version of yourself. David Epstein is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Range and the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and as an investigative reporter for ProPublica. Katy Sewall is the host and creator of The Bittersweet Life podcast. She's a writer, podcast consultant, and a Public Radio professional frequently heard on 94.9 KUOW. She's also the former Program Director at Town Hall. Buy the Book Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better Elliott Bay Book Company

  3. Jul 27

    265. Psychedelic Salon: Psychedelics & Grief With Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, Laura Sullivan Cassidy, and April Pride

    Grief is one of the most universal yet isolating experiences we endure—and psychedelics may offer a path through it. This Salon explores how substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and 5-MeO-DMT are being used to support those navigating loss, whether from death, identity shifts, or life transitions. This session sheds light on how altered states can help us reconnect to love, soften the sharp edges of sorrow, and reorient to a life forever changed. Attendees will gain insight into the science and integration practices that support emotional processing and meaning-making in the context of grief. Dr. Sunil Aggarwal is a physician in hospice and palliative medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and a medical geographer. Dr. Aggarwal's primary clinical work is as an Integrative Pain, Palliative Care, and Rehabilitation Physician in private practice at the AIMS Institute in Seattle, Washington, and as an on-call Palliative and Hospice Physician within a Puget Sound–based healthcare system. He has a petition to reschedule psilocybin that is currently under review at the US Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Aggarwal's medical geography scholarship focuses on the geographies of access, delivery, and development of cannabinologic and psychedelic integrative medicine—particularly as these relate to pain management, hospice and palliative medicine, and rehabilitation services. After two decades in journalism and content direction, Laura Sullivan Cassidy (she/her) used the early pandemic years to begin building a new career serving communities in grief and loss. She's trained as a grief work facilitator, creative coach, and death doula, and is employed at Recompose, the Seattle-based green funeral home known for pioneering the process of human composting. Her role at Recompose involves outreach, community, and client work—specifically with communities for whom a death is approaching, either via terminal diagnosis or hospice care. Laura writes a Substack called Griever's Ball and offers creative expression, listening groups, and death awareness workshops. — Psychedelic Salon: Cultivating Conscious Connections Join Seattle-based psychedelics educator and podcast host April Pride in a dynamic series co-produced with Town Hall Seattle. Psychedelic Salon explores the transformative potential of psychedelic medicines through engaging conversations, expert panels, and interactive community discussions. Rooted in scientific evidence, each event highlights unique themes—including grief, seniors, menopause, and more—emphasizing their role in mental health, spiritual growth, and personal optimization. Designed to be inclusive and insightful, this series invites attendees of all backgrounds to discover how psychedelics can foster profound connections, healing, and well-being. About April Pride April Pride is a Seattle-based creative entrepreneur and harm reduction advocate with over two decades of experience building brands at the intersection of lifestyle, cannabis, psychedelics, and women's health. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, and The Guardian. April is the founder of SetSet, the world's first clinician-approved woman-focused platform for safe, accessible psychedelic integration. To learn more, follow April on Substack – aprilpride.substack.com

  4. Jul 22

    264. Steve Brusatte with David B. Williams: A New History of Birds: From Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present

    Try to imagine a world without birds. It's quite a challenge, given that we share the planet with tens of billions of birds spanning an astonishing 14,000 species. Birds find homes nearly everywhere that people do – and many places we do not – and their prowess and plumage have captivated human imagination throughout the ages. But impressive aerial feats and collective choirs of song aside, part of our fascination with birds is rooted in the awe of something so delicate and strange. How did such seemingly fragile creatures made of hollow bones and downy feathers break the mold of terrestrial life and survive millennia? In his newest book, The Story of Birds: A New History, from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present, esteemed paleontologist Steve Brusatte embarks on a deep dive through the history of avian evolution. The Story of Birds begins by exploring how dinosaurs gradually developed the trademark features of birds one-by-one—feathers, wings, beaks, big brains, keen senses, and warm-blooded metabolisms. Brusatte investigates how these features contributed to birds emerging as the only surviving dinosaurs of the cataclysmic asteroid impact 66 million years ago, and how their numbers soared to new heights of diversity in the barren landscape that followed. Along this journey through time, meet extraordinary extinct species like the 1.5-ton elephant birds of Madagascar, giant Pelagornithid seabirds with 20-foot wingspans, and flightless 10-foot-tall terror birds with beaks that sliced flesh. Brusatte follows these remarkable species all the way down to the present, urging readers to share the same appreciation for the many impressive birds of today– penguins that literally fly underwater, parrots that can mimic human speech, and hummingbirds that hover mid-air and dive at 50 miles per hour. Presented with keen research and soaring enthusiasm, The Story of Birds unearths the unique origins of birds and the legacy they continue to live to this day. Steve Brusatte, PhD, is an American paleontologist who teaches at the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. He is the author of the international bestseller The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs and The Rise and Reign of the Mammals. The paleontology advisor on the Jurassic World film franchise, Brusatte has named more than fifteen new species, including the tyrannosaur "Pinocchio rex" (Qianzhousaurus), the raptor Zhenyuanlong, and several ancient mammals. His research and writing has been featured in Science, the New York Times, Scientific American, and many other publications. David B. Williams is an author and naturalist whose award-winning books include Homewaters: A Human and Natural History of Puget Sound and Too High and Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle's Topography, as well as co-authoring Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales: Fossils of Washington State. His newest book, Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature is a best-of collection from his free weekly Substack newsletter, the Street Smart Naturalist. He has been called an "evangelist for the practice of paying attention." Buy the Book The Story of Birds: A New History from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present Elliott Bay Book Company

  5. Jun 22

    263. Psychedelic Salon: Psychedelics & Disordered Eating With Dr. Amanda Downey and April Pride

    A conversation about the emerging potential of psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, in addressing eating disorders—a psychiatric area marked by persistent treatment challenges. This Salon dives into groundbreaking research showing how psychedelics disrupt entrenched thought patterns, ease cognitive rigidity, and foster self-compassion and emotional reconnection. April Pride and invited experts will discuss the limitations of current treatments and how psychedelic therapies could offer new hope. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how psychedelic-assisted therapy might revolutionize the path to healing for those struggling with disordered eating. Dr. Amanda Downey is a pediatrician and psychiatrist who cares for adolescents and young adults with eating disorders. She works with patients and their families to develop a treatment plan that honors their unique strengths and challenges. Through education, advocacy, and research, she strives to dismantle the systems that increase risk for eating disorders and improve evidence-based eating disorder treatments. She is the assistant medical director of the UCSF Eating Disorders Program and a member of the UCSF Translational Psychedelic Research Program (TrPR). Psychedelic Salon: Cultivating Conscious Connections Join Seattle-based psychedelics educator and podcast host April Pride in a dynamic series co-produced with Town Hall Seattle. Psychedelic Salon explores the transformative potential of psychedelic medicines through engaging conversations, expert panels, and interactive community discussions. Rooted in scientific evidence, each event highlights unique themes—including grief, seniors, menopause, and more—emphasizing their role in mental health, spiritual growth, and personal optimization. Designed to be inclusive and insightful, this series invites attendees of all backgrounds to discover how psychedelics can foster profound connections, healing, and well-being. About April Pride April Pride is a Seattle-based creative entrepreneur and harm reduction advocate with over two decades of experience building brands at the intersection of lifestyle, cannabis, psychedelics, and women's health. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, and The Guardian. April is the founder of SetSet, the world's first clinician-approved woman-focused platform for safe, accessible psychedelic integration.

  6. Jun 19

    262. Suzanne Simard with Lynda Mapes: When the Forest Breathes

    Forest ecologist Suzanne Simard has long been fascinated by the sharing of natural knowledge. From the interconnected root systems she studied in her book Finding the Mother Tree to her ongoing work as an educator, Simard has learned to see the importance of cooperative efforts to share resources and knowledge. Joined in conversation by Seattle-based nature journalist Lynda Mapes, Simard expands these connections into a considerate exploration of the elaborate cycles of forest ecosystems, the challenges they currently face, and the intergenerational value they can provide through her new book When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World. Raised in a family of loggers committed to sensible forest stewardship, Simard has watched as modern practices and timber companies have left forests vulnerable to damage and depletion. In her research, Simard explores the finely honed cycles of regeneration forests inherently use to maintain themselves. From mushrooms breaking down logs to dying elder trees passing their genetic knowledge to younger growth, When the Forest Breathes presents these cycles as a key component in the protection and preservation of our forests. Working closely with Indigenous communities and the models of responsible forestry they've upheld over time, Simard examines the damage caused by industrialization and wide-scale human intervention– particularly the impact on the overstory's mother trees that are responsible for sharing intergenerational wisdom and supporting new growth. As Simard seeks to understand the importance of stewardship and how older lives can facilitate the conditions for new growth to flourish, she considers similar patterns of loss and regeneration in her own life. Savoring her final days with her ailing mother and watching her daughters grow into adults, Simard draws thoughtful parallels around what caretaking looks like within the forest and within our own communities. Animated by wonder and the urge to honor the tools that trees have honed over generations, When the Forest Breathes aims to use the lessons of the natural world to encourage paths of adaptability, resilience, cooperation, and valuing our forests. Dr. Suzanne Simard is the New York Times bestselling author of Finding the Mother Tree. She is a Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia, where she leads The Mother Tree Project and co-directs the Belowground Ecosystem Group. Dr. Simard has earned a global reputation for pioneering research on tree connectivity and communication and the productivity, health, and biodiversity of forests. Her work has been published widely, with over 170 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Ecology, and Global Biology, and she has co-authored the book Climate Change and Variability. Her research has been communicated broadly through three TED Talks, TED Experiences, as well as articles and interviews in The New Yorker, National Geographic, NPR, CNN, and many more. She lives with her family in the mountains around Nelson, British Columbia. Lynda Mapes is a journalist, nature writer, and the author of six books on the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest. Her previous publications include The Trees are Speaking and Orca: Shared Waters Shared Home. She was previously an environment reporter for the Seattle Times, focusing on nature, natural history, Native cultures and governments, and Pacific Northwest environmental news, where she was named a finalist for a team award for the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting in 2025. Buy the Book When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World Elliott Bay Book Company

  7. Jun 16

    261. Cate Osborn: Wildly Unprepared

    Comedian, historian, and bestselling author Cate Osborn brings a special program derived from her live touring show, Wildly Unprepared. This evening features a curated portion of the performance, exploring the strange and surprising history of magic, spectacle, and belief, along with storytelling and conversation about curiosity, culture, and the stories we inherit. While this program draws from the larger theatrical show, it is designed as a standalone event created especially for Town Hall audiences. The show will be followed by a Q&A with Cate. About the Book Just shy of her thirtieth birthday, Cate Osborn, a teaching artist with two master's degrees, realized that things that had seemed routine before were falling through the cracks. An evaluation finally led to a diagnosis: ADHD. Erik Gude, who was diagnosed in his teens, had a slightly different path. While an ADHD diagnosis might explain the cause of some of his academic challenges, it would take years before he understood the other ways it affected other aspects of his life. When they connected as adults, it didn't take long before they realized other people might feel just as lost as they had. With roughly eight million adults living with ADHD and more people seeking and receiving diagnoses each year, The ADHD Field Guide for Adults is a witty, thoughtful, and practical guide to living with ADHD in adulthood, from two people who know what it's like. Featuring the most important foundational information about ADHD, it also explores issues that are rarely discussed, such as navigating sex and intimacy, the healthcare system, and home care. And unlike existing titles on the topic, it is intentionally structured to incorporate ADHD accessibility features by offering bite-sized pieces of knowledge in a format that caters to the unique needs of ADHD readers. Cate Osborn, widely known as Catieosaurus, is an award-winning creator, author, and international speaker whose work sits at the intersection of ADHD, decision-making, sex, relationships, and intimacy. With over 2 million followers and hundreds of millions of annual views across her platforms, Cate has built a global audience by blending humor, storytelling, research, and radical honesty about what it means to live in a brain that does not follow the rules. She is the host of Sorry I Missed This on the Understood network, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, GQ, Cosmopolitan, the Washington Post, and most notably, Ships of the Northern Fleet. Cate is also the creator of the Wildly Unprepared live tour, a one-of-a-kind experience that fuses comedy, history, magic, and audience interaction into a powerful exploration of resilience and chaos. Buy the Book The ADHD Field Guide for Adults Brick and Mortar Books

  8. Jun 9

    260. ReWilding Seattle Gardens With Dave Hunter, Jessi Bloom, Bill Thorness, Kim M. Camara, and Swil Kanim

    Local beekeepers, gardeners, and native plant experts join in a conversation about turning your own backyard into a native ecosystem oasis. Learn about the benefits of mason bees, the importance of best-gardening practices to protect Puget Sound salmon, and how you can make a difference in keeping our city climate change resilient. Featuring Dave Hunter, author of Mason Bee Revolution: How the Hardest Working Bee Can Save the World One Backyard at a Time, along with panelists Jessi Bloom, Bill Thorness, Kim M. Camara, and Swil Kanim, this event hopes to empower everyone to play a part in rebuilding healthy pollinator networks — and securing a thriving, sustainable planet. Dave Hunter is the founder of the Orchard Bee Association and Crown Bees, which helps people support pollinators with the right supplies, expert guidance, and easy-to-follow programs. His work has been featured in Urban Farm, The Seattle Times, NPR, and more. He lives in Woodinville, Washington. Visit him online at crownbees.com or on Instagram @crown_bees Jessi Bloom is an ecological landscape designer, author, arborist, and teacher. Over the years, she has worn many hats professionally, helping thousands of land stewards with consulting and design/build work, and educating through books and educational events. Jessi started NW Bloom EcoLogical Services, based in Woodinville, WA, in 2000 to innovate and emphasize awareness of permaculture, sustainable landscape design, construction, and land management. The Seattle Times named her a "rockstar in the ecological gardening movement," where her leadership led NW Bloom to numerous environmental awards. She sits on the advisory committee for the WA State Dept. of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Programs, where her decades as a private sector arborist serve in behalf of the PNW ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). Bill Thorness is a writer and gardener who's been doing both in Seattle since the mid-1980s. He is the author of Cool Season Gardener: Extend the Harvest, Plan Ahead, and Grow Vegetables Year Round and Edible Heirlooms: Heritage Vegetables for the Maritime Garden, and writes for many regional publications, including The Seattle Times. He is also a King County Master Gardener. Kim M. Camara serves as Executive Director of Windz of Change Alliance, based in Seattle for over 25 years. Kim is a visionary collectively working with Indigenous inter-Tribal community peoples on contemporary and traditional sacred pathways. Her roles interweave project developer, grant writer, teacher/educator, choreographic and event producer, visual design artist, and youth mentor. With a focus on imparting knowledge, bridging, engaging, and inspiring creative leadership and relationships, she advocates the Windz vision to respectfully bridge and strengthen Indigenous Tribal community Peoples, Presence, Place, Sacred Spaces and Relationships. Accomplishment activities encompass artistic cultural heritage events, eco-cultural parks activation installations, presentations, and workshops, festivals, art shows, youth teaching, and artist opportunity referrals and granting assistance. Swil Kanim is a U.S. Army veteran, storyteller, actor, and classically trained violinist from Washington State. A board member of the Seattle Symphony, he blends original compositions with powerful stories drawn from his life and heritage, inspiring audiences nationwide. His music and compositions are the direct result of a well-supported public school music program, which he credits for nurturing his artistry. Swil Kanim is the recipient of the Woodring College Professional Excellence Award, the Bellingham Mayor's Arts Award, and has been recognized as a Certified Virtuoso Violinist by the Whatcom Chapter of the Washington Music Educators Association. In 2008, he was also honored to perform with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the Seeds of Compassion event in Seattle. Buy the Book Mason Bee Revolution: How the Hardest Working Bee Can Save the World One Backyard at a Time (2nd edition) Third Place Books

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About

The Science series presents cutting-edge research about biology, physics, chemistry, ecology, geology, astronomy, and more. These events appeal to many different levels of expertise, from grade school students to career scientists. With a range of relevant applications, including medicine, the environment, and technology, this series expands our thinking and our possibilities.

Information

  • Creator
    Town Hall Seattle
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2017 Town Hall Association. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Town Hall Seattle Science Series

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