How did the psychedelic drug MDMA emerge from the shadows to the forefront of a medical revolution? What potential does it hold to help us? What do you think of when you hear the abbreviation MDMA? Often seen as a party drug and vilified as a Schedule I substance that would supposedly eat holes in users’ brains, MDMA (also known as Molly or Ecstasy) has remained controversial. However, the substance is now being hailed as a therapeutic agent that could transform the field of mental health, becoming the first psychedelic approved for widespread clinical use. In I Feel Love, science journalist Rachel Nuwer presents evidence from scientific trials which suggest that MDMA, when properly administered, may be effective at relieving the effects of trauma. Results from other studies point to its usefulness for treating depression, alcohol addiction, eating disorders, and more. It has also been shown to dismantle psychological defenses and induce feelings of empathy, self-compassion, and love. Yet even as more is revealed about MDMA, there is still much that remains unknown that scientists are diligently working to figure out; the drug may answer as many questions as it asks. Nuwer guides readers through a cultural and scientific upheaval that separates fact and fiction, seeking to reshape our understanding of our brains, ourselves, and the space between. Rachel Nuwer is an award-winning science journalist who regularly contributes to the New York Times, National Geographic, Scientific American, and many other publications. Her reporting for the New York Times broke the news globally about the MDMA Phase III clinical trial and was highlighted by Michael Pollan, Ezra Klein, and Tim Ferriss, among other thought leaders. In 2022, Nuwer was among the inaugural recipients of the Ferriss–UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship. She holds master’s degrees in applied ecology and in science journalism. Her first book, Poached: Inside the Dark World of Wildlife Trafficking, took her to a dozen countries to investigate the multibillion-dollar illegal wildlife trade. She lives in Brooklyn. Dr. Sunil Kumar Aggarwal is a physician and medical geographer. He is a Board-Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, where he was named a Top 20 Emerging Leader. He is the Past Chair of the Integrative Medicine Special Interest Group and an inaugural member of the Safe Use in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies Forum at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He has been qualified as an expert in cannabis and psilocybin medical and religious use, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and MAPS MDMA-Assisted Therapy. He is the co-founder and co-director of Seattle’s AIMS Institute. I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World Third Place Books

We are all in relationships with people who have died. Whether they are our friends and family members, partners or teachers, we have all had to accept their absence from our lives.   How do we remember, memorialize, and communicate with them? We will share the many ways we continue to feel the presence of people significant to us. Join Rebecca Crichton, Executive Director of Northwest Center for Creative Aging and Dr. Jennifer R Levin, licensed marriage and family therapist and recognized Fellow in Thanatology.  Dr. Levin will share insights from her work with adolescents, adults, and families experiencing traumatic grief, sudden death, and post-traumatic growth. Dr. Jennifer R. Levin specializes in working with adolescents, adults, and families experiencing traumatic grief, sudden death, and post-traumatic growth. In 2000 Jennifer received her doctorate from the UCLA School of Public Health and in 2014 she earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. Jennifer is a licensed marriage and family therapist in CA and WA and is a recognized Fellow in Thanatology; the study of death, dying, and bereavement from the Association of Death Education and Counseling. Professionally, Dr. Levin has served as the executive director of Hospice of Pasadena and taught at several California universities. Jennifer provides training, consultation, and crisis support to businesses, schools, and community-based organizations experiencing bereavement and loss. Jennifer is also the host of the podcast Untethered: Healing the Pain from a Sudden Death. To learn more about Dr. Levin visit www.therapyheals.com. Rebecca Crichton started her “Encore Career” as ED of NWCCA in 2012 after 21 years with The Boeing Company. She refashioned her skills and knowledge as a writer, curriculum designer, and leadership development coach to offer programs related to Creative Aging at many venues in the Seattle area. An active participant in the local aging community, she writes regularly for 3rd Act Magazine.

A conversation about nuclear energy, climate change, and inspiring young women to go into STEM fields. On December 15, 2022, Grace Stanke, a senior at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, studying nuclear engineering, took home the Miss America crown along with the scholarship of the Miss America Organization. She additionally won in a talent category for her classical violin performance. As Miss America 2023, Grace is embarking on a year of service taking her on a tour across the country and she is using her national platform to continue advocating for “Clean Energy – Cleaner Future.” She believes that America needs to convert to zero-carbon energy with a focus on nuclear power and breaking down misconceptions surrounding nuclear energy. Through it all, her goal is to inspire the next generation of female scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. With increasing interest in, support for, and desire to become more informed about nuclear energy and how it can help mitigate climate change, combined with the wonderful goal of inspiring young women to enter the STEM fields, the evening promises to be interesting and inspiring. Scott Montgomery, University of Washington faculty from the Jackson School of International Studies, will be the interviewer for the event, and a Q&A will complete the evening. This special event is made possible by Friends of Fission Northwest and the generosity of the Anthropocene Institute, American Nuclear Society-Eastern Washington, Energy Northwest, Terrestrial Energy, and Town Hall Seattle. Scott L. Montgomery is an author, geoscientist, and affiliate faculty member in the Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington. He writes and lectures on a wide variety of topics related to energy (geopolitics, technology, resources, climate change), American politics, intellectual history, language and communication, and the history of science. About Friends of Fission Northwest Friends of Fission Northwest is a grassroots non-profit that, for more than six years, has brought speakers to the Puget Sound region and beyond. We strive to educate the public about the importance of nuclear energy, its value in fighting climate change, and to dispel myths and misinformation about nuclear power.

UW Engage Science sees a future where every graduate student has access to science communication training, and therefore good science communication becomes the norm. The outcome is an increased public trust and positive attitude toward science, ultimately strengthening the connection between the public and scientists. Join us for a look at the forefront of research in our region and meet the students who are leading the latest wave of scientific discovery. Violet Sorrentino: How tiny worms can help us understand the human brain The human brain is a complex structure populated with hundreds of billions of cells. When something goes wrong and the brain gets sick, how can we pinpoint which cells are having problems? That’s why some neuroscientists use tiny worms as a model. They have similar brain cells and molecules, but everything is on a much smaller scale, so we can take knowledge more easily gained from the worm brain and apply it to humans. Brain cells called glia eat small parts of other cells, but eating too much or too little can cause diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. If we use worms to better understand the eating process, maybe we can develop treatments for these diseases. Violet Sorrentino is a cell biology graduate student at Fred Hutch, where she uses microscopic worms to study communication between two types of brain cells. The conversation between these cells helps maintain a happy and healthy brain, and she is working to define the molecular language these cells speak. Tessa Code: The threat of artificial light to young salmon in Lake Washington Juvenile sockeye salmon are not surviving their early growth phase in Lake Washington. Their main fish predator has heightened hunting efficiency due to the artificial light around the lake which brightens the water column. Artificial light at night is increasing at a rapid pace, brightening the sky more than ever before. Determining how salmon and their predators respond to the light levels in the lake would help Seattle and nearby cities to change lighting and help recover the salmon population. Tessa Code is a graduate student at the University of Washington and she works as a technician for the US Geological Survey Western Fisheries Research Center. Her research uses hydro-acoustics and light sensors to study the effect of artificial light on fish predator-prey dynamics in waterbodies around Seattle.

On a starry night, nothing inspires such deep wonder as staring into the vastness of space, imagining what curiosities might lie beyond our reach. This year we have seen several space-related news stories that managed to break through the usual slew of politics and economics. In February, we were met with headlines that reported a piece of the sun had broken off its surface and formed a swirling vortex around its north pole. In January, we were told that the Earth’s perpetually spinning core may have stopped turning altogether. While these stories are certainly eye-catching and likely to excite the imagination upon reading them, you might feel that you are being left with more questions than answers. Luckily, experts like Philip Plait make it their aim to present the universe and all of its oddities in a wonderfully creative, and deeply comprehensible style. In his new book, Under Alien Skies: A Sightseer’s Guide to the Universe, Plait acts as our tour guide through a variety of exotic worlds outside of our own. With vivid, inventive, and often humorous prose, he allows us to imagine ourselves stargazing from the rim of an ancient volcano, catching a glimpse of the frigid mountains and plains of Pluto, or glancing down to see the shadows cast by stars on a planet that is trillions of miles from Earth. Plait paints each of these scenes with a uniquely imaginative description informed by real science and observations. For anyone who ponders what wondrous things might lie out there beyond our horizons, Plait is of the rare few that can offer a starkly real and captivating answer. Dr. Philip Plait is an astronomer, science communicator, author, and all-around science nerd. After getting his Ph.D. using Hubble Space Telescope data, he started a career debunking bad science and promoting good science, creating the website and blog Bad Astronomy, now a popular newsletter with over 13,000 subscribers. He has written three books — Bad Astronomy, Death from the Skies!, and his most recent, Under Alien Skies — and currently writes for Scientific American. He wrote and hosted Crash Course Astronomy, a video series with 70+ million views, and has been a scientific technical consultant for numerous TV shows and movies. The Seattle Astronomical Society is our community partner for this event. Community Partner: Seattle Astronomical Society Seattle Astronomical Society (SAS) promotes meaningful astronomical activities for its members and to provide outreach and astronomy education for the public. Stop by the SAS table in The Forum on the night of the event to learn more about their mission and ways to get involved!

UW Engage Science sees a future where every graduate student has access to science communication training, and therefore good science communication becomes the norm. The outcome is an increased public trust and positive attitude toward science, ultimately strengthening the connection between the public and scientists. Join us for a look at the forefront of research in our region and meet the students who are leading the latest wave of scientific discovery. Rory Mcguire: Automating science by putting the lab on a chip Computers used to be the size of rooms, and now they fit in our pockets. Biology, chemistry, and medical research on the other hand still require big, expensive lab spaces. But what if we could shrink the lab down to the size of a phone, or maybe even smaller? Putting a lab onto a chip could make research more accessible to underfunded institutions, cut the wait time between a doctor’s visit and getting a diagnosis, and reduce hazardous biological and chemical waste, among other benefits. Motivated by these possibilities, Rory McGuire is developing a “lab-on-a-chip” that uses electrical signals to manipulate liquids and molecules on a palm-sized platform that can all be controlled from your laptop. Rory Mcguire does research at the intersection of computation and biology. Sometimes this means using DNA as a hard drive to store digital data, and sometimes this means using electronics to automate biological experiments. Rory has spent the last 2 years developing open-source hardware and software with the aim of making biology and chemistry research more accessible, efficient, and equitable. Keenan Ganz: Predicting where the next wildfire will burn Recent large forest fires in the American west have placed wildfire, and its consequences, in the public eye. For nearly a century, forest managers have suppressed fire in naturally burning forests and used public awareness campaigns to portray wildfire as a destructive and wasteful force. But, recent scientific work and recognition of Indigenous land practices point to the opposite interpretation: fire is crucial to keeping our forests healthy. Keenan’s work is about helping us live with fire. He studies how computer models can help us prepare for when the next fire will burn. Keenan Ganz is a graduate student in Remote Sensing at the University of Washington. He uses specialized cameras on satellites and drones to study forest health and wildfire. One day, Keenan wants to build an improved forecasting system to understand when and where wildfire will burn next. Rasika Venkataraman: How understanding the environment of cancer can help us treat it Blood cells develop and mature in a spongy environment within our bones called the bone marrow. The bone marrow and blood cells are in constant communication with each other making sure the ‘blood headquarters’ is functioning smoothly, replenishing blood throughout life. A small population of humans is born with a mutation in a specific gene, which puts them at risk of developing blood cancer later in life. A mutation is a change in our genes, which are codes that tell our body to function a certain way. To understand how this mutation causes blood cancer, we need to study its function in blood cells as well the bone marrow environment. This will shed light on potential disruptions in the communication between the blood cells and the bone marrow, which could then be leveraged to improve blood cancer treatment in patients that have this specific mutation. Rasika Venkataraman is a third-year graduate student at the University of Washington’s Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology. Her research focuses on studying a specific hereditary mutation in DNA that causes blood cancers. She aims to investigate how this mutation alters the environment in which the cancer cells develop and grow, to improve the treatment of blood cancer.

UW Engage Science sees a future where every graduate student has access to science communication training, and therefore good science communication becomes the norm. The outcome is an increased public trust and positive attitude toward science, ultimately strengthening the connection between the public and scientists. Join us for a look at the forefront of research in our region and meet the students who are leading the latest wave of scientific discovery. Kaylin Ellioff: Understanding the makeup of marijuana to better treat chronic pain Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 people in the US and currently opioids are the main treatment for severe cases. There is potential for individuals to become tolerant to opioids as well as misuse them. Therefore, alternative treatments are desperately needed. In Kaylin Ellioff’s research, she is working to understand if and how different chemical components found in Cannabis, otherwise known as marijuana, can be used to treat chronic pain. Cannabis has been used for centuries to treat pain, and by better understanding how each of the chemicals work in our body, new pain treatments can be developed so that patients do not have to rely on daily doses of opioids or get high to experience pain relief. Kaylin Ellioff is a Pharmacology graduate student at the University of Washington, where she studies different chemicals found in cannabis and how they can be used to treat chronic pain. Samantha Borje: Using designer DNA to detect diseases When it comes to forming connections, molecules generally look for the same things that many people do: a sense of stability and a certain degree of freedom. Whether a molecule can provide these for another molecule is often a complicated question because most molecules consist of many parts. DNA, the central molecule of life, is remarkably simple in that it consists of only four parts: A, C, G, and T. The combination of these parts in a piece of DNA determines exactly whether, how quickly, and in what settings it can connect with another piece of DNA. We can take advantage of this predictability to design and carry out super-specific chain reactions made entirely of DNA pieces, in a process known as DNA computing. Samantha Borje is a Molecular Engineering graduate student at the University of Washington, where she works at the Seelig Lab and Molecular Information Systems Lab. Her research focuses on designing massive networks of DNA pieces. She aims to use these networks as diagnostic platforms, where the DNA pieces would set off different chain reactions depending on whether or not a medical sample contains markers for disease. Sonya Jampel: Public health prevention of air pollution exposure Fine particulate matter – a primary contributor to air pollution – is so small that over twenty particles can fit across one human hair. When fine particulate matter is suspended in the atmosphere, it can penetrate deep into your lungs and bloodstream. These small, suspended particles including dust, dirt, or soot can lead to harmful health impacts such as heart attacks, stroke, respiratory illness, and death. In January, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed lowering standards to protect human health. Come learn about how science and policy work together to improve health! Sonya Jampel (she/her) is a Master’s in Public Health Student in Epidemiology at the University of Washington. She uses large birth and death certificate datasets to analyze the relationship between air pollution and infant mortality in order to inform policy and prevention solutions.

Did you know the Puget Sound region is known as a place where people with Dementia are respected, welcomed, and fully belong? Sandy Sabersky, Co-Founder of Elderwise® and co-author of The Elderwise Way, A Different Approach to Life with Dementia, will share how Spirit-Centered Care® provides connection and meaning for people with dementia as well as a way for care partners to grow. Marigrace Becker, Program Manager of Community Education and Impact at the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC) and the Director of the Memory Hub will highlight the Memory Hub as well as some of the many resources available for people in our region living with and engaged with dementia. Sandy Sabersky is co-founder of Elderwise® and co-author with Ruth Neuwald Falcon, of The Elderwise Way: A Different Approach to Life with Dementia which explains the Elderwise Philosophy and practice of Spirit-Centered Care®. She practiced physical therapy for 25 years and is a Certified Sage-ing Leader with Sage-ing International. Marigrace Becker, MSW, is the Program Manager of Community Education and Impact at the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC) and the Director of the Memory Hub: A Place for Dementia-Friendly Community, Collaboration, and Impact. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Northwest Center for Creative Aging. This event is sponsored by Dementia Friends Washington.  

UW Engage Science sees a future where every graduate student has access to science communication training, and therefore good science communication becomes the norm. The outcome is an increased public trust and positive attitude toward science, ultimately strengthening the connection between the public and scientists. Join us for a look at the forefront of research in our region and meet the students who are leading the latest wave of scientific discovery. Megan Gialluca: Using water to aid the search for life in the universe At present, we are closer than ever to answering the age-old question: “Are we alone in the universe?” For the first time, new and upcoming telescopes will have the capability to search for the signs of alien life on planets in other solar systems (termed exoplanets). From plants to technology to oxygen, there are lots of things that could tell us alien life is living on a planet, but searching for these clues is challenging. During this talk, you will learn about the signs of alien life scientists search for, the methods they are using to do it, and the challenges they face along the way. Megan Gialluca studies massive water loss on planets in other solar systems (termed exoplanets). This process can turn a potentially habitable planet, like Earth, into a burning hot, waterless environment, like Venus. Understanding whether or not a planet has undergone this process informs scientists on where to search for alien life in the universe, and what the clues we should look for are. Abi Elerding: The science of motivation and the function of dopamine in the human brain Dopamine is critical for many brain functions; it aids in our movement, motivates us to pursue our goals, and reinforces our inclination to pursue life’s many pleasures. Proper regulation of dopamine is essential since abnormalities in dopamine activity can contribute to the development of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, ADHD, schizophrenia, and substance-use disorder. GABA is a brain chemical that acts as a natural brake on the activity of dopamine neurons, helping to regulate their function. Abi Elerding’s research focuses on understanding how GABA interacts with dopamine and its role in motivation and learning. These findings could pave the way for new treatment strategies for disorders associated with abnormal dopamine activity. Abi Elerding is a Ph.D. student at the University of Washington working to identify and isolate neuronal cell systems that guide behavior in health and disease. Emma Scalisi: How fishermen’s local knowledge can be used to improve policy Commercial fisheries are important to people around the world for many reasons, including jobs, food security, and culture. However, with pressures from both fishing and climate change stressors, many fish populations are currently declining. Fortunately, there are many people who care deeply about protecting these resources, including the fishermen who rely on them. This talk includes how and why knowledge from fishermen can help promote sustainable practices within fisheries, along with the difficulties of putting this into practice. Emma Scalisi is a graduate student at the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, where her research examines the relationships between small-scale commercial fishers and fisheries management agencies in Alaska. She wants to know how fish and people can benefit from listening to both scientists and fishermen.

Standing in an old-growth forest, you can instinctively sense the ways it is different from forests shaped by humans. These ancient, undisturbed ecosystems are increasingly rare and largely misunderstood, but American environmentalist Joan Maloof knows these forests intimately and has been studying and writing about them for decades. In the newly revised and expanded edition of her book, Nature’s Temples: A Natural History of Old-Growth Forests, she continues to deepen our understanding of these extraordinary ecosystems. Maloof brings together the scientific data we have about old-growth forests, drawing on diverse fields of study to explain the ecological differences among forests of various ages. She describes the life forms and relationships that make old-growth forests unique — from salamanders and micro-snails to plants that communicate through fungi — and reveals why human attempts to manage forests can never replicate nature’s sublime handiwork. She also sheds new light on the special role forests play in removing carbon from the atmosphere and shares what we know about the interplay between wildfires and ancient forests. Joan Maloof, Ph.D., is a powerful spokesperson for our nation’s forests — sharing information about their extent and condition and encouraging their preservation. Maloof is the author of Nature’s Temples: A Natural History of Old-Growth Forests. She also founded the Old-Growth Forest Network, an organization that is creating a network of protected forests across the U.S. Maloof is a professor emeritus at Salisbury University where she taught Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies. She is the author and four books in addition to Nature’s Temples: Treepedia; The Living Forest; Among the Ancients; and Teaching the Trees. Nature's Temples: A Natural History of Old-Growth Forests Revised and Expanded Third Place Books