UW Science Now is an annual tradition where Town Hall teams with UW Science Engage to bring local graduate students to the stage to present their latest cutting-edge research. We’re thrilled to partner with Ada’s Technical Books to feature illuminating talks in a casual setting where audiences can enjoy a drink and an evening of scientific breakthroughs!
Landing on any planet or moon is difficult; the farther away the object is from Earth, the harder it is to land safely. Mariah Danner joins us to discuss the difficulties of landing on Jupiter’s moon Europa, as well as the reasons we would want to land there in the first place. She reveals the impact lander—a new landing method designed in her lab. Danner highlights all the ways promising ways which it has been tested on Earth, and explores what her findings could mean for space landings in the future.
Most people are unaware that many popular smartphones contain a barometer. Conor McNicholas discusses the pressure-measuring capabilities of smartphones, and how billions of these measurements can be adapted to enhance our understanding of high-impact weather events and improve global weather prediction. McNicholas delves into what this means for the future of meteorological understanding, as well as the scientific and ethical challenges of crowdsourcing data from smartphones.
Monsoons can invigorate barren deserts on a seasonal cycle, transforming them into rich grasslands with flourishing greenery. Virginia Littell presents her studies of the ancient climate of Southern Asia, highlighting her specific focus on the the South Asian monsoon. Littell outlines the vital nature of the monsoon in Asia to human health and economy alike. She explores our changing scientific understanding of the monsoon’s contributing factors—what brings it about and causes it to vary in strength. Littell’s research underscores the ways which geology in particular has contributed to a new understanding of the South Asian monsoon.
Presented by UW Engage Project, Ada’s Technical Books, and Town Hall Seattle.
