Science & Technology Discovery Series
The Science & Technology Discovery Series highlights new and breakthrough developments in science and technology with exclusive presentations from Washington's leading scientists and researchers. The Discovery Series is a speaker series designed for business and community leaders who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, nationally and internationally. 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 the second Friday of each month, September through May, 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, time for networking with Puget Sound region business and community leaders, a Q&A session following the speaker's presentation, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.
2009-10 Season Speakers
September 11, 2009: Dr. Tadayoshi Kohno, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington
Dr. Kohno's research focuses on security and privacy of technologies such as wireless medical devices, electronic voting machines, and RFID systems. He was named one of the world's top innovators under 35 by MIT Technology Review in 2007, and is the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship. Dr. Kohno also has earned national recognition for his teachings on "the security mindset."
October 9, 2009: Dr. 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.
November 13, 2009: Dr. Alan Aderem, Executive Vice President and Director, Institute for Systems Biology
A global leader in immunology, infectious disease, and cell biology research, Dr. Alan 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 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 disease.
December 11, 2009: Dr. Denise Galloway, Human Biology and Public Health Sciences Program Head, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Dr. Galloway studies the role of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in cancer development. She and her colleagues at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center firmly established that nearly all cervical cancers - a leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide – are caused by HPVs. Breakthrough studies by Dr. Galloway’s lab laid the groundwork for Gardasil®, a vaccine that protects against the two most common cancer-causing HPVs.
January 8, 2010: Dr. Bruce Montgomery, Senior Vice President, Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet need, seeking to improve the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases. Dr. Bruce Montgomery will discuss breakthroughs being made at Gilead in the treatment of potentially fatal respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis and tuberculosis.
February 12, 2010: Dr. John Stark, Director, Puyallup Research & Extension Center, Washington State University
Pesticides are an emerging concern for the health of salmon throughout the Pacific Northwest, as surface waters throughout the area are frequently contaminated with diverse mixtures of insecticides, herbicides, and other biocidal compounds that degrade the quality of salmon habitats, and make it difficult to rebuild native salmon populations. Dr. John Stark is an ecotoxicologist specializing in ecological risk assessment of Pacific Northwest salmon. He runs the WSU Salmon Research Laboratory, which was developed to investigate these issues.
March 12, 2010: J. Michael Davis, Associate Laboratory Director, Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Mr. Davis is known nationally as a key resource in the areas of hydrogen, power grid, renewable energy and energy efficiency policy and technology issues. His work is focused on delivering science and technology solutions to increase energy capacity; reduce dependence on imported oil; and detect, mitigate and prevent the environmental impacts of legacy waste and energy generation and use. Mr. Davis has lead smart grid projects across the country, including the Pacific Northwest GridWise Demonstration Project, which helped consumers save money and play an active role in conserving energy through “smart” home appliances.
April 9, 2010: Dr. Debbie Nickerson, Professor, Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington
Dr. Debbie Nickerson, a leader in medical sequencing of cardiovascular, blood and lung diseases, has been named as one of the principal investigators for the newly formed Northwest Genomics Center at the University of Washington. The Center, a project made possible by a $25 million grant from The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institutes of Health, is one of the first new, large-scale genomics centers focused entirely on medical sequencing to be created in the United States in more than a decade.
May 14, 2010: Christina Lomasney, President & CEO and Dr. John Whitaker, Chief Scientist, Modumetal
By growing metal using low-cost electrochemistry, the scientists at Modumetal have created a revolutionary new nanolaminated alloy with the strength to stop bullets, that is stronger and lighter than steel. Christina Lomasney and John Whitaker believe that Modumetal will replace conventional metals and composites in many applications, starting with military armor, and eventually in cars, planes, buildings, and other transportation and construction sectors.
Membership
Registration for the 2009-10 Discovery Series is now open. Individual Memberships are $295 for the entire 9-breakfast program, cost is pro-rated as the season progresses. Membership is non-transferable, but includes 2 guest passes for the season.
Interested in sharing the experience with colleagues, clients and friends? Flexible Network Memberships are $1,000 for the entire season, and enable your company or organization to send any four people to each breakfast.
To register, contact Amy Bell at (206) 389-7261 or by email.
Sponsorships
Interested in sponsoring the Discovery Series? Engage with our audience of business, civic and government leaders as a 2009-2010 Science & Technology Discovery Series sponsor, and enjoy five flexible memberships for the season, your company logo featured on signage and in electronic communications, and opportunities to introduce featured speakers, along with other exciting benefits.
Contact Katy Tollefson at (206) 389-7259 or by email for more information.
2008-09 Season Speakers

2008-09 Discovery Series opener and neurobotics pioneer Yoky Matsuoka chats with program members after her presentation.
September 12, 2008: Dr. Yoky Matsuoka, a MacArthur “Genius Award” winner and Professor at the UW Neurobotics Laboratory discussed merging robotics and neuroscience.
October 10, 2008: Dr. Colleen Delaney from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center on using umbilical cord blood to save lives.
November 14, 2008: Dr. Moe Khaleel from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on why diversification is important to the future of computing.
December 12, 2008 : Dr. Nate Mantua from the UW Climate Impacts Group on projected global and Pacific Northwest climate change.
January 9, 2009: Dr. Raymond Huey of the UW Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology on the study of survival patterns of Himalayan mountain climbers.
February 13, 2009: Dr. Lee Hood, founder of the Institute for Systems Biology, on biological complexity and understanding how biological systems function.
March 13, 2009: Brian Bershad of Google on the future of search.
April 17, 2009: Dr. Zeljko Ivezic from the UW Department of Astronomy on breakthroughs in telescope technology.
May 8, 2009: Dr. John Reganold from WSU’s Crop and Soil Sciences Department discussed sustainable agricultural systems.
Past Seasons:

