Life Sciences Research Weekend
Pacific Science Center - Nov. 7-9, 2008

Life Sciences Research Weekend
Explore how virtual snow can help burn patients, discover how a "simulated man" is helping doctors cure disease, and take a trip into a human brain during Life Sciences Research Weekend, Friday through Sunday, Nov. 7-9, at Pacific Science Center.

Once again this year, the
Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association and theNorthwest Association for Biomedical Research have teamed up with Pacific Science Center to create three days of demonstrations, interactive exhibits and talks for school children, families and citizen scientists interested in learning more about the crucial role of life science research and its benefits.

Guests will have a rare opportunity to meet leading edge researchers and some of the nation's top research scientists from companies and research institutions across the state.

The event will showcase a variety of career opportunities in the field of life sciences. While the event opens at 10 a.m. daily, research scientists will be available to interact with the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The hands-on discovery exhibits will include "SimMan," a high tech, anatomically correct mannequin that can mimic many diseases and respond realistically to drugs (presented by Renton Technical College). Visitors will also have a chance to learn how antibodies help protect us from disease and discover antibody structure via a 3D protein structure computer program (presented by Amgen).

Additional Event Highlights Include:
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington will simulate Early Cancer Detection: Biomarker Discovery. Through this activity visitors will experience a simulation of searching for biomarkers specific to difference cancer types by using jars full of beads. Visitors will get to filter out proteins (beads) to make finding rare protein biomarkers easier.
  • The Institute for Systems Biology will create a Genetics Tree that will teach visitors of the genetic traits that are both "visible" and not visible.
  • Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc. has created a 3D DNA experience where visitors can build and design common items through hands on activity.
  • Swedish Medical Center will teach us how to conduct a clinical trial, providing actual research tools, models, and devices. Visitors can use pipettes and vacutainers to simulate lab work, an actual Pig Heart will be on display, listen to real heartbeats, and learn how to predict heart flow.
Other highlights (and their presenters) include:
  • See how virtual snow can relieve pain (UW Mechanical Engineering HIT Lab and Photonics Lab, and UW Harborview Burn Center).
  • Learn what makes a heart healthy (Youth Take Heart; The Hope Heart Institute; UW Engineered Biomaterials).
  • Take a trip into a human brain (UW Neurobiology and Behavior Community Outreach Program).
  • Unlock the secrets of surgery with a skeleton (UW Biomedical Engineering Society).
  • Meet and talk to scientists working for better health for people everywhere (Northwest Association for Biomedical Research (NWABR) and Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA).
  • Learn about great careers in the life sciences.
Participating Organizations Include:
  • Amgen
  • Benaroya Research Institute
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
  • Institute for Systems Biology
  • Iverson Genetic Diagnostics
  • Microsoft
  • NWABR
  • Northwest Center for Research on Eating Behaviors
  • Renton Technical College
  • Seattle Biomedical Research Institute
  • Swedish Medical Center
  • UW Biochemistry
  • UW Biomedical Engineering Society
  • UW Computer Science and Engineering
  • UW Genetically Engineered Materials Science & Engineering Center (GEMSEC)
  • UW Harborview Burn Center
  • UW Mechanical Engineering, HITS Lab
  • UW Medicine, South Lake Union Group
  • UW Molecular & Cellular Biology Program
  • UW Neurobiology & Behavior Community Outreach
  • WSU Dept. of Horticulture & LA
  • Youth Take Heart (UW Engineered Biomaterials and The Hope Heart Institute)
Entry to Life Sciences Research Weekend is included with the price of general admission. It's free for Pacific Science Center members.