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profileSuds and ScienceBIOLOGIST GRETCHEN MARGARET MELLER ’90 HELPS TO CREATE AN INFORMAL OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SCIENCE.Minas Tanielian of Boeing Phantom Works at a Science on Tapmeeting co-organized by Terri Gilbert (center), GretchenMargaret Meller (right), and (not shown) Anne Kao, JenniferWroblowski, and Rob Carlson. Volunteers interested in startingup events in other districts of Seattle should write to info@scienceontap.org.MAX DELAUBENFELSSeattle residents who were thirsty for a beer and a dose of intellectualstimulation headed for the Ravenna Third Bookstorepub on July 24. There, they were able to enjoy a drink and listen toMinas Tanielian of Boeing Phantom Works bring Star Trek technologyto life as he described the rapid advance in research on newtypes of materials—“metamaterials,” that render objects invisible toradar. During a short break following Tanielian’s presentation, audiencemembers discussed the topic among themselves and then hadthe opportunity to ask him questions.Tanielian was one of the speakers who appear monthly at thepub in a series called Science on Tap, co-founded by molecular biologistGretchen Margaret Meller ’90. The program provides a localforum for scientists to debate scientific and technological issueswith the public. The pub is open to audience members of all ages.Science on Tap is based on Café Scientifique, which began in1998 in the United Kingdom to promote public engagement withscience. It currently has more than 50 venues located on fivecontinents.Meller, a researcher in the Center for Perinatal Studies at Seattle’sSwedish Medical Center, says she was motivated to start Scienceon Tap by conversations with friends, who, knowing she is abiologist, would question her about science articles they had read inmagazines and newspapers.“I realized the problem with writing about science,” Meller says,“is that the reader doesn’t get to ask questions—and we all havequestions. When you go into the community and give the public achance to learn about science and ask questions in a safe, informalsetting, then they have a better opportunity to really understand thetopic. The informality of the space is critical to promoting discussion.”Along with other scientists and science writers, Meller lined upsome speakers and opened Science on Tap in the cozy bookstorepub in September 2004. So far, they have not missed a singlemonth, except for December, when they break for the holidays.Topics have included dark matter and dark energy, stem cells,childhood obesity, space elevators, electric airplanes, evolution andintelligent design, the science of brewing beer, and understandinghealth reports in the media. Typically, a speaker talks for about 20minutes, followed by a short break; they conclude with a discussionof up to an hour. Meetings usually attract from 30 to 50 participants.“For Evolution and Intelligent Design, we had 70 people,”Meller says, “but, thankfully, that’s unusual because the space ispretty small.”Meller has never presented at Science on Tap herself. “We’venever been that hard up for a speaker,” she jokes. She has, however,talked to community groups about basic concepts of molecular biology,genetics, and gene therapy. “I really enjoy giving those types oftalks because it forces me to let go of the details, which is hard for ascientist to do,” she says. “Scientists are known for their jargon. Butthe simplest talks are often the most compelling.”Science on Tap, Meller stresses, benefits both audience andspeakers. “These sessions are very interactive,” she says. “The speakersreally get a chance to discuss their work and learn about the concernsof people.”She hopes that the interactive nature of Science on Tap is onlythe beginning of a trend toward outreach by the scientific communityand, in turn, interest from the community in science.“There is so much that scientists can learn from an audience—and this audience represents the people who will be voting on issuesthat affect science,” Meller says. “I believe that this interactionbetween science and the public is long overdue. The pedestals onwhich scientists have put themselves—or on which others have putthem—need to be knocked away. Scientists should be able to talkabout their research with anyone who is interested, at any age,so that the sparks of scientific curiosity can blaze into meaningfuldiscussion.”—Carol Brévart-DemmUpcoming talks are listed at http://www.scienceontap.org.september 2006: 69