"Science On Tap -- Inventive Connections: Movie Stars, Math & Marine Mammals"

Actress Hedy Lamarr was once known as "the most beautiful woman in the world," but few people know that she was also an inventor. She and a colleague designed the radio-skipping technology that helped the U.S. Navy guide torpedoes more effectively during WWII. She and many other women since have contributed to the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but have been dismissed or deliberately forgotten simply because of their gender. At this Science on Tap at Portland's Alberta Rose Theatre, Leslie New, PhD, assistant professor of statistics at WSU Vancouver, will celebrate the unique life and mathematical accomplishments of Lamar and other female scientists. In an interesting twist, she'll also describe how Lamarr's work on wireless technologies currently helps her study and protect marine mammals like elephant seals. Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, enjoy a pint and laugh while you learn. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don't have to be a science geek to have fun -- all you need is a thirst for knowledge.