Presentation by Dr. Martin Donohoe about the major forms of social injustice in the U.S. and worldwide, how these impact human and environmental health, and how citizens can bring about a more just world. The talk is based on his clinical (M.D.) and academic work (see website phsj.org) and his recently published book “Public Health and Social Justice” (phsj.org/public-health-and-social-justice-reader/).
The question of epigenetics is: Can the environment re-program your genes? If the genome is the keyboard of a piano, then the epigenome is the fingers playing those keys. Recently, it has become clear that the environment can alter these epigenetic modifications and, more surprisingly, these modifications can sometimes be inherited. In this presentation, Lisa Sardinia discusses the mechanism of epigenetic modification, as well as some newly discovered environmental effects on epigenetic modifications. Lisa Sardinia is an associate professor in the Department of Biology at Pacific University. She teaches Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Basic Science for Optometry, and Genetics for Physician Assistant students.
Presentation by Bob Elliott about the Iditarod Air Force -- a group of pilots who support “The Iditarod Sled Dog Race,” also known as “The Last Great Race.” The race is primarily supported by air (everybody and everything is flown in/out, including dogs). The Iditarod Air Force provides most of this support with 25 to 30 volunteer pilots flying their own ski-equipped aircraft. Bob Elliott is a retired engineer who has been flying for fifty years. He has flown into unimproved locations on skis in “bush” Alaska. Bob and wife Aggie lived in Alaska for thirty years and still have a cabin there. At present they reside in Camas on a small airport.
Presentation by Becky Straus about drones. Many Americans have heard of these unmanned aerial vehicles because of their use for targeted assassinations of terrorist suspects in places like Afghanistan and Yemen. But drones are also used for surveillance and they are coming to our domestic airspace. Protections must be put in place to guard our privacy. Becky Straus explores the several interests and stakeholders associated with use of surveillance drones in Oregon. Straus directs the ACLU Oregon’s advocacy and lobbying efforts before the Oregon State Legislature and she coordinates ACLU testimony before public bodies on the full range of civil liberties and civil rights issues in Oregon.