Pint of Science

How to make a two-hour discussion on important scientific issues more appealing to an audience who frankly probably just spent 9-5 at their own jobs? Have the discussion at a bar? Pint of Science — an international organization — has lined up a three-day slate of programs in Madison at Delta Beer Lab and Gamma Ray Bar. Plus, there’s trivia! Sessions include Tech for Life: Microfluidics & Hydroponics, Training the Mind (with Richard Davidson) and Opioids, Pee & Science—No Filter, Just Facts (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, at Delta) and When Science Goes Sideways, The Story of Everything and From Rivers to Space: Exploring Nature’s Mysteries (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Gamma Ray) with speakers from UW-Madison. Where else can you learn the history of the universe in under 20 minutes and drink an IPA? See a full schedule and find tickets here.

media release: Pint of Science is an international science outreach event that brings cutting-edge research to the public in a fun, accessible format—at local bars! This year’s Madison event will take place May 19-21 at Delta Beer Lab and Gamma Ray Bar, at 7 pm each night. The events are free and open to all, with engaging talks from local scientists and fun science trivia during intermissions.

Find schedule updates here: https://pintofscience.us/events/madison

Delta Beer lab events:

May19: Tech for Life: Microfluidics & Hydroponics

How is technology advancing biology and agriculture? 3D-printed microfluidic devices are revolutionizing disease research by mimicking real tissues for better drug testing. Meanwhile, hydroponic farming is changing how we grow food, using water-based systems to maximize efficiency and sustainability. Join us to explore these cutting-edge innovations shaping our future!

May 20: Training the Mind

Join us for an inspiring evening with renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard J. Davidson as he delves into the science of well-being. Drawing on over four decades of research in contemplative neuroscience, Dr. Davidson explores how neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to change and adapt—offers a science-backed path to emotional resilience. 

May 21: Opioids, Pee & Science—No Filter, Just Facts

Discover how vaccine-like strategies are being developed to combat the opioid crisis by blocking the effects of addictive substances. Then, dive into the fascinating world of pee—why we go, what can go wrong, and how it impacts our health.

Gamma Ray events:

May 19: When Science Goes Sideways

From a mysterious flood beneath Chicago’s streets to the hidden biases in AI. Join us for a night exploring how engineering missteps and distorted science shape our world. Learn how nature, technology, and bias collide in ways that affect cities, schools, and society. Pint of Science brings the drama, history, and future all in one pint!

May 20: The Story of Everything

From the Big Bang to DNA, join us on a journey through 13.8 billion years of cosmic evolution. Discover how the universe expanded, cooled, and gave rise to the elements essential for life. Where did carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen come from? How did they form molecules and, eventually, DNA? Explore the biggest ideas in cosmology and the chemical origins of life.

May 21: From Rivers to Space: Exploring Nature’s Mysteries

Discover the secrets of Earth’s most bizarre creatures and the challenges of life beyond our planet! Learn how the paddlefish’s strange snout puzzled scientists for centuries and what we now know about its function. Then, journey into space to explore how astronauts, plants, and microbes adapt to weightlessness. Two fascinating talks, one unforgettable night!