​September 12, 2025 at Slalom Hawk Tower | Dr. Kevin Murphy, Associate Professor, Washington State University (WSU)

​What if every slice of bread told a story—not just of farms and flour, but of soil, science, and health? Leading both Washington State University’s Breadlab, and the Soil to Society project, Kevin Murphy leads dozens of researchers spanning disciplines such as: soil scientists, plant breeders, food technologists, nutritionists, social scientists, and educators. Each explores questions as wide-ranging as how fertilization affects micronutrient levels in wheat berries, or how whole grain foods shape the human gut microbiome. Their discoveries don’t stand alone—they are woven together, creating a pipeline from healthy soils to healthier people. The aim is bold: crops that are more resilient to climate change, foods that are richer in zinc, iron, and fiber, and products designed to be affordable and approachable for everyday eaters. Learn how a loaf of bread becomes a lens on the future of agriculture, nutrition, and community well-being. No wonder Dr. Murphy was recently named one of the 50 people shaping our society by the Washington Post.

​Lunch will be served at 11:30 with the program beginning at noon.

​About the Discovery Series: designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

Agenda

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma: Discovery Series | Dr. Kevin Murphy, Professor and Director at Washington State University (WSU) · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

Oct 10th | Dr. Naeha Subramanian, Associate Professor, Institute for Systems Biology (ISB)

Details and description coming soon…

Agenda -

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma - Discovery Series, Dr. Naeha Subramanian, Associate Professor, Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

What if the ocean could whisper its warnings before it roared? Along the volatile curve of the Pacific, the Ring of Fire pulses like a living scar—where tectonic plates collide, reshape, and sometimes rupture with devastating force. In 2011, deep beneath the waves off Tohoku, Japan, the Earth shifted. A megathrust earthquake unleashed a tsunami that reshaped coastlines and lives. Yet across the ocean, the United States felt only a faint echo—thanks to the intricate choreography of bathymetry and seismic energy.

Now, scientists are listening more closely. One of them is John Carter, a professor of mathematics at Seattle University, whose work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Simons Foundation, and the Fulbright Commission. Carter is more than a researcher—he’s an educator committed to equipping students to tackle complex, interdisciplinary challenges. Through tsunami models and real-world data, he and his students are decoding the language of waves—testing simulations in labs that mimic nature’s fury, and asking: how well do our predictions hold up?

The goal is urgent and ambitious: to forecast the next upheaval with precision, to understand how the Ring of Fire might speak again, and to ensure that when it does, we’re ready to respond—not just with science, but with foresight.

Agenda -

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma - Discovery Series, Dr. John Carter, Seattle University · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

Jan 9th at University of Washington: CoMotion | Dr. Wendy Shaw, Associate Laboratory Director, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

Details and description coming soon…

Agenda -

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma - Discovery Series, Dr. Wendy Shaw, Associate Laboratory Director, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

Feb 13th at Seattle University | Dr. Megan Smithmyer, Staff Scientist, Benaroya Research Institute

Details and description coming soon…

Agenda -

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma - Discovery Series, Dr. Megan Smithmyer, Staff Scientist, Benaroya Research Institute · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

March 13th at Northeastern University Seattle | Dr. Sid Venkatesh, Assistant Professor, Institute for Systems Biology (ISB)

Details and description coming soon…

Agenda -

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma: Discovery Series, Dr. Sid Venkatesh, Assistant Professor, Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

April 10th | Dr. Bruce Maxwell, Teaching Professor & Director of Computing Programs, Northeastern University Seattle

Details and description coming soon…

Agenda

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on Luma: Discovery Series, Dr. Bruce Maxwell, Teaching Professor & Director of Computing Programs, Northeastern University Seattle · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.

Details and description coming soon…

Agenda -

11:30 am to 12 pm - lunch

12 pm to 12:40 pm - presentation

12:40 pm to 1 pm - audience Q&A

Register on luma: Discovery Series, Dr. Cyrus Ghjar, Professor, Fred Hutch · Luma

Designed to bring together the state's preeminent researchers, innovative leaders, and elected officials who want to stay on top of important advancements being made in our state, each Discovery Series program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and an opportunity to meet the speaker.