Friday Office hours with Dr. Mike Town - Earth and Space Research
- Date
- 2024-11-15
- Location
- Parking is available in the building, entrance on University St (of note: there are EV chargers!) Also consider using Spothero. The closest Link Lightrail Station is the Symphony Station.There is a bike room located on the C/D level of the garage. It’s inside the double doors by the elevator (email seattle@9zero.com for the door code), Seattle, WA, USA
- Host
- Community
About this event
If you care about space, research, or simply having better conversations with people doing meaningful technical work, this Friday office hours session is a strong place to start. Spend your morning with Dr. Mike Town of Earth and Space Research in an in-person setting designed for real exchange: thoughtful questions, direct discussion, and the kind of community connection that rarely happens in a crowded lecture format. This is a good fit for people who want access without formality. Whether you are deeply involved in space and science already or just curious enough to ask smart questions, the office hours format creates room for genuine interaction, practical insight, and the possibility of meeting others who share your interests. About the Event This event is an in-person Friday office hours session featuring Dr. Mike Town from Earth and Space Research. Rather than a highly produced conference talk or a passive panel, office hours typically work best as an open, conversational format where attendees can bring questions, ideas, and curiosity into the room. The focus here is not just on listening; it is on engaging. Expect a community-oriented atmosphere where space enthusiasts, researchers, builders, and curious attendees can connect around topics related to Earth and space research, current work in the field, and the broader questions that bring people into this area in the first place. Because this is tagged across space, community, networking, meetup, and other, it likely sits at the intersection of subject-matter conversation and relationship-building. That makes it especially valuable if you enjoy events where you can both learn something substantive and leave having met people you may want to keep talking with afterward. What to Expect You should expect a morning gathering with a flexible, discussion-friendly structure. Office hours are usually most useful when attendees come ready to participate, so this is a good event to approach with a few questions or themes already in mind. Possible rhythms of the session may include: A short welcome or informal opening Time to hear from Dr. Mike Town and frame the conversation Open Q&A or small-group discussion energy Casual networking before, during, or after the main conversation This is not the kind of event where you need to be polished or already deeply connected to the field. In fact, some of the best office hours conversations happen when people bring honest questions, early-stage ideas, or a desire to better understand how research connects to real-world exploration, technology, or scientific discovery. You can also expect the event to feel more personal than a large auditorium program. In-person office hours often create room for follow-up questions, side conversations, and spontaneous introductions. If you value access, nuance, and the ability to explore a topic beyond surface-level talking points, that format is a meaningful advantage. Why Attend The biggest reason to attend is simple: access to a credible voice in Earth and space research in a setting built for conversation. That is useful whether you are hoping to learn, make connections, test an idea, or better understand where your own interests fit within the space ecosystem. Attending can help you: Get closer to how people in Earth and space research think about their work Ask questions you would not get to ask in a more formal event format Meet others in the room who care about science, space, and research-driven communities Build context around topics you may only have encountered online or from a distance Spend time in a setting where curiosity is an asset, not something you need to hide There is also real value in the community aspect. Events like this often attract people from different backgrounds who overlap around a common interest: researchers, students, technologists, founders, hobbyists, and thoughtful generalists. That mix can lead to conversations that are both grounded and unexpectedly useful. If you have been looking for a lower-pressure way to plug into the space and research community in Seattle, this is a strong entry point. You do not need a formal reason to attend beyond wanting a better conversation and a room full of people who care about similar things. Practical Details When: Friday, November 15 at 9:30 AM PST Where: In person in Seattle, USA. The venue information notes that parking is available in the building, with the entrance on University St. If you are driving, that is the key access point to use. Helpful logistics for getting there: EV chargers are available in the building You may also want to consider Spothero for parking planning The closest Link Light Rail stop is Symphony Station There is a bike room on the C/D level of the garage The bike room is inside the double doors by the elevator For the bike room door code, email seattle@9zero.com Because this is a morning event, arriving a little early is a smart move, especially if you want time to park, find the entrance, settle in, and start conversations before the main discussion gets underway. If you are taking transit or biking, the location offers workable options there as well, making it easier to choose the route that fits your morning best.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want a smarter, more conversational way to engage with space and research topics in person. - You are interested in **space, Earth science, or research** and want direct access to someone working in that world. - You enjoy **asking questions** and prefer interactive formats over one-way talks or heavily scripted panels. - You are looking to meet people in Seattle who care about **science, technology, exploration, or research-driven work**. - You are a **student, early-career professional, founder, technologist, or independent thinker** who wants more real-world context around the field. - You have a project, idea, or line of curiosity you would like to test through conversation with both an expert and a thoughtful community. - You want a **low-pressure networking environment** where you can learn something useful and leave with a few meaningful new connections. You do not need to arrive as an expert. If you are curious, respectful, and genuinely interested in the subject, you are likely to get a lot out of this session.