Program: Sean Gibbons, Institute for Systems Biology, “The Human Microbiome,” June 15, 2023

Here are Dr. Gibbons slides.


If you would like to sign up for ISB’s newsletter, you will get updated on Sean’s research, as well as other scientific advances, videos, and events: https://isbscience.org/subscribe/ 


On Friday, June 16th at Town Hall Seattle, Drs. Lee Hood and Nathan Price will be in conversation with Institute for Systems Biology President Jim Heath about their new book The Age of Scientific Wellness: Why the Future of Medicine Is Personalized, Predictive, Data-Rich, and in Your Hands. That will include a live-stream option. The talk begins at 7:30pm followed by book signing (books will be on sale in the lobby). Register to attend on-line or in-person here.

If you are able to join the speakers for a 6pm VIP reception (including valet parking) please contact erika.kreger@isbscience.org for details. In addition to Drs. Jim HeathLee Hood and Nathan Price, ISB faculty members Sean GibbonsAlice Kane, and Naeha Subramanian (experts in the microbiome, aging, and infectious disease respectively) will also be attending the reception, along with Claudia Ludwig and Caroline Kiehle from our STEM education team. So it will be a nice opportunity for guests to catch up with many ISB leaders.


Sean is an expert in the microbiome and has received a lot of general press attention for findings about the impact the microbiome has on people’s response to statin drugs and the way a changing gut microbiome may predict how we age.

Sean received his Ph.D. in biophysical sciences from the University of Chicago in 2015. His graduate work focused on using microbial communities as empirical models for testing ecological theory. He completed his postdoctoral training at MIT from 2015-2018. His postdoctoral work focused on developing techniques to quantify individual-specific eco-evolutionary dynamics within the human gut microbiome.

Gibbons was awarded a Fulbright Graduate Fellowship to study microbiology and synthetic biology at Uppsala University in Sweden, where he earned a master’s degree in 2010. His Ph.D. work was supported by an EPA STAR Graduate Fellowship. Upon joining the ISB faculty in 2018, his startup package was supported, in part, by a Washington Research Foundation Distinguished Investigator Award.

Microbial communities are complex (i.e. many interacting species) and adaptive (i.e., evolving). Complex, adaptive systems continually reorganize themselves in response to the environment. Sean investigates how the structure and composition of evolving ecological networks of microorganisms change across environmental gradients. In particular, he is interested in how ecological communities in the gut change and adapt to individual people over their lifespans (i.e., host genotype, host development and host behavior) and how these changes impact human health. His lab develops computational and experimental tools for investigating host-associated microbial communities to explore the interactions between ecology, evolution and ecosystem function, applying these insights to develop personalized interventions for improving human health and well-being.

ISB & SSF Present- Dr. Sean Gibbons Explains the Microbiome (4min)

https://townhallseattle.org/event/dr-jack-gilbert-with-dr-sean-gibbons/

The Gut Microbiome’s Supersized Role In Shaping Our Metabolome 11/10/22 (4min)

Program: Abel Pacheco, “Service Expansion and Transit-Oriented Development: Sound Transit’s Plans for the Future,” June 8, 2023


Abel Pacheco is the Government & Community Relations Director for the Central Corridor (Seattle) at Sound Transit. Abel supports Sound Transit’s leadership and project teams in responding to key stakeholders and constituencies within the City of Seattle. Prior to joining Sound Transit, Abel served on the Seattle City Council and represented District Four during 2019. Abel completed his fellowship at The Seattle Foundation and has worked at the Seattle Police Foundation and the University of Washington. Abel earned his BA from California State University, Northridge, and his Master of Public Administration from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the UW. As a car-free Seattleite, Abel is passionate about ensuring that our community has a robust transportation network to ensure that Seattle remains a great place to live, work, and visit.

Program: “Fire and Water – Shaping our Landscape,” Charles Keller, Bellevue College, June 1, 2023

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Charlie Keller of Bellevue College discussing the formation of Washington’s landscapes.

The story about the Great Floods of Eastern Washington is really incredible.

This program will be presented both on Zoom and at the Wedgwood Community Church (8201 30th Avenue NE in the church basement).  Doors and the Zoom line will open at 7 am. The formal meeting runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required.

Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning. Join us!


The dramatic landscapes of Washington have been shaped by Fire (molten rock) and Water (gas, liquid, solid).  These processes have been ongoing for millions of years.  Sometimes requiring millions of years to reach the results we see today.  Sometimes requiring only days to weeks.  This presentation will review the geology that explains the formation of these landscapes and how the evidence supports both Catastrophic and Uniformitarian events. 

Charlie has been an adjunct instructor at Bellevue College since 2016. After 35 years as a consulting hydrogeologist and environmental engineer, he now enjoys his time teaching Geology courses including Geology 101 (Introduction to Physical Geology) and Geology 107 (Geological Catastrophes).  He also enjoys advising students, so would like to hear from anyone with any questions about future careers in environmental science or other earth and space sciences; or questions about science and careers in general.

His academic background focused on isotope geochemistry and fossil fuel geology. He obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Geology from The Ohio State University.

He has been interested in STEM education and increasing diversity in STEM fields most of his career.  He also enjoys skiing, fishing, hiking, biking, carpentry, ceramics, photography, kayaking, music, movies, ale, most foods, wine, spirits, comedy, anthropology, and astrophysics.

Program: “Rotary’s Efforts with the War in Ukraine: One Club’s Story,” May 25, 2023

When the war in Ukraine broke out in February, 2022, the Netherlands and particularly the village of Schaijk, sprang to action. Members of the Rotary Club Schaijk-Landvan Ravenstein joined with a local pallet importer to fill trucks returning to Ukraine with many tons of needed supplies and emergency aid.

Join us to hear about this amazing project from the participants themselves, members of RotaryClub Schaijk-Land van Ravenstein!

Looking at this again, I think the people in Ukraine would say that the invasion in Feb. 2022, was a continuation of the war that began in 2014 with the illegal annexation of Crimea and the DonBas.

There is a businessman in the town of Schaijk (pronounced like “shrike”), Netherlands, population <8,000, who imported goods from Ukraine and sent back fruit, vegetables and flowers for sale in Ukraine and Russia. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022, imports to Netherlands continued but there was no market for goods for the return trip. The business owner saw the empty trucks heading back and saw an opportunity to help. He began to solicit donations and to get help with loading the trucks for the return trip. Members of the Rotary Club of Schaijk-Land von Ravenstein joined the effort which has to date delivered several thousand tons of food, clothing, and medical supplies directly into Ukraine for distribution. There’s a lot more about this remarkable local effort, involving Rotarians from the club in Schaijk. Come hear about it from the participants themselves!

Program: Rory Bakke, “Develop Your Sustainable Value Lens – Why and How,” May 18, 2023

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for an online program featuring sustainability expert Rory Bakke speaking about why and how to become more sustainable.  Rory Bakke is the Founder of Sustainable Concepts Studio and Principal Coach at Hedgehog Coaching & Consulting.

Our Zoom line will open at 7:00 a.m. for informal discussion. The formal meeting runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required.

Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning. Join us!


 A Sustainable Value Lens is a new way of seeing opportunities based on sustainability values and principles and helps an organization see new ideas as they consider environmental and social factors, along with new stakeholder marketplace demands. Sustainability is becoming a strategic imperative for an increasing percentage of organizations and understanding and learning how to create sustainable value is at the heart of this transition to align with new market signals and requirements.

We’ll examine sustainable value concepts, look at some examples, and potentially complete an exercise or two together about creating more sustainable growth for your organization and/or your life.

Rory Bakke is the Founder of Sustainable Concepts Studio and Principal Coach at Hedgehog Coaching & Consulting, LLC.

Ms. Bakke specializes in sustainability management (ESG) strategy, practices, and coaching with executives, managers and emerging leaders of companies and public agencies to develop effective programs that boost performance, decision-making, leadership, and drive sustainable business results.

Rory has a passion for collaborating with clients to design sustainability roadmaps for organizations that boost profitability while they build improved awareness in their leaders, better teamwork in their cultures, and more inspiration for their workforce and other stakeholders. She has advanced sustainability progress by working with 25 industries, all levels of public agencies, and environmental not-for-profits in both the United States and Europe. A graduate of Presidio Graduate University, University of California, and Claremont Graduate University, she also holds certifications from the Co-Active (Coaches) Training Institute, UC Extension Program (in Integrated Waste Management) and Human Synergistics, a management training organization that accredits coaches to employ neuroscience based tools that assess and develop constructive leaders, teams and organizational cultures.

As a strategic advisor, planner, and content strategist, Rory co-designs and embeds environmental and social practices, policies and programs that support more regenerative ways of working and being. Rory helps organizations and individuals gain critical buy-in necessary to fulfil the promise of positive sustainable change by employing tools such as:

  • ESG strategy, goal setting and reporting
  • Employee and supplier engagement
  • Materiality assessment
  • Net zero program development
  • Responsible sourcing
  • Stakeholder strategy
  • Sustainable business model evaluation
  • Training workshops and curriculum in sustainability transformation

She uses active facilitation and coaching tools and frameworks to help leaders and managers translate visions and ideas into actionable steps. 

Program: Kelly Van Arsdale, Spinnaker Chocolate, May 11, 2023

Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for an online program featuring Kelly Van Arsdale and the story of Spinnaker Chocolate and the creation of a bold flavorful chocolate company during a pandemic!

Our Zoom line will open at 7:00 a.m. for informal discussion. The formal meeting runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  No registration is required.

Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning.  Join us!


Chris and Kelly Van Arsdale, Spinnaker Chocolate

As bean to bar chocolate makers, Spinnaker Chocolate works with the highest quality cacao from around the world and meticulously turns it into bold, flavorful chocolate.

Kelly Van Arsdale grew up in Seattle, Washington. After graduating from Lewis & Clark College with a degree in Economics, he went on to pursue a career in customer experience and product marketing.

Just before the pandemic struck, he decided to pursue his longtime hobby of making chocolate – a passion he shared with his brother, Chris Van Arsdale. The Van Arsdale brothers, with the help of their immediate family, came together and created Spinnaker Chocolate.

Program: “Secure Elections: The Basics Every Voter Should Know,” Shane Hamlin, May 4, 2023


Shane Hamlin has served as the Executive Director of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) since June 2017. He previously served 18 years in Washington state government, including five years with the Washington State Senate, nearly 10 years with the Office of the Secretary of State, and three years with the Office of Financial Management. Working for two Secretaries, Shane served as the Legislative Liaison, Deputy Director of Elections, and Co-Director of Elections. He led Washington’s contribution to building ERIC and he served as the first Chair of the ERIC Board of Directors. Shane holds an undergraduate degree from Eastern Washington University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington. 

Program: “The Role of National Laboratories in the Innovation Ecosystem,” Melanie Roberts, April 27, 2023


ABSTRACT: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) oversees seventeen national laboratories, including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Washington.  Launched as part of a wave of federal investment in science around World War II, the DOE National Laboratories are now a cornerstone of the United States’ innovation ecosystem. Join us to learn how the Labs advance the frontiers of scientific discovery and technology development to address critical challenges in science, sustainable energy, and national security.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a different kind of national lab. PNNL advances the frontiers of knowledge, taking on some of the world’s greatest science and technology challenges. Distinctive strengths in chemistry, Earth sciences, biology, and data science are central to PNNL’s scientific discovery mission. Their research lays a foundation for innovations that advance sustainable energy through decarbonization and energy storage and enhance national security through nuclear materials and threat analyses. PNNL collaborates with academia in fundamental research and with industry to transition technologies to market.

Our speaker on April 27, 2023, is Melanie Roberts, Ph.D. Melanie is a science and innovation policy practitioner focused on increasing the benefits of science for society. Since 2018, she has been the director of state and regional affairs at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She has also worked in the U.S. Senate, the National Science Foundation, the University of Colorado, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and private consulting to develop policies, partnerships, and programs that build bridges between research and application and enable scientists and engineers to collaborate across boundaries.

Melanie has served on numerous advisory committees, including the Committee on Graduate STEM Education for the 21st Century at the National Academy of Sciences. She is an honorary fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences and a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow. She completed a Ph.D. in in neuroscience from the University of Washington and a postdoctoral fellowship in science and innovation policy at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Program: Sarah Cave, Kaitlin Maguire, and Victoria Wenick, “Dealing With Aging Parents: The Long-Term Care Landscape,” April 13, 2023


Sarah Cave

Sarah Cave joined Always Best Care after 15 years in healthcare administration and eight years in higher education administration and consulting. She began her career at ECG Management Consultants and Providence St. Joseph Health, and later served in executive strategy and business development roles at the system, local, and regional levels with PeaceHealth, an integrated delivery system of hospitals, medical groups, and ancillary services in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.

In 2014, Sarah became the Chief Operating Officer of the University of Washington School of Public Health, where she was responsible for human resources administration, facilities/space management, and other operations. She later joined the faculty of the UW Master of Health Administration Program and launched Sarah Cave Consulting, working closely with healthcare executives and physician leaders in the Pacific Northwest on strategic planning, business development, collaborative ventures, and governance. Since 2019, Sarah has been the Program Director of the MHA Program, the Senior Director of the Health Management and Informatics Programs, and continued her role as Associate Teaching Professor. Sarah is a member of the University Sunrise Rotary Club.

Kaitlin Maguire

Kaitlin Maguire serves as the Operations Manager for Always Best Care Seattle. Among her responsibilities are office management, caregiver recruitment, and scheduling. She enjoys helping connect individuals and families with loving and experienced caregivers. Kaitlin began her career in healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant, working with seniors in assisted living. Since then, she has worked in various roles for an orthopedic practice and received her Master of Health Administration from the University of Washington.

Kaitlin Maguire aspires to leverage her experience to create a caring, professional, and high-quality environment for clients and caregivers. Kaitlin enjoys hiking, being outdoors, gardening, and spending time with her fiancé and two Boston Terriers.

Victoria Wenick

Victoria Wenick is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and the Director of Philanthropy for Covenant Living at the Shores, which is a nonprofit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) on Mercer Island. She oversees raising funds for the Benevolent Care Fund which helps community members who have been good financial stewards, yet have outlived their resources and can no longer afford the services or care they need. Victoria has served as a University Sunrise Rotary Club member since February of 2022.

Program: Rick Steves, “European Travel Skills,” March 30, 2023

Rick Steves is a popular public television host, a best-selling guidebook author, and an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. But above all else, Rick considers himself a teacher. He taught his first travel class at his college campus in the mid-1970s — and now, more than 40 years later, he still measures his success not by dollars earned, but by trips impacted.

Rick is the founder and owner of Rick Steves’ Europe, a travel business with a tour program that brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. Each year, the company contributes to a portfolio of climate-smart nonprofits, essentially paying a self-imposed carbon tax. He also works closely with several advocacy groups and has been instrumental in the legalization of marijuana in states across the US.

Rick spends about four months a year in Europe, researching guidebooks, fine-tuning his tour program, filming his TV show, and making new discoveries for travelers. To recharge, he plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade mountains, and spends time with his son Andy and daughter Jackie. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.