PORT TOWNSEND — A weekend of Seattle Science Festival events in East Jefferson County — which range from orcas to ocean acidification to cider and salmon — are planned today through Sunday.
The 11-day festival, which began June 6 in Seattle and runs through Sunday, is a celebration of science that features “signature programs” in Seattle and outlying areas such as the North Olympic Peninsula.
While the highlight of the festival was the Science Expo Day at the Seattle Center last Saturday, three programs are scheduled on the Peninsula this weekend.
A tour of the Taylor Shellfish Hatchery was conducted Thursday as part of the program, which was designed to “elevate interest and awareness in our community of how integral science, technology, engineering and math are to Washington’s culture and prosperity,” according to the Seattle Science Festival.
Programs in Port Townsend and Chimacum this weekend are:
■ “Be an Orca Detective,” 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday; Port Townsend Marine Science Center Natural History Exhibit, Fort Worden State Park, 532 Battery Way, Port Townsend.
Participants find clues to the mystery of what happened to Hope the Orca, a female orca that beached itself and died near Dungeness Spit in 2002.
Those who submit answers are eligible to win prizes.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youths and free for children 5 and younger.
The collaborator with the festival is the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
■ “Ocean Acidification in Washington State,” 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; JFK Building at Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend.
Shallin Busch, a research ecologist with NOAA, will talk about the chemical, biological and societal impacts of ocean acidification in the state.
The program also will present the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel on ocean acidification that was convened by former Gov. Christine Gregoire.
Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for Port Townsend Marine Science Center members, $3 for youths, $2 for Port Townsend Marine Science Center youth members.
The collaborator with the festival is the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
■ “Science of Salmon Restoration and Cider Fermentation,” noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; Finnriver Farm & Cidery, 62 Barn Swallow Road, Chimacum.
Salmon restoration exploration activities are planned for noon and 2 p.m.
Cider fermentation demonstrations are set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
Collaborators with the festival are the North Olympic Salmon Coalition and Finnriver Farm & Cidery.