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CORALLIS, Ore. – Two Oregon State University experts on organic produce, what it takes to grow it and the local food movement are the featured speakers for the May 11 “Science Pub-Corvallis,” the popular monthly series that takes science out of the lab and into a relaxed setting where everyone can enjoy learning, regardless of educational background.

The fun begins at 6 p.m. at Old World Deli, 341 S.W. 2nd St. Given the overflow crowds that have turned out for previous presentations, organizers encourage attendees to arrive by 5:30 p.m. to ensure seating and order food and drinks before the talk gets underway.

OSU Soil Science instructor and Organic Growers Club advisor James Cassidy will “dish the dirt” on what’s essential for a healthy underground to support organic growing practices. And professor Anita Azarenko, head of the OSU Department of Horticulture, a longtime advocate for sustainable agriculture and a farmer herself, will discuss best practices for the Willamette Valley, as well as her own research on integrated and organic tree fruit farming systems.

As an added bonus, Cassidy will talk about the recent Earth Day “Hoo Haa,” the Organic Growers Club’s wildly popular annual food and music extravaganza. Hoo Haa drew thousands of celebrants to the OSU Organic Farm for a raucous good time on April 22.

OSU’s leadership in sustainable, organic and healthy food systems has helped make its College of Agricultural Sciences the top-rated such school in America, with faculty research that is cited more frequently by other scientists than that of any other such school. That leadership plays out in ways ranging from plant breeding that has created disease-resistant potatoes that can be grown without the use of pesticides to pioneering dairy management techniques to facilitate greater production of organic milk.

Science Pub is open to everyone; no RSVP is necessary. Presentations are held the second Monday of every month and are co-sponsored by Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Oregon State University and the Downtown Corvallis Association.

Questions? E-mail sciencepub@omsi.edu or call (503) 797-4517. Visit http://www.omsi.edu/sciencepub for a description of upcoming topics or join the Facebook group by searching for “Corvallis Science Pub.”