Geeks-N-Taps combines science, beer and fun

If you have Facebook friends who love posting inspirational quotes, the odds are good you’ve seen the adage “Do what you love, and it isn’t work.”

Pat Phelps has that nailed. She is the driving force behind the Geeks-N-Taps event series.

“I love science, and I love beer,” Phelps says, “so it’s a great combination.”

She knows how to make information interesting. Phelps was a genomics education specialist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., and the lead educator on the exhibit team for the Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code exhibit.

At a recent Geeks-N-Taps event at Durham’s Fullsteam Brewery, people tasted and sniffed a wide range of flavors and aromas, smashed fruit to extract DNA and examined each other’s tongues for taste buds.

Each activity was led by science students from the local universities. The students were enthusiastic about demonstrating the science of taste to the general public, and the sold-out crowd eagerly soaked up the knowledgeand the beerit received.

Visit www.geeksntaps.com for info on upcoming events as they’re scheduled and to buy tickets.

This article appeared in print with the headline “Belly up and geek out.”