Send listings two weeks in advance to braincity@seattleweekly.com.

Peace Corps Event Former volunteers with the nation’s largest do-gooder organization talk about their experiences and advise aspiring vols. Westlake Center (Suite 605), 1601 Fifth Ave., 800-424-8580. Free. 6:30-8 p.m. Wed., May 18.

Science Lecture At the Northwest Stream Center, learn about the years following the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens, when the area surrounding the volcano resembled a lunar landscape. 600 128th St. S.E. (Everett), 425-316-8592. $6 ($4 NWSC members). 7 p.m. Wed., May 18.

Jewish Studies Lecture Stanford University history professor Aron Rodrigue discusses Sephardic Judaism in two talks: “Rhodes, the Island of Memory” (Wednesday) and “North African Jewry and the Trauma of World War II” (Monday). UW Kane Hall (Room 220), 206-543-4835. Free. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 18, and Mon., May 23.

Bishop Tom Wright The Anglican bishop visits from England to deliver a pair of lectures at Seattle Pacific University, on “Decoding the Da Vinci Code: The Challenge of Historic Christianity to Post-Modern Fantasy” (Wednesday) and “God, the Tsunami, and the New Problem of Evil” (Thursday). Upper Gwinn Commons (SPU campus), 3307 Third Ave. W., 206-281-2111. Free. 7:30 p.m. Wed., May 18. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave. W., 206-281-2111. Free. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 19.

Panel Discussion Led by Diana Aviv, president of the nonprofit coalition Independent Sector, this is an info-gathering session for an upcoming U.S. Senate report on possible changes in government regulation of nonprofits. Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 206-221-4629. Free (RSVP required). 10 a.m.-noon. Thurs., May 19.

Web Law Seminar Washington Lawyers for the Arts hosts a class on the oft-sticky legal concerns that surround Web design and other uses of the Internet. Second & Seneca Building (14th floor), 1191 Second Ave., 206-328-7053. $40 attorneys, $30 paralegals, $15 artists/students. Noon-2 p.m. Thurs., May 19.

Bernie Noe, Jim Gaul, and Rashmi Chilka “Responding to Crisis: A New Model?” is the topic of their talk on major crises in world history, from the Black Plague to the recent tsunami. (Proceeds from this event benefit Mercy Corps.) Lakeside School (St. Nicholas Hall), 14050 First Ave. N.E., 206-440-2788. $25. 7-8 p.m. Thurs., May 19.

Marine Manufacturing and Technology Summit This year’s confab in Bremerton features American Boat & Yacht Council president Skip Burton and other speakers on topics pertaining to Washington’s aquatic industries. Kitsap Conference Center, 100 Washington Ave. (Bremerton), 360-377-3785. Free. 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Fri., May 20.

Water Law Conference King County Executive Ron Sims delivers the keynote address at the 14th annual Washington Water Law Conference, whose theme this year is “What Is Next? New Administration, New Programs, New Policies.” Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison St., 206-567-4490. Free. 8:30 a.m. Fri., May 20.

Fund-raising/Grant-Writing Seminar Those friends of yours who work at nonprofits and say grant-writing is an art? Well, they’re right, and this Shoreline Community College workshop should help them hone it, with additional instruction on fund-raising. 16101 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-533-6700. $79. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri., May 20.

Cover Art Exhibit “80 Years of New Yorker Covers,” from the original Eustice Tilley portrait through the zeitgeist-chasing covers of today. D’Adamo/Woltz Gallery, 307 Occidental Ave. S., 206-652-4414. Free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun. Fri., May 20-Sun., May 29.

Science Seminar Highline Community College continues its spring seminar series with “In Search of Nemesis,” presented by physical science professor Igor Glozman. 2400 S. 240th St., 206-878-3710, ext. 3513. Free. 2:10-3 p.m. Fri., May 20.

Unite to End Homelessness Sponsored by the United Way of King County, this event at St. Mark’s Cathedral offers food, music, and a chance to chat with other activists fighting homelessness. 1245 10th Ave. E., 206-461-3700. Free. 4-7:30 p.m. Fri., May 20.

Genetics Forum National Human Genome Research Institute director Francis Collins leads this daylong inquiry into the state of genetics research, with emphasis on the ethical and legal questions this work has raised in recent years. William H. Gates Hall (UW campus), 206-616-2643. Free. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., May 21.

Cascade Warbirds Day Classic aircraft ranging from World War II to the Vietnam era descend on the Museum of Flight for an informative day that includes appearances by both the planes’ original pilots and current owners. 9404 E. Marginal Way S., 206-764-5700. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., May 21.

University District Street Fair Stroll down the Ave to the rhythm of steel drums, catch some improv comedy performed by the Jet City troupe, and sample the sudsy wares of the District’s own Big Time Brewery. (Plenty of kids’ activities, too.) Visit www.udistrictstreetfair.org for more info. University Way Northwest, between Northeast 41st Street and Northeast 50th Street, 206-547-4417. Free. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat., May 21. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., May 22.

Rabbi Donniel Hartman Congregation Beth Shalom hosts the co-director of Jerusalem’s Shalom Hartman Institute for a series of talks on Israel’s political situation and issues of faith that relate to it. 6800 35th Ave. N.E., 206-524-0075. Free. 12:15 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Sat., May 21. 7-9 p.m. Sun., May 22.

Shane Farnor Program coordinator of the National Parks Conservation Association, he explains what the NPCA is and does, and how you can get involved in preserving America’s wilderness. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, 117 S. Main St., 206-553-7220. Free. 2 p.m. Sat., May 21.

Culture Jam The youth-centric arts organization Power of Hope hosts a night of music and spoken-word poetry (featuring local Grand Slam Champion Laura “Piece” Kelly) to raise money for its Youth Voices program. Franklin High School, 3013 S. Mt. Baker Blvd., 206-252-6150. $10-$20 (sliding scale; $5 students/low-income). 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 21.

43rd District Democrats Spring Party The theme is “American Eyedull.” Scheduled guests include local historian Walt Crowley and Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle. Pioneer Hall, 1642 43rd Ave. E., 206-522-9495. $15 (suggested). 7:30-10 p.m. Sat., May 21.

Gardening Day Pike Place Market turns into a gardening bazaar. Stock up on tomato plants, pick up some bulbs, contemplate a tiny bonsai tree, or just grab a mushroom-growing kit so the next bunch of criminis you turn into a savory sauce can be your own. Pike Place, north of Pike Street, 206-682-7453. Free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., May 22.

Panel Discussion Scads of Scandinavian culture await you at this Bainbridge History Series event, a gathering of locals whose ancestors journeyed from Sweden, Finland, or Norway to settle on Bainbridge Island. Island Center Hall, 8395 Fletcher Bay Rd. (Bainbridge Island), 206-842-2773. $5 ($2 teens). 4 p.m. Sun., May 22.

Michael J. McPhaden An affiliate professor of oceanography at the University of Washington, he’s also a climatology expert; tonight he’ll provide an up-to-date profile of El Niño, that most famed of recurring weather systems. UW Kane Hall (Room 130), 206-543-5060. Free. 7 p.m. Mon., May 23.

G. Wayne Miller The author of The Xeno Chronicles, about a pioneer in the field of xenotransplantation (using animal organs in human transplant operations), talks about the research that led to its writing. Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 206-652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Mon., May 23.

Music Lecture The Seattle Chamber Music Society’s “Educate Your Ear” series concludes with “Er ist ein Mensch: Mozart the Human,” presented by University of Washington music-history professor Stephen Rumph. Sand Point Education Center (Room 109), 6208 60th Ave. N.E., 206-283-8808. $12 ($6 students). 7:30-9 p.m. Mon., May 23.

World War II Lecture Series This week, University of Texas/San Antonio history professor Elizabeth Escobedo addresses the involvement of women in the war. UW Kane Hall (Room 130), 206-543-0540. $15 ($12 UWAA members, $5 UW students). 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tues., May 24.

Mary McAleese The first Irish president to hail from Northern Ireland, she was elected in 1997 after participating in a series of international delegations on trade and human rights and serving as director of Britain’s Channel 4 Television. Her appearance tonight is co-sponsored by Seattle’s Irish Heritage Club and UW’s Jackson School of International Studies. UW Kane Hall, 206-543-1675. Free. 7 p.m. (doors close at 6:30 p.m.) Tues., May 24.

William Dembski The Discovery Institute researcher and Baylor University professor delves into Darwin, casting doubt on the biologist’s work in a talk titled “Unintelligent Evolution: The Key Problem for Darwin’s Theory.” Seattle Pacific University (Demaray Hall, Room 150), 206-281-2000. Free. 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 24.

David Shipler The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Working Poor: Invisible in America talks about the many families and individuals being nickel and dimed by current U.S. economic policies. His talk is the keynote address at a fund-raising luncheon to benefit Habitat for Humanity of East King County. DoubleTree Hotel, 300 112th Ave. S.E. (Bellevue), 425-869-6007. $150 (suggested). Noon. Wed., May 25.

Bob Dylan Lecture Series Led by EMP artistic director Bob Santelli, the series concludes with a discussion of 1966’s Blonde on Blonde, arguably the songwriter’s greatest masterwork. Experience Music Project, 325 Fifth Ave. N., 206-367-5483. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Wed., May 25.

Romila Thapar The author of many scholarly works on India provides her own “Interpretations of Early Indian History” as part of the University of Washington’s Solomon Katz Distinguished Lectures series. UW Kane Hall (Room 110), 206-543-3920. Free. 7 p.m. Wed., May 25.