Scientists have declared global warming a proven phenomenon. Now they're worried about the effects on the water supply, coral reefs, weather and distribution of species on the planet — putting island environments such as Hawai'i high on the risk list.

To address buzz issues like those, the Bishop Museum's science education department created the Science Cafe — a monthly lecture-and-lounge event that launched last month with the topic of tsunamis.

At tomorrow's Science Cafe, Eileen Shea, who oversees an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that looks at the connection between research data and environmental consequences, will talk about managing the risks of climate variability and change — particularly as they relate to Hawai'i.

"'We can't attribute any changes we're seeing here in the Pacific entirely to global warming or climate change," explains Shea, because "one of the big problems here in the Pacific is that changes in temperature, rainfall, sea level and hurricane activity are significantly driven by year-to-year influences — such as El Nino." Which means island communities, already vulnerable to the vagaries of Mother Nature, are extra susceptible to global-warming climate change.

At the Science Cafe, all eyes focus on NOAA's Science on a Sphere, a 6-foot round "screen." It's a "projection system that allows you to look and see the whole world," said Shea.

At last month's lecture on tsunamis, Gerard Fryer of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center showed satellite data on the illuminated globe, as well as footage of the wave that devastated Indonesia in December 2004.

Fryer also brought the audience up to speed on local and global tsunami warning systems.

Turnout for the Science Cafe session was so great that Fryer reconfigured his appearance into two identical 45-minute talks. The overflow audience for the first session was directed to the "cafe" for refreshments until the second session.

Talks focus on the place where science intersects life.

Based on the European "salon," Science Cafe is a venue for scientists and everyday people to explore ideas and ask questions in a friendly atmosphere.

Following tomorrow's lecture in the planetarium lobby, the audience can meet with Shea at the Atherton Halau for food, wine and conversation. The refreshments, available for a small charge, seem to help draw people.

"I think the adult population is hungry for this," said Carolyn Kaichi, planetarium manager at the Bishop Museum. "There are lots of opportunities for families but no real venue for adults outside of the university; here we have a casual atmosphere where the audience gets to chat with the speaker and also meet others with similar interests."

Count Bill Myers as a Science Cafe fan. While attending last month's session, Myers, a retired nuclear physicist, met Jason Saxe, a deck officer on NOAA's research ship Oscar Elton Sette. They found that each was an avid sailor with an interest in celestial navigation — a possible future topic at the cafe.

"The University of Hawai'i schedules lectures for students and faculty and, on occasion, the public," said Myers. "But the Science Cafe can reach an audience interested in science and technology who are without a forum at the university or anywhere at all; and the Bishop Museum is a great venue."

Cindy Dettmer, 27, made the cafe an outing for 11 friends and colleagues, including graduate students.

"Tsunamis aren't weather systems — we're more into weather and natural disasters," said Dettmer, Hawai'i Chapter president of the American Meteorological Society. "But (the cafe) was a great evening. The Science on a Sphere was such a cool way to display the information; we were all curious to see how that worked. And the forum with food and drinks ... is a good idea, too. The speaker came by our table to meet us and we could ask questions. I'll definitely be coming to the next one."

Reach Chris Oliver at coliver@honoluluadvertiser.com.