Most philosophical work on language produced or interpreted by artificial systems has focused on questions about the sense in which those systems might be able to produce or grasp linguistic meanings. For example, if Grice is right that a string is meaningful when it is produced by a speaker who ...
Engineered “smart” materials such as stimuli-responsive microspheres hold the promise to alleviate a barrier to scaling sustainable subsurface energy technologies. Unlike most engineering disciplines, inadequate control of fluid flow paths dominates the financial uncertainty of commercial-scale subsurface energy projects. In this talk, Dr. Hawkins will illustrate the impact of these ...
Sequential Experimental Design for Materials Strength Model CalibrationDue to the time and expense associated with physical experiments, there is significant interest in optimal selection of the conditions for future experiments. Selection based on reduction in parameter uncertainty provides a natural path forward. We consider this type of optimal sequential design in the context of Bayesian calibration of ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
What do high-power lasers have to do with conjugated polymers? Nothing.The only tenuous connection is my scientific path from PhD student in Berkeley to DDS&T at SLAC, which was heavily influenced by having access to the three Bay Area National Labs.I will thus spend the first part of this talk describing my research in laser-induced damage in fused silica at ...
Metals are critical to technology, but their supply chain includes antiquated techniques with large carbon emissions. A sustainable economy requires new science to connect science to engineering needs across the supply chain - from metal extraction to part fabrication. My group uses and develops advanced characterization techniques to study the ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Fire Cameras, AI and Satellites Unblinking Eye: Early Wildfire DetectionWildfire safety relies heavily on detecting fires early to both extinguish them before they grow unmanageable, as well as to alert and evacuate communities as early as possible if immediate suppression becomes impossible. Following 2017, Sonoma built up a network of fire detection cameras. Starting in 2021, Sonoma became the ...
Many experiments in cancer research require a supply of expandable cancer cells. Current methods for growing cancer cells outside the body are known to lose relevance to a patient's cancer over time. Organoids are a developing technology that uses stem cells to grow 3D human tissues. My research shows that ...
Survey research is a centerpiece of life in America and throughout the world. Billions of dollars are spent by commercial companies, governments, academics, NGOs, and others to track people's life experiences (e.g., the unemployment rate comes from surveys) and opinions (e.g., presidential approval, preferences for government policies, satisfaction with products ...
Cosmic relics such as the cosmic neutrino background (CvB) are among the most compelling and elusive targets in fundamental physics. With conventional detectors, the interaction rate is so small that a 10-cm sphere of matter would see fewer than one event over the age of the universe. I will describe ...
For decades, computing has leapt forward by turning barriers into breakthroughs - the demise of Dennard scaling and the end of planar transistor scaling represent two such barriers. Each challenge sparked a paradigm shift, redefining what was possible. Drawing on my three decades at Intel, I will share lessons from ...
Join us for a Talk & Tacos with leading mycologist Christian Schwarz, coauthor of Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast!Join Fork in the Path for a special talk & tacos with leading mycologist Christian Schwarz, co-author of Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast, plus tacos by renowned mycochef Chad Hyatt.What You'll LearnThe ...
San Francisco is charting an ambitious path toward a climate-positive future built on systemic changeWhat does it actually take to transform a major city's relationship with energy, buildings, and environmental justice?Join us for a conversation with Tyrone Jue, Director of San Francisco's Environment Department, on the city's updated Climate Action ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $18 in person, $9 online
Skeptics in a Real PubEnjoy an evening of socializing and feasting with fellow Bay Area science-forward folk in an Irish Pub on the Peninsula with great food. < Menu >
Philosophers, cognitive scientists, and animal welfare advocates tend to agree that consciousness evolved to support action. Yet, puzzlingly, most accounts take relatively passive sensory experiences and bodily sensations (e.g. pains, visual perceptions, and hunger pangs) to be the basic contents of subjective experience. What if consciousness were not a “point ...
We all admire the beauty of birds, but you may not realize that beauty is more than skin deep. With an unusual perspective, we'll look at birds from the inside out, considering design and function. With this new view of birds you will not only appreciate their grace and beauty, ...
This talk pursues the fashion for re-constructing Iron Age-style roundhouses across Britain. Iron Age houses have been re-constructed since the 1930s, but the main period of interest commenced in the mid- to late-1970s with the creation of the Iron Age Farm at Butser (Hampshire, England) and the broadcasting of the ...
Western Monarch Butterflies: Protecting Our PollinatorsJoin us for the Spring 2026 Horace Albright Lecture, featuring a special screening of Western Monarch Butterflies: Protecting Our Pollinators - an inspiring documentary by filmmaker Ian Nelson that follows the monarch’s extraordinary migration and the communities working to protect these vital pollinators.Watch the trailer here.Following the screening, stay for ...
This month, we’re hosting:Macy Huston, PhD (UC Berkeley) - Discovering the Invisible with Gravitational MicrolensingandBernardita Ried Guachalla (Stanford University) - Cosmic Silhouettes: Galaxies Seen Through Ancient Light
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free (one drink minimum)
The Psychology of Illusion: A Magician Reveals His SecretsMagic isn’t just about tricking the eyes - it’s about understanding the mind.Join Sanjeev Vinodh, professional magician and cognitive scientist, for an interactive lecture that pulls back the curtain on how illusions really work.Sanjeev will break down the techniques behind his magic, revealing how language, movement, and technology are carefully ...
SETI Live: When Galaxies Collide - Euclid Reveals What Triggers Active Black Holes - LivestreamUsing early data from the European Space Agency’s Euclid space telescope, astronomers have analyzed over one million galaxies to test a long-standing idea in astrophysics: that galaxy mergers help trigger the growth of supermassive black holes.In this SETI Live, host Dr. Moiya McTier will explore two new Euclid studies that ...
Climate change and the global energy transition increasingly require improved understanding of subsurface systems that control groundwater resources, critical minerals, and energy infrastructure. Electromagnetic (EM) geophysics provides a powerful means of imaging subsurface electrical properties across a wide range of spatial scales. This presentation focuses on EM methods applied at ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, Free for members
NightLifeThursdays hit different at NightLife. The museum comes alive after hours - wilder, more curious, and full of exciting creatures. Grab your friends, grab a hand-crafted drink, and let yourself wander into whatever weird or wonderful corner calls you. You never know what you’ll stumble into next, and that’s the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
The Growth of Cosmic BehemothsDr. Devontae Baxter (UC San Diego) is an observational and computational astrophysicist investigating the dependence of environment on galaxy formation and evolution. His work is primarily centered on understanding the astrophysical processes responsible for the divergent evolution of galaxies that reside in low- and high-density regions of the cosmos. In ...
Special Documentary Screening: Western Monarch Butterflies, Protecting Our PollinatorsJoin us for a very special night with Ian Nelson, director of Western Monarch Butterflies: Protecting Our Pollinators. We’ll host an exclusive screening followed by a Q&A with Ian. It will be a fantastic night for anyone passionate about monarch butterfly conservation. Proceeds from the evening will be split between ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $20 General, $12 Members
Salt of the Earth Artist TalkArtist Barbara Boissevain and Dr. Nicole Ardoin discuss the ongoing restoration of the South Bay and the intersections of art and science.Join us for an evening with photographer Barbara Boissevain and Nicole Ardoin, Associate Professor of Environmental Social Sciences and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. Together, they ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
In Town Star PartyCome join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing. Event details:Events are held at the parking lot of our headquarters, Houge Park, San Jose. The event duration is 2 hours. SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their telescopes.Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 01/17/26
Walk for Wellness: Exploring Nature and Chronic Pain SupportIf you or someone you know is experiencing chronic pain, we invite you to participate in a movement-based conversation at Bouverie Preserve.Join Bilingual Environmental Education Specialist Andrea Salazar and longtime docent, Cara Wasden, who both personally understand the challenges of living with chronic pain.On a fairly easy walk through the ...
Where: Glen EllenCost: Free
B-29 SuperfortressThe Boeing B-29 was the ultimate manifestation of strategic airpower, the practice of striking deep into the heart of an enemy’s industrial war machine, to serve in World War II. Created by Boeing, creators of the legendary Flying Fortress, it was named “Superfortress” for reasons that were quickly seen to ...
Where: San CarlosCost: Free with admission
Sunday, 01/18/26
Raptors: Birds of PreyRaptors are masters of the air. Come learn about this impressive group of predators!The Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge is home to several different species of raptors. Learn about these amazing birds of prey!This presentation will take place in the Visitor Center and is led by USFWS volunteer ...
